What is the Best Major for Law School?
Choosing a major for law school can feel overwhelming. Unlike other professional schools, there are no required undergraduate majors. This gives you the freedom to choose studies that align with your strengths and interests!
Whether you are passionate about politics, business, science or social justice, your major can help shape the type of law you’ll practice and will help you build the skills you need to succeed in law school.
Keep reading to discover how different majors prepare you for legal studies, explore important pre-law skills and learn how PNW can help you on your journey to law school.
What are the best pre-law majors?
Your application to law school will be considered no matter what major you complete, so pick a major that appeals to you!
Most students entering law school complete bachelor’s degrees in Humanities and Social Sciences subjects, such as Criminal Justice, Economics, English, History, Philosophy, Political Science and Psychology, according to the Law School Admission Council.
Humanities and social science majors translate well to law programs because they involve critical thinking and learning crucial subjects, such as human behavior, written communication, U.S. history, the structure of the U.S. government, ethics, civil rights and world cultures.
Your law career can take you in many different directions, such as engineering and healthcare. Law school admissions counselors also value bringing in unique perspectives to a program.
The American Bar Association recommends that students select undergraduate majors that will challenge them. They also suggest that students take courses that will develop their critical thinking, writing and research skills.
As an undergrad who wants to study law, what skills do I need?
To succeed in law school, you’ll need strong skills in critical thinking, reading, written and oral communication and research. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills and an ability to collaborate with others are also beneficial.
Critical thinking is the ability to analyze complex problems, evaluate information and draw logical conclusions from diverse materials.
As a law student, you’ll learn to identify key facts and legal issues and interpret dense texts, like case opinions and statutes, to build evidence-based arguments.
Looking to sharpen these skills? Practicing the IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion) method, briefing real court opinions, and joining moot court or mock trial can give you the hands-on experience you need to think—and argue—like a lawyer.
Studying and practicing law requires the ability to interpret and apply complicated language. Law school requires a significant amount of time spent reading densely written materials. You will need to think critically and craft verbal and written analyses based on your reading.
Academic work in law school requires time devoted to reading and pulling key information from academic and legal literature. Indiana’s legal code, for example, is broken into 36 “Titles.” Each title can have dozens or hundreds of chapters and articles within it.
The information in these chapters and articles is what holds the legal foundation for the state. Building research skills during undergrad will help you become more focused on what information you need, how to interpret that information and how to use it to make an effective argument.
As a law student, you’ll need to present arguments, debates and research findings. Learning how to comfortably and confidently speak to an audience or debate an opposing viewpoint will be helpful in school and your career.
While public speaking is not required in all areas of law practice, you will need to be able to confidently argue a case, negotiate settlements and explain complex information. You’ll need to be persuasive, clear and succinct.
Written ability is equally important, as lawyers spend a lot of time drafting letters and other legal documents. Similarly to oral communication, you will need to be able to write clearly and concisely in a technical and legal style.
What do you do in law school, and how do I know it’s right for me?
There is more to being a lawyer than what you see in “Legally Blonde,” “Law and Order” or “Suits.” While these shows and movies are interesting, they only show a small amount of what lawyers actually do. Just as there are many majors that can prepare you for law school, there are also dozens of career paths you can pursue once you earn your law degree.
Studying law means exploring how our legal system shapes society, from civil rights to education and everyday rules. It’s challenging, but if you care about fairness, problem-solving or making a difference, it could be the right path for you.
Some lawyers rarely enter courtrooms, and the majority of lawyers do not work in criminal law. Thinking about what interests you now can help you choose the right career path. If you are interested in business, you might enjoy corporate, labor or tax law. Love science? Intellectual property law, which focuses on protecting inventions, research and creative ideas, might be for you. If you speak multiple languages or enjoy learning about other cultures, immigration law and global advocacy might be a great fit. Exploring these options early can help you find a legal career that matches your passions.
Although a law degree often leads to a well-paying career, salaries can vary widely depending on the legal path you choose. Law school can open doors to many different roles, some in traditional legal practice, others in business, government or public interest work. Before you begin your studies, it’s helpful to explore the types of legal careers that interest you most. Understanding the typical compensation for those roles can guide you in choosing a law school that aligns with your financial goals and expected return on investment.
Law school prepares you to become a practicing lawyer by teaching you how law is created, passed, enforced and changed. By completing law school, you will receive a Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is a type of professional doctorate given specifically to lawyers.
You might also consider a combined degree, such as JD/MBA, JD/MPA or other combined degrees. Combined legal and master’s degrees typically add one additional year to your law studies, and can open additional professional career options to you.
After graduation, most states will require you to pass the bar exam in order to practice in a given jurisdiction.
How do I prepare for law school?
Your academic advisor can help you decide on classes, internships and help you network with professionals to strengthen your law school application.
Take courses that will help you build skills in reading, writing, research and public speaking. Use your time as an undergraduate to join student organizations, present at Days of Discovery, participate in Model UN or join an honor society such as Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society. Intern at a local law firm or government office to get experience and learn about office workflows, demand and daily life.
If you want to attend law school immediately following your undergraduate graduation, you will need to start preparing your application materials in your third academic year.
How do I apply for law school?
During your junior year, you will begin crafting your law school application. Generally, it is best to submit finalized law school applications as soon as possible.
Many law schools open their applications between late August and early October. Submitting application materials before December can result in quicker admissions decisions. The Princeton Review provides an example recommended timeline for submitting law school applications.
To prepare for your application, you should have the following items:
Letters of recommendation from faculty, staff or coaches who know you well and speak to your academic achievements, skills, potential and personal character. These letters provide the law school with a view of you as a well-rounded applicant, showing how you are inside and outside of the classroom.
Try choosing a range of recommenders to display your skills. A recommender could be a professor or instructor, supervisor, club advisor, coach or mentor who has worked with you closely. Always ask your recommenders early! They are busy and need time to write thoughtful, considerate letters that will support your application.
Personal statements and statements of purpose are your opportunity to tell the school about your character, motivation and passion for pursuing law and personal experiences that have prepared you for law school.
Similar to the letter of recommendation, this provides the admissions committee a chance to know who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Consider visiting the PNW Writing Center to brainstorm, draft and perfect your admissions essays.
Law school applications also require a resume.
This resume should include:
- your contact information
- education history
- professional experience, such as jobs or internships
- volunteer opportunities
- activities and skills, especially those related to legal work, such as research
- writing and problem-solving.
The PNW Career Center can help you find internship opportunities and assist in resume building!
Law schools will also require a copy of your transcripts.
Along with your studies, you will need to prepare for and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Although it is not always required for applying to law school, a Graduate Readiness Exam (GRE) score can supplement your application.
Some schools also require an interview or have additional admissions requirements. Explore the admissions website for the schools that you are interested in to find out more about their admissions process!
Paths to law school are as diverse as the people who attend. Whether your goal is to argue criminal cases or promote human rights, planning ahead and building critical skills can help make your goal of attending law school a reality.
Law School Preparation at PNW
PNW offers a variety of undergraduate programs that can prepare you for law school. Whether your interest is in business, political science or technology, we have undergraduate majors and minors for you!