how can a psychology major help becoming an attorney

by Ivory Rau 9 min read

According to Michael, his psychology knowledge is particularly useful because “the better an attorney is able to understand and effectively deal with people, the more successful he/she will be in the legal profession.” Human behavior is the defining component of both psychology and the law.

Psychology Helps with Social Relations
Activities range from networking, to building relationships with judges and fellow lawyers. Lawyers often guide clients and relate to them. So, psychology will help you understand how people make these connections. You'll also be prepared to maintain them as well as possible.
Jun 18, 2018

Full Answer

Why major in psychology as a lawyer?

Jan 26, 2016 · He figured the best way to combine his interest in human behavior and the law was by becoming an attorney. So armed with a psychology degree, Michael pursued additional training as a lawyer ...

What classes should I take to become a psychology major lawyer?

Legal psychology is also committed to protecting victims of crime, devising more appropriate treatments for offenders, and helping judicial bodies make more informed decisions. At its core, legal psychology seeks to make legal processes run smoothly while also making them less impactful on those involved.

Do you have to have a major to be a lawyer?

Hi everyone, just looking for some advice. I'm in the final year of my psychology degree and looking to get a 2:1, although in my second year I ended up averaging a high 2:2, but last year wasn't particularly good for me. I'm now working extra extra hard, have picked modules I'm actually interested and really want to be able to practice law.

Can you get a PhD in psychology with a law degree?

Psychologists can also help attorneys more effectively interview and counsel their clients, craft persuasive arguments, design effective exhibits or conceive useful analogies. Where should psychology focus more attention? There is really no area of law or legal practice that couldn't benefit from more psychological research.

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Can you be a lawyer with a psychology major?

Psychologists trained in psychology and law provide psycho-legal research in a variety of areas, develop mental health legal and public policies, and work as both lawyers and psychologists within legal and clinical arenas.

How can psychology help a lawyer?

Psychologists can use their knowledge and skills to help lawyers prepare witnesses for depositions — helping witnesses tell their stories effectively, helping them overcome habits of poor communication and manage their anxiety or overconfidence, and so on.

How does psychology relate to the law?

Although law and psychology are two separate fields, they are united by their interest in human behavior. Psychology seeks to understand and explain human behavior while law seeks to regulate human behavior.Jan 26, 2016

Is psychology a hard major?

Psychology is one of the more difficult degrees and many of your assignments will require you to cite your sources and will require you to back up a lot of the arguments that you have.Nov 29, 2021

What is legal psychology?

Legal psychology is one of a number of disciplines that applies the psychological insights of human behavior to matters regarding the law. Developmental psychology, community psychology, social psychology, and cognitive psychology are all subspecialties within the realm of psychology and the law. However, likely the closest field ...

How much does a forensic psychologist make?

Conversely, forensic psychologists can also make far above the median wage, upwards of $100,000 per year. Like most occupations, a worker’s level of experience in the field heavily influences the amount of money they make.

What is psychology major?

Through the psychology major’s coursework, students develop a solid understanding of how people can make correct or incorrect judgments that can lead to things like stereotyping, prejudice, or discrimination. Psychology courses also teach students how to network and prepare for negotiations.

What is legal studies?

Legal studies focus on topics that are rooted in economic analysis—torts, contracts, property rights, antitrust, business organizations, and regulations. In short, a study of economics is a study in the financial impact of the law. Because of this, economics is a great area of specialization for many potential law students because it remains ...

What is the LSAT test?

The LSAT tests for critical thinking skills rather than subject matter expertise. Law schools look for candidates with abstract thinking skills, the ability to interpret written texts, and high reading comprehension. They want candidates that have fine reasoning abilities, the ability to think logically. Notice how all majors have students that ...

What is political science?

Political science is the study of government systems, political behavior, and how the judicial system works. This is where a political science degree shows its advantage in law school. Students in this field often have a better understanding of how laws are created and executed as well as the history behind them.

Is philosophy a good major?

The granddaddy of all mind-stretching mental exercises, philosophy is a fantastic major that builds a student’s ability to think critically and argue. Law is heavily based on philosophical elements like ethics, and human nature—subjects that are commonly taught in a philosophy major. Philosophy is a difficult major. It requires students to think analytically and form logical arguments. It also examines moral, political, and legal issues with no clear right or wrong while asking students to render judgment. Because of the difficulty level, some law schools may look more favorably at a degree in philosophy than a degree in a field like Criminal Justice.

What are the skills required for an English major?

In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students.

What majors are challenging?

An ecology major might take up residence in environmental law. Science majors are challenging and require students to learn complex subject matter, analyze data, and arrive at provable conclusions.

What makes a good lawyer?

Good lawyers are also effective at developing relationships with clients, staff, colleagues and others. And they are skilled at perspective taking, engaged and passionate about what they do, good at managing stress and able to act with a high degree of integrity.

What are lawyers and legal educators concerned about?

