Pre law

Graduate School Law School
1

I’m currently a economics major (undergraduate freshman) and I would like to go to law school, but I’m new to the idea of “pre law” stuff in college can someone please explain it to me everything about it?

2

Sure, some colleges offer a pre law major but they are generally not viewed highly by law schools. Your fine studying Economics. You need a very high GPA and a good LSAT score to get admitted to a top law school

3

“Pre-law” stuff in undergrad is very generic and does not really mean much in terms of admissions… it’s almost all based on LSAT + GPA.

4

So basically I do not have to be designated as “pre law” to go to to law school (with a good gpa and LSAT scores of course)

5

“Prelaw” tends to possess no specific meaning, and therefore would be neither required nor expected. However, in planning your trajectory, some guidelines could help:

6

correct.

7

You can major in anything and go to law school (I’m a lawyer, so I’m telling it like it is). The main objective is to have a high GPA and do well on the LSAT. Having good recommendations also helps (e.g., from working at a law firm part-time or over the summer). That’s it! No need for “pre-law” anything.

Economics is a good preparation for law school because it causes you to analyze and think. However, students with a scientific or technical major will have more options as attorneys. There is a lot of patent work nowadays, and to be a patent attorney requires a science or engineering type of undergraduate degree, or at least the relevant coursework. Tech companies may also require a computer science or engineering major for some of their in-house attorney jobs. In other words, if you have some unique type of undergraduate training that gives you knowledge that the typical lawyer doesn’t have, then that can help you get certain law jobs that might not otherwise be available to you. However, a “pre-law” degree is meaningless.

8

Another attorney here and I agree with everything @mommyrocks said. You can major in anything you want. Taking courses that will develop your analytical ability, critical thinking skills and persuasive writing skills will help you get through law school. A technical degree of some kind will make you more marketable for some areas of the law upon graduation from law school. The key to getting in, though, is high GPA and LSAT score, regardless of major.