Pre Law Major
If you’re a high school student considering a career in law, there are several steps you need to take to reach that goal. Most careers in law require both a Bachelor’s degree and an advanced degree, the most common being a Juris Doctor (JD). As you navigate the undergraduate college admissions process, you may be wondering about the best pre law schools. And, thinking ahead, you might be curious about which pre law majors will help you get into a top law school.
In this article on pre law majors, we’ll talk about what to expect from common pre law majors, including basic law major requirements. We’ll also discuss how to determine which of the best pre law schools are a good fit for you. And, we’ll explore the different pathways you can follow as you pursue a career in law. You’ll also find information about:
- How to choose college majors to set yourself up for success
- What subfields exist within the different pre law majors
- How to find internships and opportunities during your undergraduate years
- How to prepare for law school and beyond
- The benefits of pursuing pre law majors, and more!
Before we jump in, let’s start by clarifying what we mean when we say “pre law majors.”
What is a Pre Law Major?
The term “pre law majors” is somewhat misleading. It suggests that the pathway to law school requires a narrowly defined, specific set of courses. However, this is not the case.
Most schools do not have established pre law majors. Instead, they use the term “pre law” to describe students who plan to attend law school after graduation. This means that pre law students are free to pursue a wide variety of college majors.
That being said, there are certain schools that do offer scripted pre law majors. These schools encourage interested students to attend these programs to build their foundational knowledge in the law. While these pre law schools may be right for some students, you certainly do not need to attend a specific pre law major in order to be accepted into law school.
What can a Pre Law major study?
There are truly no limits to the types of law majors students can pursue. While there are certain fields that are more popular for pre law majors, there are no best pre law majors.
However, certain pre law majors are more common than others. Some of the most popular types of law majors include history, political science, economics, English, and criminal justice. That does not mean that these are the best pre law majors, just the most typical.
Since there are no specific law major requirements to get into law school, you’re free to explore your interests. Think about finding and developing your passion, and choose your major based on what you are passionate about.
Indeed, the best pre law majors come from a wide variety of fields and focus on learning skills rather than fulfilling specific law major requirements. Skills required for all types of law majors include research, critical reading, presenting compelling arguments, and a dedication to public service.
Law Major Subfields
The law is an incredibly diverse field with many different branches and career paths. A business law major, for example, is very different from an environmental law major. Lawyers of different specialties handle different types of cases, which is why pre law majors come from such a wide variety of fields. In turn, law schools offer a wide variety of courses and programs to prepare graduates for different careers in law.
Different law schools offer different concentrations and specialties. Undergraduates at the best pre law schools often use their pre law major to determine the kind of law they want to eventually practice. For example, an undergraduate economics major might become a business law major. Or a history major might go on to practice constitutional law.
Here are five different types of law majors that a graduate school might offer:
Five Law Major Subfields
1. Corporate Law
These lawyers handle antitrust cases, financial market regulation, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. They may be independent or represent a specific company as part of a large legal team.
2. Health Law
This specialty deals with the intersection of law and medicine. They deal with cases related to medical malpractice, HIPAA compliance, and bioethics, to name a few.
3. Employment Law
These lawyers handle cases related to employment and the relationship between businesses and their workers. They deal with issues including job safety, wrongful termination, and workplace discrimination.
4. General Practice
This is the most wide ranging and all inclusive of the legal specialties. General practice lawyers might be looking to start their own practice either by themselves or with partners. Therefore, they must be well versed in all aspects of the law.
5. Criminal Law
Criminal lawyers spend more time in courtrooms than lawyers in other specialties and represent plaintiffs or defendants during a trial. They can either be prosecutors or defense attorneys depending on which side of a case they represent.
These are just a few of the many law subfields you might one day pursue a career in. With that in mind, remember there’s really no need to limit yourself when it comes to choosing your pre law major.
What is the best Pre Law Major?
Just as there are no one size fits all best pre law schools, there are also no best pre law majors. While some pre law majors are more popular than others, students in any major are able to call themselves pre law majors.
Even though the best pre law majors do not actually exist, it is true there are some pre-law majors that are more popular than others. Forbes has identified these twelve majors as the most popular. However, they also reiterate that the best pre law majors are those which will challenge students to think critically and inspire their best work:
- History
- Economics
- English
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Finance
- Arts and Humanities
- Communications
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Business Administration
- Criminal Justice
In the next section, we’ll talk about some less common pre law majors.
Pre Law Major Alternatives
The list in the above section does not include every option out there for students interested in pursuing law. Because there are no set law major requirements, students can explore their passion in any major they choose. In fact, having a niche or challenging major in which you have taken difficult courses means much more on a law school application than having a popular pre law major.
Language majors
Some pre law majors decide to major in foreign languages, such as French, Spanish, or Chinese. Indeed, being multilingual can be an incredibly valuable skill for a lawyer. Students fluent in other languages would also be well prepared to enter the field of international law. Or, they may become immigration attorneys, working with populations who do not speak English as a first language.
