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If you’re interested in becoming a lawyer and want to know what to major in for law school, read on to find out more!
A law degree starts well before you even look at law school applications. To get into any law school, you’ll need to complete a Bachelor’s degree.
If you’re unsure which degree to choose, this guide will cover some of the best majors for law school. It will also discuss your acceptance chances if you pick a major outside these choices.
The most popular major for law school applicants is political science, as it provides a strong foundation in government systems, political theory, and judicial processes. However, there is no single "best" major for law school.
Find the best major for your law school journey with expert pre-law consultants. Whether you’re interested in Political Science, Philosophy, or even Mathematics, our experts help you align your academic path with your goals.
The following pre-law majors will allow you to gain basic knowledge that will help you better transition into law school. They will also let you begin honing skills you’ll rely on heavily throughout law school and your legal career.
This may be an obvious choice, but this is one of the best majors for law school. It’s directly related to law and can give you a good foundation to learn about criminal law.
You will also learn about various types of law in law school, such as family law, environmental law, international law, tax law, and more. So, this major will only benefit a portion of your education or if you’d like to pursue criminal law.
If you complete a criminal justice major, you should double-major in another, more rigorous liberal arts degree. Criminal justice degrees are often viewed as less demanding than others. Law schools value students who excel in challenging programs.
Political science is the most common degree for pre-law students. It allows students to learn about politics, decision-making, transfers of power, and how rules and governments are formed and function. Law students must also familiarize themselves with these subjects in law school.
With this degree, students can get an early head start as they’ll be introduced to topics that law school will expand on. You’ll see some of the same terminology in law school, which could help you feel more confident in your studies.
Political science also develops your critical, analytical, and writing skills. You’ll be expected to analyze complex texts and arguments and develop coherent written thoughts on these materials; these are all skills you’ll need to succeed in law school.
History might be the perfect pre-law degree for you if you’re interested in learning about the past and how society evolved into what it is today. You will learn about past rules and governments and how laws were formed. You will also learn why laws failed in the past and why some have existed for decades.
Contemporary history programs are also attempting to include more diversity in the type of history students are taught. Pre-law history students are thus able to become more culturally aware, allowing them to be more just, knowledgeable, and impartial lawyers.
This type of major can even inspire the direction of your legal career if you’re particularly moved by certain discriminatory laws that persist today!
Another popular choice for undergraduate students interested in pursuing law is a psychology major. Psychology majors allow students to begin understanding human behaviors and predicting them. Lawyers are expected to be able to not only understand humans and their actions but also anticipate how their opponents may react during trials.
This major is also generally research and writing-intensive, which can help students prepare for the copious amounts of reading, research, and writing they’ll be expected to do in law school.
Philosophy majors focus on theory and ethics to a great extent. In law school, you’ll be expected to learn legal theories and put them into practice. Ethics are also inseparable from law, as lawyers must act ethically to best represent their clients and the justice system.
Philosophy also delves into the way people think, which can be useful for lawyers who must understand people in order to do their jobs effectively.
Certain liberal arts degrees should be pursued because students in these pre-law majors tend to score higher on the LSAT.
For instance, students pursuing linguistics degrees are generally accepted at a much higher rate than their peers due to their high LSAT scores. Recently, 90% of linguistics majors who applied were granted admission to various law schools.
This is likely because linguistics majors have a better grasp of language and interpret it, allowing them to score higher on both the reading comprehension and logical reasoning sections of the LSAT.
Additionally, linguistics majors tend to have good written and oral communication skills, which can help them succeed in law school.
Good communication is an essential legal skill. By pursuing a communications degree, you’ll learn how to successfully communicate in various forms. You’ll also learn how to be a persuasive public speaker, which will be extremely helpful in boosting your confidence when you participate in mock trials in law school.
Much like linguistics majors, mathematics majors tend to score higher on the LSAT, which increases their chances of gaining admission to law schools. These majors help students develop good reasoning and deduction skills, which will not only be helpful on the LSAT but also in law school and during their legal career.
Any science degree is bound to be academically demanding, which can boost your application if you’re able to achieve excellent grades. Science majors are also expected to have good memorization skills, which can aid law students in the majority of their courses.
An English major can be an excellent pre-law major because it focuses on skills lawyers are required to have: abstract thinking, critical thinking, analysis, and communication skills.
English students also get accustomed to juggling many complex readings at once, which will certainly help them manage their law school readings more easily!
