If you’re considering law school, it’s important to choose a major that will set you up for success in the legal field. While there are many majors that can prepare you for law school, there are also some majors that may not be the best choice. In fact, some majors may even hurt your chances of getting into law school or succeeding once you’re there.
One of the worst majors for law school is pre-law. While it may seem like a logical choice, pre-law is actually not a recommended major for aspiring lawyers. According to LawSchooli, pre-law majors tend to perform worse on the LSAT and have worse outcomes when applying to law school. This is because pre-law programs often don’t provide the critical thinking and analytical skills needed to succeed in law school.
Another major to be cautious of is criminal justice. While criminal justice may seem like a natural fit for law school, it’s actually not the best choice. Criminal justice majors also tend to perform worse on the LSAT and have lower acceptance rates to law school. Additionally, criminal justice programs often focus on the practical aspects of the criminal justice system, rather than the theoretical and analytical skills needed to succeed in law school.
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Majors with Limited Relevance
If you are planning to apply to law school, you should consider choosing a major that will help you develop the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in this field. Some majors, however, have limited relevance to law school and may not provide you with the academic preparation you need. Here are some examples of majors with limited relevance:
Fine Arts
While studying fine arts can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience, it may not be the best choice if you are planning to attend law school. Fine arts majors tend to focus on creative expression and aesthetic appreciation, rather than analytical thinking and logical reasoning. While these skills can be valuable in certain legal fields, such as intellectual property law, they are not typically emphasized in law school curricula.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is another major that may not be the best choice for law school applicants. While writing skills are certainly important in the legal profession, creative writing tends to emphasize imaginative expression and storytelling, rather than precision and clarity. Law school requires students to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively, often in a highly technical and specialized language. While creative writing can help you develop your voice and style as a writer, it may not provide you with the specific skills you need to succeed in law school.
Gender Studies
Gender studies is a relatively new and interdisciplinary field that explores the social, cultural, and political dimensions of gender and sexuality. While this major can be intellectually stimulating and socially relevant, it may not be the best choice if you are interested in pursuing a career in law. Gender studies tends to focus on critical theory and qualitative research methods, rather than quantitative analysis and logical reasoning. While these skills can be valuable in certain legal fields, such as civil rights law, they are not typically emphasized in law school curricula.
Majors with Overlap
If you’re interested in law school, you might be wondering which majors are the best to pursue. While there are no specific majors that are required for law school, some majors might provide more overlap with law school courses than others. In this section, we’ll explore three majors that have significant overlap with law school: Political Science, History, and Philosophy.
Political Science
Political Science is a popular major for students who are interested in law school. This major provides a solid foundation in government and the political process, which can be helpful when studying law. Political Science majors also learn how to analyze and interpret data, which is a valuable skill for law school.
Some of the courses you might take as a Political Science major include Constitutional Law, International Relations, and American Government. These courses can provide a good foundation for law school, as they cover many of the same topics that you’ll study in law school.
History
History is another major that can provide significant overlap with law school. History majors learn how to analyze and interpret historical events, which can be helpful when studying law. They also learn how to research and write, which are skills that are essential for success in law school.
Some of the courses you might take as a History major include American History, European History, and World History. These courses can provide a good foundation for law school, as they cover many of the same topics that you’ll study in law school.
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Philosophy
Philosophy is a major that can provide significant overlap with law school. Philosophy majors learn how to think critically and logically, which are skills that are essential for success in law school. They also learn how to analyze and interpret complex texts, which is a valuable skill for law school.
Some of the courses you might take as a Philosophy major include Ethics, Logic, and Epistemology. These courses can provide a good foundation for law school, as they cover many of the same topics that you’ll study in law school.
However, while there are no specific majors that are required for law school, majors like Political Science, History, and Philosophy can provide significant overlap with law school courses. If you’re interested in law school, consider pursuing one of these majors to help prepare you for success in law school.
Majors with Challenging Curricula
If you are considering law school, you might be wondering which major to choose. Some majors have a reputation for being more challenging than others. Here are a few majors with curricula that are known to be rigorous.
Engineering
Engineering is a major that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. It involves a lot of math and science courses, which can be challenging for some students. However, engineering majors are often well-prepared for the analytical and logical reasoning skills required for law school.
Physics
Physics is another major that requires a lot of math and science courses. It is a challenging major that requires a lot of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Physics majors often have a strong foundation in analytical thinking, which can be helpful in law school.
Mathematics
Mathematics is a major that requires a lot of abstract thinking and problem-solving skills. It involves a lot of theoretical concepts and proofs, which can be challenging for some students. However, mathematics majors are often well-prepared for the logical reasoning skills required for law school.
While these majors have challenging curricula, they can also provide a strong foundation for law school. If you are considering one of these majors, it is important to choose a major that you are passionate about and that will challenge you academically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What majors are most commonly pursued by law school applicants?
There is no one major that is most commonly pursued by law school applicants. Students from a wide range of undergraduate majors are accepted into law school. However, according to a source, some of the most commonly pursued majors by law school applicants include political science, history, English, and economics.
What majors tend to have the lowest LSAT scores?
According to a source, some majors tend to have lower average LSAT scores than others. These majors include criminal justice, education, and social work. However, it is important to note that LSAT scores are not the only factor considered by law schools during the admissions process.
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Are humanities majors at a disadvantage when applying to law school?
No, humanities majors are not at a disadvantage when applying to law school. Law schools do not have a preference for any particular undergraduate major. According to a source, a competitive GPA and LSAT score are substantial factors when applying for law school.
What majors are typically considered the most challenging for law school?
Law school is challenging for all students regardless of their undergraduate major. However, according to a source, majors that require strong analytical and critical thinking skills, such as philosophy and mathematics, may be more helpful in preparing for law school.
Do law schools favor applicants with STEM degrees over other majors?
No, law schools do not favor applicants with STEM degrees over other majors. According to a source, law schools do not have a preference for any particular undergraduate major. A competitive GPA and LSAT score are substantial factors when applying for law school.
What majors are most likely to lead to a high paying legal career?
According to a source, the highest paying legal careers are typically in the fields of corporate law, intellectual property law, and tax law. However, it is important to note that earning a high salary in the legal field is not solely dependent on undergraduate major, but also on factors such as experience, location, and job market demand.
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