The American Bar Association recommends that no matter what your major is to focus on building your research and writing skills. This might include exploring study abroad opportunities and gaining field experience in a foreign country as part of your major.
STEM majors
STEM majors can also provide a fruitful pathway to law school. For example, computer science majors will be well prepared to litigate technical cases or handle patent law for technological innovations. Mathematics majors thrive on their problem solving skills and can showcase these skills in their law practice as well. And engineers must balance technical knowledge with prowess in research in presentation, all of which look very good to prospective law schools.
For STEM majors, it is important to highlight your skills and take challenging courses within your major. Additionally, it’s important to branch out, ensuring you are fully developing your writing and public speaking skills as well.
Pre Law Major Requirements
As previously mentioned, there are no specific pre law major requirements. Instead, they vary based on the individual major or program that a pre law student has decided to pursue.
Schools that do offer specific pre law majors usually include courses in US History, Government, Constitutional law, and or Political Theory. They may also include specific classes for some broad subspecialties, such as a business law major or criminal law major.
Outside of those very specific programs at a few schools, there are no set pre law major requirements other than those required by your college or university. College majors all have individual requirements set by the department which oversees each major. So, make sure you know what the requirements are for your chosen field.
Double-majoring with Pre Law
Double majoring is one way to diversify your undergraduate resume and show prospective law schools your versatility. For instance, a future business law major might want to pair a major in economics with a second major related to the type of business they want to work with. An international law major might pair a humanities major with a major in a foreign language. The possibilities for combining pre law majors are endless!
Before you commit to another major, understand that double majoring in any two subjects is a challenge. Make sure you can complete all the requirements for both majors. And, know you may not be able to take many elective courses if you pursue this path. Law schools also take a look at your undergraduate GPA. So, if you double major, make sure you can handle the coursework and keep your grades high across your class list. For more information about double majors in general, see our guide to college majors!
Internships for Pre Law Majors
The best pre law schools will try to provide students with opportunities to work in the legal field as undergraduates. This exposure often takes the form of internships. An internship is not essential to earning a law school acceptance. However, it can provide significant benefits and training to help you in your future career.
Pre law majors might take an internship with a government agency or local affiliate. They may do non-profit work providing legal services for charities and other organizations. Some small law firms may partner with colleges and universities to hire undergraduate interns to do clerical work and shadow more experienced attorneys. Or an alumnus from a university law school may agree to take on undergraduates from their alma mater as interns, such as this Franklin County prosecutor in Ohio, who went to the Ohio State College of Law.
Pre Law Major Colleges
The best pre law schools also have job fairs or law school admissions workshops to help pre law majors in all fields with their applications and LSAT preparation.
While any number of colleges and universities will effectively prepare you for law school, we do want to highlight the top 10 best pre law colleges in the country! These schools have received national recognition for their pre law programs and resources for students interested in pursuing law.
Pre-Law Major Colleges
1. Yale University
Located in New Haven, Yale Law School is top of the list of the best pre law colleges in the country. They offer programs such as the LaunchPad Scholarship program, which helps students prepare for law school and beyond.
2. Harvard University
This Cambridge university is not only one of the top law schools in the country, but they also have a robust pre law program. The Harvard School of Law partners with the undergraduate college to offer training and support for students throughout the law school application process.
3. Stanford University
Our next pre law school is one of the best in California. Stanford has an entire division of academic advising devoted to pre law students. They have a yearly conference in the fall that undergraduates may attend. Additionally, the Stanford Law School hosts events to help familiarize students with what law school will be like.
4. Columbia University
In NYC, you’ll find Columbia University, where students can become members of their Pre Law Society. Students can join the society to attend events, participate in discussions, and access resources to help them in their pre law training.
5. University of Chicago
The University of Chicago has a vast alumni network in the legal field. They often pair together students and alumni for career advising sessions, internships, and law school visits to help students understand what a career in law requires.
6. New York University
Another great pre law school located in New York City, NYU offers extensive resources to its pre law students. These include major selection advice, sample curricula for pre law students, and a webinar for all pre law students to orient them to the program and get them started on the path to success.
7. University of California, Berkeley
If you’re looking for more great pre law schools in California, consider UC Berkeley. They have a website devoted to students aiming to enter graduate programs, including pre law. The website has resources for students including timelines, tips for law school applications, and stories from those currently in law school.
8. University of Michigan
Located in Ann Arbor, UMich offers pre law students dedicated resources through its career center. They offer one-on-one career advising sessions as well as LSAT prep and assistance with the personal statement.
9. Duke University
At Duke’s campus in Durham, students can join one of two unique pre law societies. Duke undergraduates can also take part in a four-week fellowship designed to encourage students from underrepresented populations to pursue careers in law.
10. Northwestern University
Finally, we have Northwestern University located in Evanston, IL. NU uses its career center to help students who are pre law narrow their interest and prepare to attend law school. Students can also major or minor in legal studies to get a more in depth understanding of the legal profession and what a career in law might look like.
Take some time to explore some of these schools to see if their pre law programs are a good fit for you!