Economics is a great pick for aspiring lawyers, especially those interested in tax or corporate law. In a Bachelor’s in Economics program, you'll cover micro- and macroeconomics, market dynamics, and fiscal policy. This background helps you understand how markets work and the impact of policies—a big plus in law.
Plus, studying economics sharpens your logical reasoning, a key skill for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). For future tax lawyers, economics provides a solid grasp of tax policy and its effects.
For those eyeing corporate law, it offers insights into finance and regulations, crucial for advising clients on business matters. In short, economics not only teaches you about the economy but also hones the analytical skills vital for law school and beyond.
Finance is a smart choice for those aiming for tax law, corporate law, or real estate law. In this major, you'll study business economics, accounting, business law, and more. Like economics and philosophy, finance emphasizes quantitative reasoning, a plus for the LSAT.
For tax law, finance teaches about tax planning and financial regulations. In corporate law, it's crucial to advise on mergers and acquisitions. And for real estate law, understanding finance is key for property transactions. Overall, finance gives you a solid grasp of financial concepts and sharpens your analytical skills, setting you up well for law school and beyond.
Arts and Humanities majors cover many subjects, from languages and literature to music, philosophy, and social sciences. While not directly focused on law, these programs provide a broad knowledge base useful in various legal practices.
Studying Arts and Humanities also hones communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills—essential for success in law. Students learn to communicate effectively and think critically about legal issues by analyzing texts, engaging in discussions, and crafting arguments.
In essence, Arts and Humanities majors offer a well-rounded education that prepares students for the intellectual demands of legal practice, regardless of their specific legal interests.
Sociology majors cover a wide range of topics, including human behavior, race relations, and social policy. These programs help students develop skills to relate to people from diverse backgrounds.
This can be especially beneficial for law students planning to work in areas like divorce and family law, immigration, or public defense. Sociology also hones analytical and research skills, which are useful for understanding complex social issues and advocating effectively in legal practice.
Now that we’ve gone over the best majors for law school, you hopefully have a better idea of which field of study aligns with your interests and career goals.
If you need help finding your pre-law major, our law school admissions experts can provide you with expert advice.
Law school is rigorous. It is demanding and difficult to keep up with unless you remain determined and have already developed the key academic skills required to excel in its competitive environment. While college courses will not compare to your law classes, there are a few you should take to begin honing these skills:
Psychology courses can be beneficial for students because law school deals with understanding human behavior and patterns. As you participate in moot courts and legal clinics, you’ll have to pick up on cues and learn how to read your clients, witnesses, and opposition!
Psychology courses are especially important for students interested in criminal law, as they can help them better understand mental illnesses and abnormal behavior. Psych courses also require students to synthesize long, and sometimes dry, readings, which you’ll be doing every day in law school!
Any writing-intensive courses will aid you in law school. While legal writing will be vastly different than writing an essay on The Taming of the Shrew, learning how to read difficult material, pick out the key details, and analyze these details thoroughly will help you in all of your law school classes.
Additionally, English courses typically require students to complete research papers, which can help pre-law students get familiar with the process of using research databases, sifting through articles, and reiterating important facts and opinions.
Having at least some foundational knowledge about the US government and its laws can help prepare you for your legal degree.
You can become familiar with some of the jargon you’ll see throughout your legal readings and can gain some insight into how laws are created and passed. You will also gain a better understanding of the varying interactions that take place between different levels of the government during the policy-making process.
These courses typically require students to use their memorization, research, and writing skills as well, which all prove useful for law school.
Pre-law students should take a philosophy class to learn more about ethics, schools of thought, epistemology, and logic, and to develop their argumentation skills. Many philosophy courses involve presentations, debates, and research, which can help you become a more confident speaker.
Students are surprisingly strongly discouraged from majoring in criminal justice as pre-law majors. These courses tend to have lighter academic workloads than other majors and provide a limited scope of knowledge for aspiring lawyers who will be trained in various legal specialties.
However, taking one or two criminal justice courses can be beneficial because they can help you confirm your passions for this type of law and introduce you to how the justice system works as a whole.
If you know the legal specialties you’re interested in pursuing, you can take courses to expand your knowledge of them. For instance, students interested in becoming tax attorneys may want to take some introductory finance or economics courses to learn about basic financial modeling.
Students interested in environmental or animal law can similarly take courses in earth sciences, environmental sciences, animal sciences, or related courses.
Alternatively, students interested in civil rights can take courses in critical race theory, women’s studies, or similar disciplines to understand prominent ideologies that prevent certain groups from receiving equal social opportunities and protection.
