what are majors for an attorney

by Ardella Crooks 9 min read

Other majors that can provide a foundation for law school include the social and behavioral sciences, history, mathematics, computers and accounting. In general, law schools look for students who have received a broad liberal arts or multidisciplinary education. Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Are Pre-Law Programs Available?

Take a look at these popular majors for future law students.
  • History. 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. ...
  • English. ...
  • Philosophy. ...
  • Political Science. ...
  • Economics. ...
  • Business. ...
  • General Tips.
Feb 12, 2021

Full Answer

What is the best major for a lawyer?

In general, law schools look for students who have received a broad liberal arts or multidisciplinary education. Possible Majors. History, political science, philosophy, criminal justice, social science. Common Pre-Law Courses. Quantitative reasoning, behavioral sciences, government, humanities, communication.

What colleges are recommended to be a lawyer?

Oct 09, 2021 · Economics is an excellent major for aspiring lawyers, especially for those intending to work in corporate law, intellectual property, or another niche where an understanding of economic theory and the levers that drive capitalism can be useful.

What education do I need to become a lawyer?

Jun 20, 2016 · With that in mind, certain majors do seem somewhat common among pre-law students including Political Science, History, Philosophy and Business. If one is interested in a particular aspect of law (which you stated you are but did not specify which aspect) then they may find related courses helpful.

What colleges offer law majors?

The Best Undergraduate Degrees to Become a Lawyer Political Science. According to the Law School Admission Council, political science was, by far, the most popular major... Psychology. Among individual majors—those that were not seen so …

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What Majors Are Available for Aspiring Lawyers Like Me?

Before you can become a lawyer, you must graduate from an accredited law school program and pass the bar exam. There are many bachelor's degree programs that can help prepare you for law school, including criminal justice, political science and even philosophy programs.

Are Pre-Law Programs Available?

If law school is your goal, several schools offer pre-law or pre-law studies majors specifically designed to prepare students for a professional law program. Pre-law programs might be found within a school's criminal justice and political science department. Other schools offer pre-law advisement programs rather than pre-law majors.

What Else Should I Do to Prepare for Law School?

You might also prepare for law school with practical experience in the field. You can accomplish this in several ways, including employment, volunteer work, internships in legal settings, co-ops and study abroad opportunities. Depending on the school, you might be able to join a pre-law chapter of a law fraternity.

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 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 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 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 a criminal justice degree?

Because the criminal justice and legal systems are so intertwined, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice serves as an excellent undergraduate major in preparation for law school. Those considering work as a prosecuting or defense attorney may find the degree especially helpful, as the coursework and internships will give students a strong familiarity with the criminal justice system. Potential law students can also form helpful relationships with current lawyers that can provide insight into what it’s like to work in the criminal justice system. Helpful courses include criminology, criminal psychology, law & the criminal justice system, and social science research.

What do English majors learn?

Moreover, English majors learn to synthesize large amounts of written text and form persuasive and analytical arguments and positions. These skills are not only helpful in the field but serve as excellent preparation for entrance exams like the LSAT.

What is political science?

Political science offers an in-depth understanding of government, from its formulation to its implementation. As governments are the source of laws, this has wide applications to the legal field. Any lawyer will be working within the legal framework developed by the government of the nation in which they practice, and an intimate understanding of both the government and the philosophical values by which it governs is beneficial. For this reason, political science has long been regarded as one of the top areas of study for future lawyers, and it remains a strong choice for those looking to enter the profession.

Why is law important?

Laws have material consequences on every person and structure. They influence outcomes across the life course, making the field extremely important to the stability and progress of society. The work done by law professionals is competitive and pays well. Because of these things, students wishing to pursue a career in law are faced ...

What is a business administration degree?

A bachelor’s degree in business administration is well suited for law school, especially those applicants considering a corporate law track where knowing business fundamentals is helpful . The coursework is rigorous in reading, writing, and quantitative analysis, which is also helpful in preparing for the LSAT.

How do psychology and law intersect?

Psychology and law intersect well, as both deal with human thought and behavior. Psychology experts are relied upon heavily as witnesses and experts in many different legal cases and contexts. Having an understanding of psychological theory and its application can be helpful when it comes to preparing for law school.

Is economics a good major?

Economics is an excellent major for aspiring lawyers, especially for those intending to work in corporate law, intellectual property, or another niche where an understanding of economic theory and the levers that drive capitalism can be useful.

What is the minimum score required to become a lawyer?

You should expect to spend many hours studying while attending law school. At some point during your first year of law school, you will need to take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. You need a passing score of at least 75. California and a few other states require a score of 86.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer takes a total of seven years, and you must pass the bar exam. Every law school requires a four-year bachelor’s degree from a university or college, and law school takes another three years to complete. You should study English, government, history and public speaking.

What is the law school test?

This is a standardized test that provides information about your acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills. The results of this test is used as one factor in determining whether you are accepted to law school.

What is the bar exam?

The bar exam covers a large range of topics pertaining to law. Specializing in a particular field of law will allow you to achieve greater expertise than if you were to become a general practitioner. Becoming a lawyer will help clients resolve their complicated issues.

What does "pre-law" mean?

When people say “pre-law,” they simply mean that they approached college with the plan that, after graduating, they would one day apply to law school. While there is no pre-law major or set of required classes, you can still prepare for law school while in college. Here are just a few ways you can do that:

Is there a law school major?

Beyond taking these steps, there is no single best major for law school. You can major in absolutely anything and apply to law school. However, there are schools and programs that do a better job of preparing you for graduate study.

Is it easy to get into law school?

Graduates go on to be judges, prosecutors, professors, legislators, mediators, and so much more. But getting into law school is no easy matter.

Where does Veronica live?

in History and Classics. After graduating, she joined CollegeVine serving as the Curriculum Development Manager. She currently lives in Cambridge, MA and is writing her debut novel.

Richard R. Shaw

You can benefit from several majors. I was a Criminal Justice major and found it enlightening how future police officers were educated to do their jobs. No matter which major you choose, study hard and enjoy college. Good luck to you.#N#More

Ashley Marie Viruet

I don't think there is a "best" major as law school will change your way of thinking no matter what. The most common majors are English, history (which I majored in) and philosophy, but law schools are always looking to diversify so non-traditional math and science majors are looked well upon...

George Peter Conway

You can find out what the American Bar Association advises about pre-law school majors by clicking on the link provided below.

Christopher A Carrion

I'd say any major that really hones your writing ability. Writing is essential to a lawyers' craft. I personally doubled in political science and history. But many of my colleagues majored in areas that crossed the spectrum from English, to psychology, to finance, and I had one who was an MD before deciding to go to law school.

Matthew Oberlin Williams

Get a BS of something. That way if you decided you'd rather be a patent lawyer (good money, lots of jobs) you will have a leg on up on those of us who can't unless we go back and get a BS because we have a BA.

Michael Alan Bernstein

Great question! The best major for your future in criminal defense would be criminal justice, psychology, acting/theatre, english, public speaking, etc. Keep in mind that Elle Woods in the movie Legally Blonde studied Fashion Design and still went to Harvard. Study what you love, get good grades, be honest.

Joshua Paul Bannister

You don't need a special major in college to get into law school - or even to do well in law school. Most people I went to law school were political science majors, but it doesn't necessarily mean they did better. I have a degree in pastoral ministry & graduated magna cum laude from law school. Just pick what interests you & you'll be fine.

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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.
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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…
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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.

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 t…
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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 creat...
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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…
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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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