Crafting a Pre Law Major School List
The first step to navigating the college admissions process as an intended pre law student is building your college list. Start by writing down a list of the most important features a school you attend must have. Since many schools offer pre law programs, try to think about additional factors. Consider the school size, location, student population, extracurricular offerings, and campus environment! You can use a search feature like BigFuture or webinars like this one to help you get matched with schools that meet your needs.
Then, explore the websites of the colleges that meet your initial search criteria. Pay special attention to the pre law resources available to students at the school. Look for internship opportunities, LSAT preparation courses, academic advising, and other related resources that will help you on your journey toward law school. It is important that the school you attend not only has the major you want to pursue, but also the infrastructure to support you in your further education.
Finally, look at statistics for how many students from the school get accepted into top law programs. If you know where you might want to attend law school in the future, check if students from the schools you are applying to go onto to attend law school there. And keep in mind that the best pre law colleges from our list above may not be the best pre law colleges for you! With a little research and reflection, you should be able to build a solid list of 5-10 schools to apply to as a pre law major.
After the undergraduate Pre Law Major
We’ve talked a lot about the journey to becoming pre law majors, but now let’s turn to what happens after you finish your pre law education.
Researching law schools
In the spring semester of your junior year, you’ll want to begin the law school admissions process by researching law schools you might be interested in. This process is very similar to building an undergraduate college list, except this time, you are looking to see which law schools will help you prepare for the type of law you want to practice.
For example, a business law major would want to go to a school with a robust corporate law program. Alternatively, someone interested in criminal law would want to find a school that specializes in that field.
Taking the LSAT
You will also spend a considerable amount of time preparing for and taking the LSAT. You can take the exam multiple times, and study materials and resources are available online and through your college.
Your LSAT scores are reported to the law schools you apply to as part of your application. A great score can increase your chances of getting accepted, while a low score will often put you out of the running. The best law schools in the country tend to have average LSAT scores in the 170s, and the highest score is 180.
Completing your applications
Finally, you must create a resume and a personal statement to submit along with your law school application. While your undergraduate grades and LSAT score are the most important factors in determining your chances of getting into law school, a strong personal statement can help boost your application as well.
The best advice is to focus on yourself and your life, and then write about anecdotes or stories that showcase the kind of lawyer you want to be. See this guide for more tips on writing a law school personal statement.
Why major in Pre Law?
While a pre law major may be a very diverse course of study, there are a few principles that unite almost all pre law majors. This is true whether they are studying history, business, English, or mathematics. Here are some reasons you might want to consider becoming a pre law major.
Reasons to Major in Pre-Law
1. You want to make a difference in people’s lives.
Lawyers have the power to advocate for the rights of individuals, fight against discrimination, and uphold every person’s right to representation. As a lawyer, you have an enormous responsibility to your clients and the community in which you serve to uphold justice, and set a high ethical standard.
2. You want to learn more about a career in the law.
Maybe you don’t know if a career in the law is right for you, but you have an interest in finding out. Being pre law allows you to pursue internships, talk to currently practicing lawyers, and expose yourself to this career. And, not all pre law students go on to law school. Many use their majors and their pre law coursework to pursue a completely different field, and that’s ok!
3. You want to improve your chances of getting into a top law school.
If you have your heart set on the best pre law schools or best law schools, being pre law is a great way to boost your chances of acceptance. Students in any major who declare themselves pre law can get access to mentorships, LSAT prep materials, and research opportunities that will enhance any law school application.
4. You want to build your critical thinking and research skills.
Pre law courses encourage students to think critically and creatively, no matter what major they are in. Being pre law is a great way to build valuable skills that you will use later in your career, regardless of the branch of the law you decide to go into.
5. You want to pursue a high-paying career in a growing job field.
According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, lawyers make on average $145,000 per year. And, law jobs are expected to grow by 8 percent over the next ten years. Being pre law puts you on the path to enter this thriving career field and gives you an incredibly high earning potential as well!
Pre Law Major: Final Thoughts
The law is a challenging but rewarding career path, and deciding to become pre law is the first major step on a journey toward a career in law.
When you decide to become pre law, remember you are not locking yourself into one field of study. Rather, you are committing to using the knowledge and skills you gain in your chosen major in your future as a lawyer. Therefore, there is not one single pre law major, but dozens of different pre law majors, each of which can prepare you for a future in a different sector, including a business law major, an international law major, and many more!
The Choice is Yours
You have the freedom to choose how your pre law major is structured. That freedom allows you to pursue double majors, internships, and other opportunities that will help strengthen your academic resume for law school. Remember that law schools are not looking for students who follow a prescribed path of study. Instead, they want to see students who have developed skills like writing, research, presentation, and critical thinking that will serve them well in their future careers.
If you are interested in becoming pre law, CollegeAdvisor can help you start your journey. Our library of resources and webinars included extensive information about pre law programs and how to find the right one for you! In addition, our trained advisors can work with you through the college admissions process, helping you build a strong college list, revise your application essays, and submit your applications to the best pre law schools. Sign up here to get matched with one of our trained advisors!
This article was written by Alex Baggott-Rowe. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.