Yes, you can get into law school with virtually any major. Law schools value diversity in academic backgrounds, and applicants from non-traditional majors often bring different perspectives and skills.
While the previously mentioned majors can help you prepare for law school, there is no perfect major for law school. None of the majors listed here guarantees a spot in any law school or success in your legal studies.
Law school is a different ball game than any undergraduate major, even the most challenging ones. Law schools also always prioritize your GPA over your major, and will actually appreciate it if you have experience in multiple disciplines.
So, rather than just pursuing a major simply because you think it’ll look best on your application, pursue a major you are genuinely passionate about. You should also take electives in different disciplines to explore your interests and expand your skill set!
Even if you have a stellar application otherwise, a low GPA is hard to recover from. By choosing a major you actually enjoy, you’re much more likely to get a higher GPA, which will impress the admissions committee more than any degree!
Yes, you can apply to law school as a pre-med. There are no specific prerequisite courses you’ll have to take to gain admission into law school.
However, most law schools will require you to have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, take the LSAT and submit documents such as a personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation.
Read on to learn helpful recommendations on applying to law school as a pre-med.
Before you can apply to medical school, you must complete prerequisite courses and develop a solid resume filled with clinical experience, medical shadowing, and other instances that demonstrate your commitment to medicine.
Save yourself the time and money needed for these requirements by making your decision as early as possible. The sooner you decide to forgo medical school, the sooner you can focus on equipping yourself for law school.
Give yourself as much time as possible to ensure you fulfill every requirement for law school. Focus on studying for the LSAT or the GRE, depending on the law schools you’re applying to. While most use the LSAT as the primary admissions test, there are some law schools that accept the GRE.
Take time to write a compelling personal statement, gather strong letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors, and strengthen your resume by emphasizing your academic achievements and relevant work experiences.
When applying to law school as a pre-med, arm yourself with as much information as possible.
Take the time to reach out to your undergraduate academic advisors. Universities and colleges have resources in place to promote student success and growth, so try to familiarize yourself with them. An academic advisor specializing in pre-law can provide consistent support as you segue into law school.
Brown University, for example, offers interactive events and one-on-one consultations to help prospective students learn more about the application process. Attending pre-law events and connecting with pre-law application experts will help set you up for success.
You can also connect with current law school students and alumni who were formerly pre-med. Learning from their experiences can help equip you for success. Ask specific questions about how they approached the application process and their experience at law school.
Applying to law school with a pre-med background offers a unique opportunity to stand out. Juris Education provides personalized guidance to help you demonstrate your interdisciplinary strengths, highlight your problem-solving abilities, and craft an application that emphasizes your diverse perspective. With the right approach, your non-traditional path can become a key asset in your application.
Everyone has their own path to take in life, and the mark of a true leader is someone who follows their own. Finding a strong sense of direction and clarity in your academic and professional career can take trial and error. So, try to hold your head up high and be confident in your decision to pursue a law degree.
Admissions officers understand that successful candidates come from diverse academic backgrounds. They’re looking for more than your grades, test scores, and undergraduate major. Admissions officers want to understand individual behind the application. Focus on letting your personality shine!
Law school interviews are a great way to demonstrate your value. If you have one, try to communicate how your experiences as a pre-med student would bring value to your law school education. Your unique background can help you stand out from the crowd! Try our law school admissions predictor to see where you stand.
As a pre-med student, you may have a lower GPA compared to other students who are applying for law school. If this is the case, don’t be discouraged!
Students pursuing STEM majors typically have lower GPAs because science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses are typically graded more rigorously than other disciplines.
So, don’t be alarmed by the median GPA when you are researching law schools. Admissions officers are aware of the fact that GPAs are not the only measure of a successful candidate. Instead, focus on conveying the unique value you bring to your desired law school.
If particular grades on your transcript stick out, you can offer context via an addendum. A law school addendum allows you to explain any weaknesses on your transcript. You can add contextual evidence to explain your low GPA, low LSAT scores, academic misconduct, etc.
Before you rush off to write an addendum, keep in mind that it’s generally unnecessary to use one to explain your low grades from taking pre-med prerequisites. Admissions officers are well acquainted with pre-meds applying to law school. However, it is an available option if you need to add further context to strikingly low grades.
Regardless of which major you choose, there are certain skills you should begin acquiring during your undergrad that will make you a more attractive law school candidate:
Pursuing courses that allow you to strengthen these skills will make you a more ideal candidate for law school and will help you fare better in your legal studies.
