<p>I am speaking in terms of undergraduate training and I would like to know what majors would be of use to me as a lawyer in practice. I am looking for one that would be of help in the factor of public speaking. If you have any suggestions please inform me of them. Thank you.</p>
<p>Do some research on this board before you ask a question like this. However, the answer is that it doesn't matter. Do what you want. Get a good GPA. Good luck.</p>
<p>I never asked what major would be helpful in law school, rather, what major would be helpful in the actual practice of law.</p>
<p>Again, it doesn't matter. I don't think any major in undergrad would be more or less useful than another. They do not address the issues that you'll be faced with as a lawyer, unless you're talking about pre-professional majors. Even then, law schools do not like pre-professional majors as much as more standard liberal arts majors. If you need help in public speaking, join debate or speech clubs, or take a class where they have presentations.</p>
<p>If you are interested in help with public speaking, look into joining a debate club or team.</p>
<p>An English major might increase your writing and reading ability. A major in Mathematics or Economics could increase your quantitative skill sets. Many majors have the possibility to do these things as well. Challenge yourself and that should help ensure you have the mental constitution to be a good lawyer. Most "real" prep for practicing law is in law school.</p>
<p>With the exception of Intellectual Property law, it really doesn't matter. For most IP lawyers, an undergraduate major in math or science is basically a requirement (well, it isn't--but finding an IP job without a science or math undergrad background is pretty tough).</p>
<p>But those who say it doesn't matter are right, and that is advice you really should consider. Morale in law firms is incredibly low. The number of lawyers NOT practicing law is very high (anyone have the real stats?). I'd dare say the chances that you WILL NOT practice law 10 years after law school are nearly as high (if not higher) than you will be a partner at a firm (sorry, I'm speaking anecdotally about my law school class--I really should look up the official figures, but it does seem about right).</p>
<p>Anyway--learn something--get something that is worthwhile. It can be a poli sci degree if you want to work in politics, or a English major if you want to write a book one day, but whatever you decide to major in, be it something you really enjoy (and possibly could consider as a career one day if law doesn't work out).</p>
<p>Most lawyers write a lot....make sure you have good writing skills. Business and accounting skills help a lot. Quite a few medical malpractice lawyers (on both the plaintiff's and defense side) have nursing or pharmacy degrees, or some other medical background. Lots of patent lawyers started out as engineers. We had a lawyer who was a usury expert; he had an actuary degree from MIT.</p>
<p>"Lawyers are 3.6 times more likely to be depressed than members of other professions, and it’s not just because their jobs are more stressful. For most people, job stress has little effect on happiness unless it is accompanied by a lack of control (lawyers, of course, have clients to listen to) or involves taking something away from somebody else (a common feature of the legal system)."<a href="http://nymag.com/news/features/17574/">http://nymag.com/news/features/17574/</a>
Interesting article as well.</p>