Pursuing A Law Degree: What You Need To Know

There is no one-size-fits-all major for getting into law school. Law schools welcome applicants from all majors, and the only reason to change majors would be to take on a more challenging course load or improve your grades. While some majors are more common among law school applicants, such as political science, psychology, criminal justice, economics, history, and English, many applicants are accepted with diverse backgrounds. The key skills for success in law school are critical reading, thinking, and writing skills, which can be developed through any major. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a major that excites you and helps you develop these essential skills.

There is no prerequisite major for law school

When choosing a major, keep in mind that critical reading, writing, and thinking skills are essential for success in law school. Any major that excites your passion is the right major for you. That includes non-traditional pre-law majors such as nursing, engineering, health sciences, or computer science. Success in your major is more important than choosing the “right” major. It is a myth that students should major in politics, history, or English if they plan to attend law school.

Studies show that students who majored in math, economics, philosophy, or theology perform better than average in law school and on the LSAT (law school admissions test). That said, any major can prepare you for both the LSAT and law school if you focus on developing your critical reasoning skills. For example, economics and philosophy majors tend to score highly on the LSAT and prepare students well for law school.

If your major is less common for a law school applicant, show how it will help you in law school and beyond. Demonstrate the value you can bring to the classroom and connect your major to your career goals. For instance, if you are drawn to becoming a transactional attorney in a large firm, a business major could be beneficial.

A major that builds writing, speaking and critical thinking skills is helpful

While there is no requirement to major in a specific subject to get into law school, choosing a major that builds writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills can be helpful. Law school admission offices value a diverse educational background, so students should strive for a varied selection of challenging courses from different colleges and departments.

Majors that build writing skills can be beneficial for law school as they teach students to communicate their judgments and arguments unambiguously in their written assignments. English, for example, is a pre-law major that equips students with exceptional reading, writing, and analytical skills crucial for success in law school. Similarly, economics nurtures impressive research and communication skills, and an economics degree can unlock diverse opportunities in the legal landscape.

Majors that foster speaking skills can also be advantageous. For instance, philosophy is a pre-law major that develops analytical and critical thinking skills, and it nicely splits the divide between being a rigorous intellectual pursuit and dealing with subjects that are accessible to the average person. Group projects and presentations in any major can also help students learn to interact and communicate with others.

Additionally, majors that enhance critical thinking skills are valuable for law school. Political science, for instance, is a popular pre-law major as it offers a comprehensive grasp of government and legal systems, and it fosters essential analytical and critical thinking skills vital for success in the legal field. History is another excellent choice for a pre-law major, as it equips students with a profound understanding of legal systems and hones crucial research, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Ultimately, while there is no one-size-fits-all answer, choosing a major that builds writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills can provide a strong foundation for law school and help students develop the soft skills necessary for success in the legal profession.

Law school admissions value a diverse collection of classes

While there is no single "pre-law" major that is more advantageous than others for law school admissions, law schools value a diverse collection of classes and students from a wide range of backgrounds. The Law School Admission Council's (LSAC) analysis of the incoming class of 2023 revealed that it was the most racially and ethnically diverse in history, with 40.2% of the class comprising students of colour, 55.8% women, 14.7% LGBTQ+, and 24.2% first-generation college students.

Law school admissions offices consider the variety and complexity of the courses during an applicant's undergraduate degree. Students are encouraged to take challenging courses from different colleges and departments instead of narrowly focusing on a single area. Critical reading and thinking skills, as well as "soft skills" like the ability to parse complex texts and construct cogent arguments, are essential for success in law school.

Majors such as math, economics, philosophy, and theology have been shown to prepare students well for the LSAT, with economics and philosophy majors achieving some of the highest scores. These majors often develop analytical and quantitative thinking skills that are valuable for the LSAT and law school. However, any major can adequately prepare a student for the LSAT and law school if they focus on honing their critical reasoning abilities.

When applying to law school, it is important to understand that law schools value diversity and consider an applicant's life experiences and hardships. Many law schools now offer optional diversity statements or similar variations, allowing applicants to highlight unique aspects of their identity, background, or experiences that showcase diversity.

A unique major can make you a more well-rounded law school candidate

Law schools welcome applicants from all majors, and a unique major can indeed make you a more well-rounded law school candidate. Law school admission offices care about the variety and complexity of the courses during your undergraduate degree. Students should strive for a diverse collection of classes from different colleges and departments.

There is no need to worry about whether your major fits the profile of a "typical law school applicant." If your major is less common or unusual for a law school applicant, you can highlight this as a strength in your application. Demonstrate the value you can bring to the classroom, show the significance of your work, and connect your major to your career goals. For example, if your academic work gave you experience in quantitative research methods, advanced software skills, or cross-cultural communications experience, be sure to highlight these assets in your application.

While there is no requirement to major in a particular subject to get into law school, certain majors can help develop skills that are useful for success in law school and the legal profession. These include writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills. Many students major in traditional subjects such as history, English, political science, economics, or business. However, non-traditional pre-law majors such as nursing, engineering, health sciences, or computer science can also provide a strong foundation for law school.

Ultimately, the most important factor is to choose a major that you are passionate about and that will help you develop valuable skills. Success in your major and developing critical reasoning skills may be more important than choosing a specific "pre-law" major.

Majors that teach analytical skills are beneficial for the LSATs

While there is no requirement to major in a specific subject to get into law school, choosing a major that teaches analytical skills can be beneficial for the LSATs (Law School Admissions Test). Law school admission offices care about the variety and complexity of the courses during your undergraduate degree, and students should strive for a diverse collection of classes. Analytical skills are essential for students who want to succeed in their academic and professional careers. They are the ability to collect, process, and interpret data to make informed decisions and solve problems.

Majors that teach analytical skills, therefore, give students an advantage when it comes to LSATs. For example, economics and philosophy majors tend to score highly on the LSATs. This is because these majors often teach students to think analytically and quantitatively. Philosophy is a rigorous intellectual pursuit that deals with subjects that the average person would not be completely baffled to discover even exist. Economics, on the other hand, teaches students to take a series of messily phrased conditions and turn them into a visual model, which is useful for dealing with logic games in the LSATs.

Another example of a major that teaches analytical skills is political science, which is an eclectic field of study that mixes reading massive amounts of text with a hefty background in statistics. The ability to flip between different topics with ease will help in the Logical Reasoning section of the LSATs, which moves from idea to idea more quickly than anywhere else on the test. Similarly, psychology, with its heavy emphasis on statistics, is attuned to the Logical Reasoning section of the LSATs.

In addition to economics, philosophy, political science, and psychology, other majors that teach analytical skills include mathematics, physics, engineering, and natural sciences. These majors will force students to do analysis, which is important for the LSATs and law school in general. Ultimately, while the choice of major is up to the individual, choosing a major that teaches analytical skills can be a strategic decision for those aiming to do well on the LSATs and gain admission into law school.

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