Choosing a pre-law major is much like choosing a law specialty since it reflects your passions and interests. What you decide to major in for your undergrad might affect the law specialty that you go into.
So, here are some tips on how to narrow down your options and find a law specialty and/or pre-law major that is best for you!
When making your decision, consider the following:
In case you have any remaining questions about what to major in for law school, here are the answers to frequently asked questions about the best pre-law majors for law school.
The most popular major for law school applicants is political science, as it provides a strong foundation in government systems, political theory, and judicial processes. However, there is no single "best" major for law school.
While a pre-law major can provide early preparation for law school, it’s not necessary for admission and may not always be the best choice. Consider your interests and career goals carefully because selecting a major that challenges you academically and aligns with your passions will likely make you a stronger applicant.
Yes! Many drama majors have gotten into law school because they were able to maintain a high GPA and explore other electives.
Neither degree is inherently "better" for law school. Science degrees are ideal for niche legal fields requiring technical knowledge, while arts degrees excel in developing skills like argumentation and communication.
Math majors often perform exceptionally well on the LSAT, with median scores surpassing 160. Their training in critical thinking and logical reasoning likely gives them an advantage on the test.
The most common pre-law major is Political Science, with thousands of law school applicants choosing this field annually. Political science is closely tied to the legal system, focusing on government structures, political behavior, and judicial processes.
While there isn’t a perfect transcript for students to have to prepare for law school, the following pre-law courses can help students develop skills that will aid them throughout their legal education:
Ensure you take courses from multiple disciplines! Your ability to complete courses in several challenging subjects will prove your academic talent.
The most common pre-law major is political science.
There is no perfect major for law school! Choose a major that interests you so you maintain a high GPA and explore different disciplines to expand your skill set.
No, admissions committees are actually less likely to accept you into their programs if you choose a criminal justice major and do not branch out through your electives! This subject is considered to be limited and less challenging than other majors.
It is considerably easier to get into law school then med school. Though the LSAT and the MCAT are both challenging exams, the MCAT requires more prior knowledge. The LSAT requires extensive study, however not on the same level as the MCAT.
The same can be said for medical school. In order to succeed, it's important to have a strong foundation of knowledge built during your undergraduate studies. That's why medical schools often require certain prerequisite courses and research experience before enrolling.
You can absolutely be a doctor and a lawyer! In fact, universities like Stanford offer joint JD/MD programs. In seven years of study, you can acquire a degree in both law and medicine! Alternatively, you can attend law school in a part-time capacity after studying medicine, or vice versa.
Though working as a doctor and a lawyer has its challenges, it also has a range of benefits. Most notably, you have the opportunity to learn and make a positive contribution to the world.
Everyone has different learning abilities and preferences, which contribute to their experiences at school. While some students find law school harder than med school, others would disagree. It all depends on your particular academic strengths and the type of learning you prefer.
Both medical school and law school are challenging. Attending either will require long hours, a demanding schedule and challenging coursework. However, med school is generally regarded as more difficult than law school. It is known to be more time-consuming, competitive and stressful and has higher dropout rates.
Med school requires extensive memorization. Students need to study high volumes of rigorous course material to succeed. It’s also quite hands-on, as gaining clinical experience is an important facet of medical school. Med school can take a serious toll on your personal life.
On the other hand, law school focuses on deep analysis, critical thinking, and the application of knowledge through heavy reading, writing, and memorization. The first year is commonly referred to as the most difficult.
Though med school is generally regarded as more difficult than law school, it really depends on the individual. Some people might find law school more challenging, as everyone has different learning styles and skills.
Yes, psychology is one of the most common majors among law students and a great choice for law school. It builds skills that translate directly to legal study: critical thinking, research, and reading comprehension from analyzing dense academic texts - all of which also help on the LSAT's Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension sections. Understanding human behavior is also a real asset for lawyers, from reading juries to analyzing witness testimony, and it's especially useful in criminal law. Add in ethics training and flexible electives that diversify your transcript, and psychology is a strong foundation for a legal career.
After reading this guide, your takeaway should be that the best major to pursue for law school is entirely subjective. When deciding between the best majors for law school, you should pick the one you feel the most drawn to!
By choosing a major you’re excited about, focusing on your GPA, and taking a diverse set of electives, you will not only enjoy your undergrad experience more but will also have a better chance of getting into law school!
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
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