Some lawyers and legal educators are concerned about dissatisfaction in the legal profession and what might be done about it. Psychologists can inform those discussions with research on subjective well-being, the notion of "grit," the ways people can choke under pressure and how we manage our time.

Can psychologists be witnesses?

Yes. Already, many psychologists serve as expert witnesses on substantive issues in litigation or as experts with regard to various aspects of the legal process — such as eyewitness identification.

Do lawyers have experience?

Lawyers have a wealth of experience about how people behave — and a lot of information about how to be a good lawyer is passed down from attorney to attorney. But as psychological research shows, people tend to overestimate their ability to learn from experience.

What do philosophy majors study?

Philosophy majors delve deep into the study of logic, ethics, and morality —areas of thought that also happen to be the cornerstones of law. You'll debate with classmates, present arguments and do a lot of research to support your case, which is not all that different from what lawyers do to prepare for court.

What is the closest thing to law school?

Political Science. Of all majors, this may be the closest to a "law school" curriculum as you can get. In this major, you'll study political systems, public policy, international relations and the relationship between government, the law, and individual rights, among other things.

What do history majors learn?

From a practical standpoint, history majors are also tasked with lots of research and writing and must learn to draw conclusions based on historical documents, a great precursor to the work you'll do in law school.

What is an economics major?

Not only are economics majors trained to think logically and analytically, but economic policies and procedures, as well as how resources are distributed and managed, are topics closely connected to the legal issues you'll encounter as a lawyer.

Is business a good major?

A business major is a good option for those who plan to go into corporate law. That said, be sure to supplement business fundamentals with humanities and liberal arts electives so you can train your analytical and critical thinking muscles, as well as practice research and writing, too.

What is the most popular degree in psychology?

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is one of the most popular college degrees in the country. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of students graduate every year with a degree in psychology who have no interest in becoming a psychologist. So, if your ultimate goal is to become a psychologist, you must pay closer attention. This fact also translates to crowded freshman-year introductory lectures with 100‒400 students in them, depending on the size of the school. To stand out in the crowd, you have to work especially hard.

Why do companies hire psychologists?

Big corporations hire psychologists to help the businesses’ employees learn to communicate better internally. Sports teams employ psychologists to help with the team members’ motivation and self-confidence. Engineering companies use psychologists to help the company build more efficient and safer products.

Why do psychologists use statistics?

If a psychologist doesn’t have a firm grasp on statistics, he or she will not be able to extract useful, impactful conclusions from experiments and studies. To determine the importance of their research, psychologists use statistics to quantify it.

What classes do you need to take to become a clinical psychologist?

Almost all students are required to take, not one, but two core classes with daunting titles such as, “Quantitative Research Methods,” “Statistics of Psychology” or the “Mathematics of Neuropsychology.”.

How much does a clinical psychologist make?

Some clinical psychologists start with a salary closer to $150,000. It may have taken eight to 10 years of school to earn it, but that’s a good salary by anyone’s estimation. And, as you progress through your career, it only gets better.

What is the most popular college degree?

A bachelor’s degree in psychology is one of the most popular college degrees in the country. Literally hundreds, if not thousands, of students graduate every year with a degree in psychology who have no interest in becoming a psychologist.

Is it important to choose a career track in psychology?

Even though it’s important to choose a specific career track within psychology and to narrow the scope of your interests within that subject, it doesn’t mean that a specialization gives you a better shot at getting a job. Extensive research and knowledge in one subject area are incredibly beneficial, but you also need a well-rounded resume. If all your internships have been in the neurology wing of hospitals, for example, don’t expect employers to be impressed.

College Requirements

To attend law school, you have to graduate from an accredited college. You don't have to choose a particular major, but the University of Florida reports that physics, math, philosophy, religion, economics, government and engineering majors score higher on the LSAT than other college majors.

Criminology Benefits

Although criminology won't boost your LSAT scores, it can give you some advantages when it comes to applying to law school. If you intern in the criminal justice system, you'll gain real-world experience that you can turn into personal recommendations for your law school application.

Law School

You'll have to attend and complete law school before you'll be eligible to become an attorney, unless you live in a state such as California, which allows people to take the bar without attending law school by completing alternative education requirements.

Bar Certification

After you pass the bar, you'll have to be sworn in as an attorney before you can practice law. You'll need to undergo a bar fitness investigation by your state bar association to determine if you have the moral character to practice law. You'll also have to pay for admission to the bar.

