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Any major that requires developing writing skills. What law specialization interests you? if corporate law then maybe business. If civil rights law then sociology etc.
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Pick a major you will enjoy studying and can do well in. Work on developing your reading, writing, logic skills.
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I disagree with the initial response in this thread. Surprisingly, some of the highest ranked law students are among the worst writers.
(This is one reason that law reviews use both grades & a writing competition, or just a writing competition, to determine who will be asked to join. For example, in my day one needed to be in the top 15% of the class based on one’s first year grades in order to be eligible to enter the writing competition for law review membership. Many law schools today just use a writing competition to determine law review membership. Some law schools have automatic law review eligibility for those finishing in the top 5% of the class with respect to first year grades, while the remaining law review slots are filled by a writing competition.)
Practicing attorneys do need solid writing skills, but that develops with experience. Much more important are one’s analytical reasoning skills & one’s research talents. Persuasive writing is a distant third.
Law schools are not seeking applicants on the basis of writing skills, knowledge of business or sociology or any subject area related to a particular specialization; the top ranked law schools are seeking those with strong analytical abilities. Hence, the LSAT (law school admissions test) test these abilities.
With respect to which majors yield, the highest LSAT scores, a simple Google search will reveal comprehensive lists.
P.S. For those interested in becoming patent & trademark attorneys, certain majors & courses are necessary. But none of these courses or majors focus on writing skills.
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Philosophy is a great pre-law major. Philosophy majors don’t have super high incomes, but that’s likely because many of them don’t pursue high-paid careers, instead gravitating towards education and policy work. But if you combine your major with quantitative study you can get a great path into management. As a pre-law/pre-LSAT degree I think it’s great preparation.
My understanding is that a very wide range of undergrad majors are appropriate for someone wanting to go to law school. It might depend upon what sort of lawyer you want to be.
I know a few lawyers who were engineering majors in undergrad. They now work on patent law, usually in technical areas that have at least some vague relationship to their undergrad major.
I agree that “a major you … can do well in” is appropriate.
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I know someone who is continuing on to law school from a saxophone performance degree. So yes, study something you’re interested in and will do well in.
communications, international relations/law, political science, and english are some things i can think of. honestly just choose what you think it’s best for you in the long run. make sure it helps with ur communication skills, writing skills and etc
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A major that you like and can do well in, since GPA is highly important for law school admission.
Some areas of law practice may benefit from specific undergraduate preparation (e.g. engineering or science for patent law).
Some majors may include more practice at logical and analytical thinking (that is tested on the LSAT). Philosophy and math are sometimes named for this reason.
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