Deciding on an Undergraduate Major Before Entering Law School
Law schools don't particularly care what major people have when applying to law school. The old myth was to major in political science or go on a pre-law tract but that isn't necessarily true today. College students applying to law school now have a wide range of minors and majors that they are taking that law schools are accepting. Simply put- law schools won't reject a student's application just because they are majoring in a particular subject.
However, majoring in political science, going on a Pre-law major or tract can be very beneficial for a student once they are in law school because often a lot of the same subject material is covered under a political science major. For example, I am currently a political science major and I believe that my current class in Labor Rights and Law will help me greatly for law school when I take classes. Other students I know who are majoring in political science are taking Constitutional Law which is one of the best classes to prepare you for law school.
On the other hand, if you decide to major or minor in another academic field, it can help you specialize in a field of law at law school. Some people who are majoring in business or Economics want to be corporate lawyers once they graduate from law school. Understanding business theories and finance will greatly help you in law school. In fact, some law schools like accepting students with different majors because it contributes to the diversity of the law school.
Perhaps using the best of both worlds, I know many undergraduate students who are double majoring in political science and business or economics. Double majoring with any field in academics is extremely tough and you have to take on additional courses and seminars. However, if you are able to pull it off and receive high marks in both subjects, it will greatly help you in law school.
Still, if you major in a science like biology and chemistry, law schools might not understand why you are applying to law school. Law is very different from science and it is very difficult to combine the two subjects. Even if you major in a language, that can also be helpful. For example you can work for the government on an international level and use your language speaking abilities to your advantage to get a job. International diplomats and lawyers often major or minor in another language besides English.
Published by Daniel Rein
I am a 19 year old student who likes to have a good time and will enjoy working for this site. View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentI'm an majoring in psychology for undergrad. Do you think I need to take another course or something to get into the university of Aberdeen's law school? (international student) They stated that students with undergraduate degrees in related programs are accepted sometimes. Those programs were however, not listed.
The writer is a 19 year old student who probably hasn't even gotten into law school, let alone know what law schools are looking for in potential applicants.
Law is very different from science?? Who do you think files biotech/pharma patents and then defends them in court?
as an english major right now, i have been thinking about possibly going to law school after finishing my undergraduate degree. is this something that is seen at all? is it a good ideea to stick with english or should i switch to a political science major?
I have an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering and it is helping out tremendously for patent law. I don't see why it would be difficult to "combine subjects." The brain is smart enough to absorb and process scientific/engineering formulas and theoretical/legal principles. This article is makeshift, maybe written for a project or something, from the point of view of someone totally outside the legal field.
Daniel:
I definitely agree with your comments. Think too many pre-laws believe erroneously that a political science or other liberal arts education will give them an edge in law school admissions. Bottom line is that law schools are looking for smart people with a demonstrated record of intellectual success. That also happens to be a criteria for practicing law. Simply, most lawyers you run into are substantially above average intelligence.
As a practicing lawyer and author of the book "Law School Labyrinth- A Guide to Making the Most of Your Legal Education" (Kaplan Publishing, 2009)www.lawschoollabyrinth.com, I've done some blogging about undergraduate majors (see http://rly.cc/1C6pC). My view is that a prelaw student is better served with a degree that will enable them to find a job upon graduation (whether or not they go to law school). For example, an accounting major, in my opinion, is a great educational platform from which to earn a law degree.
In that way, if the
no classes in undergrad help you in law school. Even law clases in undergrad take an entirely different approach to the teaching and understanding of the law. Law schools don't teach you the law so much as to teach you how to think like a lawyer. this article is bunk! don't believe it.
Would a Graphic Design major in Art Center work?
Guys- i've never heard of a person majoring in poli sci classes getting confused. for me as a poli sci major it has only helped me. u can major in anything but the top major besides poli sci or pre law going into law school is business/finance majors
There are a lot of engineering majors who apply to law school. Just wondering, what about a math major applying to law school?