Kara Sears
Criminal justice is a popular major for aspiring law students. It provides a solid foundation for law school by teaching critical thinking, research, and writing skills. It also offers an understanding of the legal system and its processes, including law enforcement, courts, and corrections. While some consider it a good pre-law path, others view it as a major for those interested in law enforcement careers, such as police work. The choice of major ultimately depends on one's interests and career goals, as law schools value diverse backgrounds and degrees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate major | Criminal Justice |
| Usefulness for law school | Yes, it can provide an excellent foundation for law school and is one of the top five majors for law school applicants. However, opinions vary, with some sources stating that the major doesn't matter as long as you get good grades and develop critical thinking and writing skills. |
| Career preparation | Criminal justice degrees can prepare students for careers in law enforcement, corrections, and other criminal justice fields. They can also be a good foundation for careers as paralegals, lawyers, or forensic psychologists. |
| Technical skills gained | Computer literacy, research, report writing, interviewing and interrogation |
| Understanding of | Criminal behavior, the legal and justice systems, law enforcement, courts, and correction facilities |
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What You'll Learn
Criminal justice as a pre-law major
Criminal justice is a good pre-law major for students who are interested in the subject and want to pursue a career in law. It is among the top five majors for law school applicants, ahead of history, sociology, and business administration. Many students who major in criminal justice are interested in a career in law rather than law enforcement.
Criminal justice classes can help students develop skills that law schools look for in their applicants. These include critical thinking, conducting in-depth research, writing persuasively, and problem-solving. Students can also learn about the legal system and how to work within it, including how law enforcement, courts, and correction facilities work together to seek justice.
However, some people argue that criminal justice is not a serious major and that students should major in something that interests them and allows them to get good grades. For example, philosophy, sociology, or English degrees can provide excellent training in writing, while STEM subjects may not focus as much on developing critical thinking skills.
Ultimately, the American Bar Association does not advocate for one undergraduate major over another. Instead, it encourages students to choose majors that interest them. Students should consider their interests and how they can tie their program of interest with the legal profession. For example, a student who likes accounting could use their degree in law school to pursue law with an emphasis on financial matters.
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Skills gained from a criminal justice degree
A criminal justice degree can help students develop a wide range of skills that can be applied to various careers, including law. While the technical knowledge and job training required in each career path will vary, here are some key skills that a criminal justice degree can help you develop:
Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
Criminal justice students learn to think critically and analytically about complex societal issues and criminal behaviour. They explore various criminological theories and gain an understanding of the underlying causes of criminal behaviour, such as the broken window theory and labelling theory. This knowledge can be invaluable in a career in law, where critical thinking and analysis are essential for legal research, interpretation, and argumentation.
Research and Report Writing Skills
Criminal justice degrees often involve conducting thorough research and writing reports, which are essential skills for law professionals. Students learn to gather information, analyse evidence, and document their findings clearly and persuasively. These skills are particularly relevant for legal professionals, as their written documents may become legally admissible records or form part of legal judgments.
Communication and Public Speaking Skills
Effective communication is a crucial skill in the field of criminal justice, especially when interacting with colleagues, victims, witnesses, or suspects. Criminal justice students develop oral communication skills, including public speaking abilities, which can aid in addressing diverse audiences, from law enforcement colleagues to members of the public. Strong communication skills can also help build rapport and trust, which is essential for community policing and social work.
Empathy and Social Awareness
Criminal justice professionals often work with individuals from various backgrounds, and empathy is a valuable skill in these interactions. Understanding the perspectives and feelings of others can enhance their effectiveness in community policing, social work, and parole officer roles. Empathy also plays a role in fostering positive relationships and helping former offenders reintegrate into society.
Computer Literacy
In the modern job market, computer literacy is essential, and criminal justice degrees often incorporate technical skills related to computer usage. Proficiency in computer applications can aid in various tasks, from data analysis to report generation and legal research.
Overall, a criminal justice degree provides a solid foundation for a career in law by developing critical thinking, research, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills. It offers an understanding of the legal system and criminal behaviour, which can be applied in law school and various legal specializations.
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Career options with a criminal justice degree
A criminal justice degree can be a great foundation for a career in law. It can help you develop the analytical skills and legal knowledge needed to prepare for law school and the legal profession. Criminal justice classes can help you develop critical thinking, research, and persuasive writing skills that are valued by law schools.
With a criminal justice degree, you can pursue various career paths in the criminal justice field, both in the public and private sectors. Here are some career options to consider:
Law Enforcement
Criminal justice degrees are well-suited for careers in law enforcement. They provide knowledge of criminal behaviour, the legal system, and law enforcement procedures. This includes understanding the roles of police officers, correctional officers, and the court system. The degree equips graduates with skills in investigation, report writing, interviewing, and interrogation, which are essential for law enforcement roles.
