Pursuing A Law Career: Choosing The Right Major

Becoming a lawyer is a multi-step journey that typically takes seven years of education. After completing a four-year undergraduate program, aspiring lawyers attend law school, which usually lasts three years. While there is no single path to becoming a lawyer, certain majors can help prepare you for the rigours of law school and a legal career. These include history, English, political science, economics, business, criminal justice, and philosophy. These majors can provide a strong foundation in research, writing, debating, and critical thinking skills, which are essential for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and law school. However, it's important to remember that law schools value a well-rounded education and strong grades, so choosing a major that aligns with your interests and strengths is crucial.

English

In addition, English majors often have strong research and writing skills, which are imperative for a career in law. The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends that prospective law students pursue an area of study that interests and challenges them, while taking advantage of opportunities to develop their research and writing skills.

While English is a good major for a career in law, it's important to note that law schools also value work experience. Participating in legal research as an undergraduate or working as a paralegal after graduation can strengthen your law school application.

Ultimately, the best undergraduate degree to help you become a lawyer depends on the specific area of law you want to practice. For example, if you're interested in corporate law, a business or economics degree might be a better fit. However, if you're interested in both English and law, an English degree is a great option that will provide you with valuable skills for a legal career.

History

In addition, history teaches you to think critically and analytically, which is a key skill for the LSAT® (Law School Admissions Test). The LSAT focuses on reading comprehension and analytical reasoning skills, so the research and writing that history majors are tasked with can give you an edge when applying to law school.

Political Science

As a political science major, you will study how laws are created and implemented, and gain a foundational understanding of the law. Courses will cover government systems, political behaviours, and the history behind each law's formation. You will also learn about topics such as international relations and political methodology.

The skills you gain as a political science major will be useful in law school and as a professional lawyer. These include problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as public speaking skills that can be beneficial in the professional world.

While political science is a good choice for aspiring lawyers, it is important to note that law schools value a strong undergraduate GPA and challenging coursework. They also consider an applicant's major, but there is no single path to becoming a lawyer. Many different majors can provide a good foundation for law school, and the American Bar Association (ABA) suggests that students seek out engaging and challenging subjects that align with their interests and goals.

Criminal Justice

A criminal justice degree is a great option if you're considering a career in law, particularly if you're interested in criminal law. Criminal justice degrees offer courses that provide a fundamental understanding of the law from the perspective of the United States criminal justice system. Courses such as administration, evidence, forensics, and the judicial process can equip you with the skills necessary to succeed in law school, like research, negotiation, and analytical skills.

To become a lawyer, you will need to complete a bachelor's degree, preferably in a field like English or social science, and then attend law school to earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Most states require a JD from an accredited law school to become a licensed attorney. You will also need to pass the state bar exam in your future state of practice.

While there is no single path to becoming a lawyer, and no specific undergraduate major is required, certain majors can give you an edge when applying to law school. These include majors that prioritize research, writing, debating, and critical thinking—all of which are crucial skills for lawyers.

Economics

Economic conditions in the world can play a major role in legal reform, and as an economics major, you will learn about the foundations of what drives markets, economic policies and procedures, and how resources are distributed and managed. These topics are closely connected to the legal issues you will encounter as a lawyer.

In addition to the core subjects of microeconomics, macroeconomics, currency systems, and international economics, you will also study mathematics, statistics, and data analysis. This analytical skillset will be extremely useful for a career in law, as it will train your brain to seek out evidence to support your claims.

The American Bar Association encourages students to seek out engaging and challenging subjects that align with their goals and interests. Economics is a challenging and versatile major that will leave you with a wide array of options. Economics majors can find positions with the government, in all areas of businesses, in technology, and in finance.

If you are interested in economics but are unsure about the mathematical requirements, you may want to consider taking a business major instead. While there is some overlap between the two subjects, business majors tend to be less mathematically oriented and will still give you a good foundation for your law school studies.

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