To become a lawyer, you need a Juris Doctor degree. You must finish law school and pass the bar exam with the American Bar Association. It is a long process, but you can get a head start if you choose the right major.
Law schools don’t discriminate when it comes to majors. You can study anything you want in college and get into law school. But certain majors give you an edge over your competition. They help you improve skills you need while attending law school.
Skills you can polish while earning your undergraduate degree include:
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Logic
- Research skills
- Writing skills
There is no single path to a lawyer degree. Not all students major in one discipline. If you want to become a lawyer, there are many different pathways. Read on to find out which majors can help improve your chances of getting into law school and earning your Juris Doctor degree.
10 Top Degrees for Lawyers
Below we discuss the 10 best bachelor’s degree programs for future lawyers. What degree for lawyer jobs do you choose? You can major in any discipline because law schools don’t exclude applicants without law degrees.
Since you can choose any major to qualify for law school, you should explore your options. The best major is one you are passionate about and find interesting. When you find your studies interesting, it’s easier to succeed.
Why suffer learning subjects you hate? The great thing about admission to law school is you can major in something you enjoy.
Bachelor’s in Business Administration
Most people don’t think of business as a degree for future lawyers. But a bachelor’s degree can open the door to law schools. Especially if you’re considering a career in corporate law.
Business Courses for Future Lawyers
Business classes are rigorous. You improve your writing skills and learn how to analyze readings. You also sharpen your quantitative analysis. These skills help you prepare for the LSAT.
You take courses such as:
- Business law
- Contract negotiations
- Public speaking
You learn about different types of law and how each relates to business. You may not take legal studies courses, but advanced business coursework can help you develop skills needed to pass the bar exam.
A bachelor’s degree in business can also help you get into graduate school to earn an MBA. Many corporate lawyers hold both MBA and Juris Doctor degrees.
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Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice is a best degree for lawyer work because law and criminal justice studies overlap. A bachelor’s degree in this subject serves as good preparation for a law degree. Here’s how.
A good lawyer course focuses on case study and interpretation. The classes you take as a criminal justice major do just that. Your courses focus on how the criminal justice system works alongside the legal system.
Criminal Justice Courses for Pre-law
Aspiring lawyers in a bachelor’s degree criminal justice program take many courses that can help them in the legal profession. Helpful courses cover topics such as:
- Criminal law
- Criminal psychology
- Law and the legal system
- Social science and legal research
You build a strong legal career on knowledge and understanding of law. If you wonder what to major in to be a lawyer, know that about half of all lawyers hold criminal justice degrees. It is one of the most popular majors for pre-law students.
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Bachelor’s in Economics
Do you plan to practice law in a niche field like corporate law or intellectual property law? If so, consider a bachelor’s degree in economics.
In an economics program, aspiring lawyers learn what drives capitalism. They study economic theory and learn about the conditions that change various systems. Many of which are tied to legal reform.
Economics courses make this lawyer degree a helpful one when it comes to studying for the bar exam. You learn to think critically in the classes you take. You also spend time analyzing and solving complex problems. The quantitative and qualitative analysis skills you learn will help in law school.
Courses that help future law school students include:
- Economics of labor
- Economic theory
- Statistical analysis
- Tax law analysis
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Bachelor’s in English
English is a popular major for students who want to become a lawyer. As an English major, you learn how to read and comprehend works of literature. You improve your writing skills through research and analysis. The skills you learn can help your efforts in law school as you earn your law degree.
English majors spend most of their time reading and writing. They synthesize information and come up with persuasive arguments and positions. These skills can help you become a lawyer. They help you study and do well on the bar exam. Research shows that linguistics and English majors score high on the LSAT. This can translate to a strong performance in law school and a successful law career.
English Courses that Help with a Law Degree
According to the Law School Admission Council, law schools look for students who have strong critical thinking skills. English courses support law degree studies in analysis, interpretation, and logic. Courses that help you in law school include:
- Advanced research
- Digital rhetoric
- Editing and proofreading
- Technical writing
Bachelor’s in History
What degree for lawyer jobs do many students get? ABA accredited law school admission data shows 3,000-4,000 students with undergraduate degrees in history apply to law schools every year. The bachelor’s degree helps aspiring law school students succeed.
Law school students who majored in history have strong critical thinking skills. They understand constitutional law and how the current legal system evolved. They also understand that certain social conditions gave rise to this evolution.
In a history program, you can take courses that help you in law school. Courses that cover landmark court rulings and political systems help you gain a foundation for what law schools teach.
You also spend a lot of your time as a history major researching. This skill will help you when you become a lawyer because you spend a lot of time investigating. Your research skills will also give you an edge in law school.