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Political Science

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Average LSAT Score: 153.8 Average GPA: 3.39 The most popular major of law school candidates is political science. There’s a reason why many successful politicians are lawyers—the link between law and political theory is very strong. Political science is the study of government systems, political behavior, and how …
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Psychology

  • Average LSAT Score: 152.59 Average GPA: 3.35 Want to understand why people think, believe, and act the way they do? Psychology is the study of human behavior and the mental processes that fuel how people interact with each other and the world around them. Since the law is a system designed to govern human behavior, psychology can help lawmakers understand what ki…
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Criminal Justice

  • Average LSAT Score: 145.90 Average GPA: 3.22 Criminal justice is a natural fit for law school since coursework focuses on criminal justice topics. These programs often include courses on court proceedings, the correction systems, and many other aspects of the legal system. Criminal justice degrees emphasize strong research, analysis, and writing skills which are a necessity in l…
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English

  • Average LSAT Score: 155.25 Average GPA: 3.42 The English major is a very popular major for law school because of its immediately obvious benefits: advanced reading comprehension and persuasive writing skills. Students of the English major study dense and complex literature and are then required to process the information, make connections and create organized analytical …
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History

  • Average LSAT Score: 156.22 Average GPA: 3.45 A significant part of being a lawyer is understanding past precedent on different legal cases in the past. Is it any surprise then that history is a great major for law students? History studentsnot only study the events of the past, but also study the way different legal systems have evolved, court rulings, treaties, and other leg…
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Economics

  • Average LSAT Score: 158.93 Average GPA: 3.47 Economics is a topic that has drastically altered the shape of the law. This is because many laws are enacted to adjust and correct economic behavior by businesses and individuals in the marketplace. Legal studies focus on topics that are rooted in economic analysis—torts, contracts, property rights, antitrust, business organizations, …
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Philosophy

  • Average LSAT Score: 157.53 Average GPA: 3.43 The granddaddy of all mind-stretching mental exercises, philosophy is a fantastic major that builds a student’s ability to think critically and argue. Law is heavily based on philosophical elements like ethics, and human nature—subjects that are commonly taught in a philosophy major. Philosophy is a difficult major. It requires stude…
See more on edsmart.org

Sociology

  • Average LSAT Score: 150.71 Average GPA: 3.29 Sociology is a great major for potential law students because it studies the big picture of society. It looks at the social issues we face in our society like poverty, economic justice, racial discrimination, and LGBT rights. Sociology looks at the way the law can help, and how to develop solutions to fight inequality. In this light, sociology …
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Communications

  • Average LSAT Score: 151.2 Average GPA: 3.32 Students with a passion for writing, public speaking, or negotiation often gravitate to the communications major. This major focuses on team building, organizational communication, and conflict management as well as developing critical thinking skills. These are all transferable skills when it comes to transitioning into law stu…
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Science

  • Average LSAT Score: 148.4 Average GPA: 3.21 When it comes to college admissions, the name of the game is usually to stand out from among your peers. There is no better way to stand out from the pack of law school applicants than with a science degree. While the degree may seem completely irrelevant to law, different areas of scientific study lend themselves well to specialize…
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History

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Examining how the past has helped to shape and define our present—here in the United States and around the world—will help you put into context our current justice system and laws. From a practical standpoint, history majors are also tasked with lots of research and writing and must learn to draw conclusions base…
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English

  • Having a strong command of written and verbal skills will take you far as an attorney whether you're writing, researching or speaking in court. Analyzing great works of literature and historical texts from various cultures and time periods is great practice for the hours you'll spend in the law library.
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Philosophy

  • Philosophy majors delve deep into the study of logic, ethics, and morality—areas of thought that also happen to be the cornerstones of law. You'll debate with classmates, present arguments and do a lot of research to support your case, which is not all that different from what lawyers do to prepare for court.
See more on discover.com

Political Science

  • Of all majors, this may be the closest to a "law school" curriculum as you can get. In this major, you'll study political systems, public policy, international relations and the relationship between government, the law, and individual rights, among other things. You're required to analyze various written documents and data sets (think ancient texts to social media posts) and will learn to thin…
See more on discover.com

Economics

  • Not only are economics majors trained to think logically and analytically, but economic policies and procedures, as well as how resources are distributed and managed, are topics closely connected to the legal issues you'll encounter as a lawyer. Any major that has you summarizing qualitative and quantitative data to solve problems is good training for your brain to seek out evi…
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Business

  • General business knowledge can be applied in almost any industry, and that holds true for aspiring attorneys as well. A business major is a good option for those who plan to go into corporate law. That said, be sure to supplement business fundamentals with humanities and liberal arts electives so you can train your analytical and critical thinking muscles, as well as pra…
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General Tips

  1. Consider majoring in a discipline that is related to the type of law you want to practice. Since you don't have to declare a specialty during law school, building a background as an undergraduate i...
  2. Choose a major or take electives that are heavy on research and writing. As mentioned earlier, those are the critical skills that will help you most in law school.
  1. Consider majoring in a discipline that is related to the type of law you want to practice. Since you don't have to declare a specialty during law school, building a background as an undergraduate i...
  2. Choose a major or take electives that are heavy on research and writing. As mentioned earlier, those are the critical skills that will help you most in law school.
  3. Whichever academic route you take, maintaining a strong GPA is essential if you aim to attend a selective law school program.