What is the best major for Pre-Law?

Answer 1

As a recent law school graduate, I can tell you that there's no "best major for pre-law." The mindset of thinking like a lawyer is something you only learn once you get to law school, which is why your first year of law school is so difficult. There are even all kinds of books out there to prepare your for the experience of law school.

I have a friend who works in a law school admissions office. From the law school's perspective, a political science or history degree can be a negative, as so many students with those degrees go to law school because they don't know what else to do upon graduation. Thus, political science majors are the most likely to drop out of law school. And at my law school, physics majors have been the most likely to graduate. But that's more of an indication of the character of the student, rather than how prepared the major made the student for law school. Still, your major could play a part in admissions, so that is potential factor to consider.

If you have an idea of what area of law you would like to practice, take classes in that. I have friends who graduated with engineering degrees and now practice intellectual property law. If you want to do corporate, estate, or tax law, then obviously take business classes. Psychology classes can be a big help in criminal law with regards to issues such as competency to stand trial, as so many criminals suffer from a mental illness. Do you want to work in an office all day or dream of being in the courtroom. If it is the former, take lots of writing courses. If it is the latter, drama and communications classes are useful. Philosophy courses are helpful to get you in the habit of evaluating arguments and following certain logic to its conclusions.

When all else fails, follow the liberal arts path of taking at least a couple of classes in a variety of core areas. In the end, a lot of law is just thinking about things from a variety of perspectives to come up with the best solution for your client, and that comes from having knowledge in wide variety of areas.

Answer 2

There is no set best major for pre-law. Something like English, History, Government, Economics, or International Relations would seem like the logical path. But any major can serve as pre-law really. I know someone who majored in biology who now attends Harvard Law School.

Answer 3

I went to Washburn School of Law in Topeka, Kansas and the professors there came from a wide variety of backgrounds. One professor had an undergraduate degree in math, another in music and one even in home ecomonics! That goes to show there is no "magic" major that guarantees success.

The important thing is that you learn to reason and that you can read and write well. I took a logic class in undergraduate school and took journalism classes (working on the school newspaper) to practice my writing skills.

Answer 4

Major in Criminal Justice, and minor Sociology

Answer 5

Criminology if you want to go into criminal law. Business if you want to be a corporate lawyer. English, economics would be you're second best choice

Answer 6

I believe sociology would be a good choice. Studies great thinkers & philosophers, ways to approach/convince people.