<p>I am a current high school junior. I know it’s still crazily early to be thinking about a career in law, but I have some questions.</p>
<p>I am currently stronger in the maths and sciences. I still do well in other areas, but they don’t come as natural to me. I am taking AP Psychology this year instead of a history. I have never really loved history classes, but prefer current events. I love to debate and am very interested in the world. I am an active member of Model UN, Mock Trial, Debate Club, etc. I perform well in English classes and am a very good writer.</p>
<p>I know there is no “pre-law” major in college, but that you pursue another major such as History or English.</p>
<li>How important are history classes to a pre-law focus in college?</li>
<li>Will my math/science abilities be beneficial? Will I able to put them to good use?</li>
<li>What majors do you suggest? I was thinking maybe philosophy?</li>
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<p>Thanks a lot for your help, I am trying to at least get a handle on what I want to do in college.</p>
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<li><p>They're not. Don't take them if you don't like them. They <em>might</em> be beneficial, I suppose, in getting you used to fast and close reading, but I'd more strongly recommend a philosophy class for that, anyway. It's marginal, at best. Your writing and debating skills will serve you well and, if you continue to choose classes and activities that hone them, will probably give you everything law school-related that you might otherwise get from history courses.</p></li>
<li><p>YES! Math and science majors are typically among the very highest scoring majors on the LSAT (law school admission test), which tests critical thinking, analytical abilities, and logical reasoning. You'll want to stretch your mind in other ways, but this will definitely serve you well. There are also some fields of law that are particularly well-served by a math/science background. Interestingly, I believe that pre-law is generally among the lowest scoring (this isn't to make any negative claims re: pre-law students, but it is to support that it is a way of thinking, rather than a set of facts, which is most valuable to prospective law students).</p></li>
<li><p>Anything in which you think you'll do well, and anything you'll enjoy. You can take classes that will help prepare you for things like the LSAT, but it tests a way of thinking, not a specific type of material. Also, keep in mind that undergrad will be a long 4 years of a topic you don't like, and you may well change your mind about law school. You can do a search here for suggested majors. The overwhelming response is "do what you like and will do well at." That said, philosophy is awesome (note: very biased) ;-)</p></li>
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<p>Good luck! The beauty of law school is that you can do what you like without ten years of advance "I'm going to law school" planning. You're doing well to ask basic questions in advance, but you don't need to have a handle on what you want to do in <em>college</em> for another 2-3yrs. Get the best grades you can, get to know the basics like you're obviously doing, worry not, and good luck!</p>
<p>I have no advice on specific majors. However, it's relevant to note that peoples' conception of what an attorney does, and therefore, what skills are most important, is not necessarily accurate (especially if it comes from watching TV programs).</p>
<p>Debating skills are always useful but the fact is that most lawyers are not trial lawyers, and for trial lawyers, the actual trial represents only an end to a longer process of setting up the case for trial.</p>
<p>What lawyers need nowadays are good analytical and reasoning skills and also an understanding of the human race. The first set of skills are needed to do the problem-solving that lawyers spend most of their time on and the latter are needed to understand clients, their needs and expectations, and how to get and keep them as clients.</p>
<p>I know enough not to rely on the TV stereotypes. I'm not really a Law and Order fan anyway (CSI fan :) ). Thanks for the advice though. I am hoping my psychology class can lay a good foundation for my understanding of people.</p>
<p>Ive found that majors vary wildly in my school. I was neuroscience and spanish. I dont find anything I learned from neuroscience useful in law school and the spanish is useful only because it gives me a slight advantage in job searching. </p>
<p>Like others have said, do something u enjoy, get good grades and you'll be fine.</p>