Paralegal or Lawyer
A criminal justice degree can be an excellent stepping stone towards a career as a paralegal or lawyer. It offers a strong understanding of the legal and justice systems, which can be applied in law firms. Paralegals in Massachusetts, for example, earn an average of over $65,000 annually. With further education, a criminal justice degree can also lead to a career as a lawyer, with an average salary of over $111,000 in Massachusetts.
Forensic Science and Psychology
For those with an interest in science, a criminal justice degree can lead to careers in forensic science and psychology. Forensic science technicians, also known as crime scene investigators, collect and analyse evidence, images, and other relevant data. They conduct comprehensive scientific and technical analyses to support criminal investigations. Forensic psychologists publish reports and studies that are used by other criminal justice professionals. They may also testify in court to support legal arguments, with an average annual salary of $131,000 in Massachusetts.
Correctional Counsellor
A criminal justice degree can prepare individuals to work as correctional counsellors, specifically with youth offenders. They provide counselling services, rehabilitation support, and assistance in transitioning back into everyday life for young individuals in the criminal justice system.
Victim Advocate
Victim advocates are trained professionals who support victims of crime throughout the criminal justice process. They offer emotional support, provide information about victims' rights, help victims access resources, and assist with necessary paperwork. Victim advocates play a crucial role in ensuring that victims and their families navigate the criminal justice system effectively.
These are just a few examples of the diverse career paths that a criminal justice degree can offer. It is important to explore your interests and passions to find the right fit within the criminal justice field or related areas.
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Criminal justice vs. criminology
While criminal justice and criminology are similar in some ways, they are distinct disciplines with different primary goals, methods, and areas of focus. Both fields deal with crime and criminal behaviour, but they approach the subject from different angles and serve different purposes.
Criminal justice is the study of the law enforcement system and those who work in it, including police officers, judges, correctional officers, detectives, sheriffs, deputies, and border patrol agents. It focuses on the enforcement and application of laws and the legal system, including the judiciary, law enforcement, and correctional facilities. It takes a practical approach to crime, investigating criminal conduct, gathering evidence, making arrests, bringing charges, conducting trials, and carrying out sentences and punishment. Criminal justice professionals are constantly refining methods of criminal investigation, arrest, prosecution, and correction. Criminal justice graduates can pursue careers in law enforcement, the court system, and correctional facilities.
On the other hand, criminology is a social science that studies the reasons for and patterns of criminal behaviour, asking why people commit crimes. It focuses on the sociological, psychological, economic, psychiatric, and anthropological aspects of crime and delinquency, including its causes, correction, and prevention. Criminology has a more theoretical and proactive focus, aiming to deepen the understanding of crime and inform policies and strategies to prevent it. Criminologists work in various settings, including crime scenes, academic institutions, and as consultants for government agencies, law firms, courts, and private security companies.
In summary, criminal justice takes a practical, reactive approach to addressing and responding to crime, while criminology takes a theoretical, proactive approach to understanding the motives and causes of criminal behaviour and developing methods to prevent it. Criminal justice professionals work directly in the field of law enforcement and the justice system, while criminologists often work behind the scenes, conducting research and advising criminal justice professionals. Both fields play a crucial role in fighting crime and ensuring public safety.
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Law school preferences
Criminal justice is among the top five majors for law school applicants, ahead of history, sociology, and business administration. It is a good pre-law major and can be a great foundation for law school. Criminal justice classes can help you develop skills that law schools look for in their students. Law schools appreciate rigorous coursework, and as a criminal justice major, you can expect to take classes that challenge you to think critically, conduct in-depth research, and write persuasively and in the style used by lawyers.
The American Bar Association recommends that you take classes that allow you to hone your abilities to problem-solve, think and read critically, write and edit, research, and stay organized – all skills that you can gain from a criminal justice major. Criminal justice degrees can give students a better understanding of the legal and justice systems, which they can apply to the law firms where they will work.
However, some people argue that criminal justice is not a serious major and that it is a dumbed-down sociology degree for people who want to be cops. They suggest that students should instead major in philosophy or sociology if they want to go into criminal law. Others argue that the subject you choose for your undergraduate degree does not matter, and that students should instead pick something that genuinely interests them and that they can get good grades in.
If you want to go to law school, some other majors you might consider include business, political science, pre-law, and history. It is important to choose a major that you are interested in and that you can tie to the legal profession. For example, if you like accounting, you can use that degree in law school to pursue law with an emphasis on financial matters.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a criminal justice degree can be a great foundation for law school as it helps students develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills that are essential for a career in law. It also provides a good understanding of the legal system and how to work within it.
Technical skills you can gain with a criminal justice degree include computer literacy, report writing, interviewing and interrogation, and research skills.
There are several career paths you can pursue with a criminal justice degree. Some options include becoming a paralegal, lawyer, forensic psychologist, or law enforcement officer.
Other majors that can provide a good foundation for law school include philosophy, English, political science, history, and business. Ultimately, the American Bar Association recommends that students choose a major that interests them and allows them to develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills.