History courses that help you in law school include:
- Civil law and history
- Constitutional law
- Government and politics
- The U.S. Constitution
Bachelor’s in Philosophy
Are there philosophers in law school? Yes! Data shows that philosophy majors score high on the LSAT. Why? As a philosophy major, you know how to think, question, and argue. These are essential skills if you want to become a lawyer.
But before you become a lawyer, you need a law degree. To get a law degree, you must get into law school and finish. Doing well on the law school admission test is important. And to do well means you have skills and abilities in areas you study as a philosophy major.
Philosophy courses teach you how to think. They also teach you about ethics and human nature. You learn how to construct arguments through the study of theory. These theories helped develop some of the greatest thinkers in human history.
Philosophy Courses to Take for Law School
Helpful philosophy courses for law school cover a wide range of topics. You can study:
- Ethics
- Philosophy of law
Philosophy majors also learn how to speak in a clear and concise manner. Classes teach you how to argue with logic instead of emotion. You practice debates and test your reasoning skills. These skills are important for law school.
Bachelor’s in Political Science
The American Bar Association states that political science is among the top majors for law school. About 12,000-13,000 pre-law students choose to major in political science each year. One in five law school applicants have this bachelor’s degree.
What makes political science one of the most popular lawyers degree programs? Its studies overlap with law. This means that the courses you take can give you an edge on the law school admission test.
In a political science program, you study different types of government and law. Your courses cover topics such as:
- Constitutional law
- Foundations of government
- Political analysis
- Political science research
It is your courses that lay a foundation for law school, giving you the skills you need to think critically and problem-solve. Political science courses are research-heavy. They help you improve your analytical abilities. These skills are vital for law school and to become a lawyer.
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Bachelor’s in Psychology
Psychology and law are two subjects that intersect. They both deal with human thought and behavior.
Psychology experts rely on witnesses and experts in different legal cases. Having an understanding of psychological theory and its application is helpful as you prepare for law school and a Juris Doctor degree.
Psychology programs teach you how to conduct research. Courses cover topics that benefit law school applicants and bar exam performance because they teach you how to think, interpret, and write.
Psychology courses that help students attend law school include:
- Criminal law and psychology
- Fundamentals of psychology
- Social science research
- Statistical analysis
Psychologists, like lawyers, help people in social services. That makes psychology a good degree if you want to become a lawyer.
Bachelor’s in Public Policy
Public policy is a major component of law. Systems of laws, regulatory measures, and funding allocations drive policy into society. Law shapes public policy and vice versa.
As a public policy major, you study the development of policies in societies and organizations. You learn what drives certain policies and what changes political processes. These workings have a lot to do with the legal system at the local, regional, and national levels.
Courses for this major cover topics that can benefit you on the bar exam or in law school. These courses include:
- Complex legal issues in policy
- Policy analysis
- Policy and tort law
Some programs offer concentrations in different areas of law. You might learn how to file legal documents in criminal law cases. You may also spend time preparing legal documents for corporate law cases. These are great skills to have no matter which legal profession you work.
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Bachelor’s in Sociology
Sociology covers content areas and skills that help a law student succeed. In this major, you study human behavior within the context of material conditions, cultures, and institutions. You look at theories and conduct research. The skills you develop can help you on your admission to law school and the bar exam.
Whether you want to advocate for student loan debt relief or work in real estate law, you can with a sociology degree. The skills you learn in your undergraduate program can benefit your legal career. They can also help you pass the bar exam.
Classes you can take in sociology include:
- Criminology
- Fundamentals of sociology
- Statistical analysis
Science Majors for Lawyers
Can you pass the bar exam if you majored in science? Yes. According to data, you can major in science and earn a Juris Doctor degree. A science degree won’t keep you out of law school or cause you to fail the bar exam.
Each year, many college graduates earn science degrees and go to law school. They major in:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer science
- Physics
Science degrees can help you if you’re interested in niche areas of law, such as:
- Environmental law
- Healthcare law
- Labor statistics
- Pharmaceutical law
But you can also work in family law or real estate law with a science degree.
Law schools love science majors because they have strong research skills. They also bring with them critical thinking skills and logic. These skills help when it comes time to pass the bar exam and practice law. No matter what kind of legal professionals you want to become, a science degree can help you get your start.
Final Thoughts on the 10 Best Degrees for Future Lawyers
If you’re wondering how to choose the best bachelor degree for lawyer jobs, you need to look within. What does that mean? Ask yourself what interests you. Do you have a personal interest or passion? Many times your interests can guide your career path.
If you’re interested in women’s rights and issues, think about a degree in gender studies or history. Take courses that highlight your interests. Even earn a minor or a concentration in a niche area of interest. Then graduate from law school and find law firms that specialize in women’s rights.
By choosing a degree you are passionate about, you can increase the likelihood of getting into law school and passing the bar exam.
Related Resources:
5 Great Specializations for Online Criminal Justice Students
- 30 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice: Private Non-Profit Colleges
- 30 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs