Top choice: physics, chemistry, biology, or engineering. Generally it does not matter what your undergraduate degree us UNLESS you want to be an intellectual property lawyer. To get hired by an IP firm having a science degree is a BIG plus, and it would qualify you to take the patent bar if you ever want to. There is no other major that actually gives you an advantage after law school, and science majors are in no way blocked from any other areas of law.
It would also make you better at taking the logic games on the LSAT and piecing things together. Oddly enough, science majors tend to have very good verbal skills as well. I really, really regret dropping the Physics major. I want to be an IP lawyer, and I might have to go back and get another degree to make that happen. Ick! (Caveat: it is possible to practice "soft IP" but might be harder to get those jobs w/o a B.S.)
These degrees also make you stand out from the crowd come application time, but since they come with harsher grading you better hope the law school takes that into account when judging GPAs!
If you really hate science, or are sure you will never want to be an IP lawyer, I would say Philosophy or English. A JD is a doctorate of jurisprudence - the philosophy of law. At most good, national law schools you will be learning the law in broad strokes - not the concrete "black letter" law. Many professors will work actual philosophers into the classroom (Dershowitz makes constant references to Kant and Bentham) and nearly all approach it from a policy oriented, what the law 'should' be perspective.
Many also approach it from an economics perspective, and those themes factor into many first-year courses, so that is another viable option. Then you can take economics and law classes at law school and excel at them.
Lastly, much of a lawyers job is writing. Although I don't think it helps much in admissions, the best writers get the best grades, since most of your grades result from one single final exam. The quality of your writing is what makes the difference between a B+ (you know your stuff) and an A (great exam). It will also be useful in your first year legal writing course, in your internships, and in your job.
I would avoid polysci as a major - it is a surefire way to make you blend in with other applicants. Take two or three government courses to give you the basic structure of government, but a broad knowledge of international politics and political theories has very limited application.
Lastly, if you have some are you really love (art, health) you can major in that and then specialize in that area of law.
2007-02-15 05:19:49
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answer #1
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answered by LawGeek 3
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What's popular is not the best. Poly Sci has this rep for being the "law school major to pick." It's not true, other than it's easy and grades and LSAT are the most important so an easy major is good if you get the good grades.
Otherwise, law schools could care less. They're looking at your grades and LSAT primarily. Just the hard numbers. The more competitive the school, the more they consider the other stuff.
What major you choose is pretty important. Not for getting into law school, but for getting the internships that may eventually lead to a job after law school. So, pick one in the area of law you're interested in. If you don't want to do politics, don't pick poly sci. If you don't want to do criminal law, don't pick criminal justice.
2007-02-15 05:00:38
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answer #2
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answered by Linkin 7
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There are several options. The most common choice is probably political science. However, many students go into law school with undergraduate degrees in other fields--and it can be pretty much anything, although history and sociology are prominant.
Whatever your choice of major, you should talk to the professors in your department and pick courses that will prepare you for law school--and you may want to choose a minor that will help you in this regard as well. Here's what I mean (hypothetical example):
History as major--with emphasis on courses on politics, labor, and business history courses
Political science as minor--courses in constitutional law and analytical methods (e.g. writing case summaries, statistics,etc.)
Hope this helps! Good luck :)
2007-02-15 03:39:06
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Any major you want. I recommend taking some Criminal Justice and/or Political Science courses. But, I majored in Spanish Language and Literature and subsequently got my JD from a top 25 law school.
2007-02-15 03:27:35
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answer #4
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answered by inaru816 3
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People have a lot of different majors, but it may depend on which type of law you want to practice. Somce common majors are political science, history or economics
2007-02-15 03:27:52
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answer #5
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answered by mjk300 2
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Any major will do. You may want to consider what type of law you want to practice and get a degree in that specialty. For instance if you want to practice corporate law consider a degree in Business Administration.
2007-02-15 03:37:11
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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i imagine you opt for to make sure out what you opt for to do first and not in any respect waste a lot time in college getting knowledgeable. As an legal specialist and CPA, between the perfect undergrad majors you may have is accounting. Sounds extraordinary, yet is very real. regulation is about the smart application and interaction of guidelines. that is strictly what accounting teaches undergrads. My graduating classification in regulation college become properly heavy with company majors (accounting). except that, regulation colleges supply no incremental credence to undergrads majoring in legal analyze. And in case you get your undergrad degree in company from a good college, you gained't opt for an MBA inclusive of your regulation degree. I considered going lower back and getting an MBA, notwithstanding it would not upload some thing to my potential set, yet would positioned a dent in my income for 2-3 years even as i ended it. Plus, maximum MBAs gained't take someone precise out of school - they opt for those with journey and some authentic artwork historic previous to operate fee to the discussions. solid success.
2016-11-28 04:45:19
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answer #7
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answered by ? 3
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Any major is acceptible. Law schools really like having people with diverse backgounds. Do what interests you, and you'll be fine.
2007-02-15 03:28:20
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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Political Science, Sociology, English, Communications, Speech, and most Lib Arts are popular. What really matters is your grades and LSAT.
2007-02-15 03:39:32
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answer #9
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answered by plbogen 2
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