When you’re an undergraduate student with your sights set on a J.D. in the future, what major you choose can feel like a huge part of whether or not you’ll get into law school.
Spoiler alert: there are a lot more important factors than your pre-law major for whether or not you get into law school.
However, here are some steps you can take and things to consider to set yourself up for law school success.
Getting into law school is highly competitive with tens of thousands of applicants vying for limited spots each year. While admissions committees consider many factors one key element is your choice of undergraduate major.
Selecting the right major involves more than just picking an interesting subject. You’ll want to choose a field that aligns with your strengths and develops key skills needed for law school success. This article examines the top majors for law school applicants and what makes each one a strong option.
Why Your Major Matters
Law schools don’t require or prefer any single major However, your undergraduate field of study can impact your law school admissions chances in a few key ways
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GPA – Admissions committees weigh your grades heavily. Certain majors may play to your academic strengths and help you achieve higher grades.
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Academic rigor – Law schools want to see you challenged yourself with a rigorous curriculum. Some majors offer more intense course loads than others
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Skill development – Majors that build skills like critical reading, writing, analysis, and problem solving prepare you well for legal education.
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Passion and focus – Following your interests can lead to better grades and writing samples that communicate sincere interest in law.
While technical majors like engineering aren’t common for law students, they are certainly viable options. Admissions officers ultimately want to see excellence and evidence you can handle law school academics.
The 10 Best Majors for Law School Applicants
Here are 10 top choices for undergraduates who aim to continue on to law school:
1. Political Science
Political science remains the most popular pre-law major, though it’s not necessarily preferred by law schools. Coursework covers government, policymaking, legal systems, and political theory. This helps develop knowledge relevant to many legal careers. Students also build critical thinking and communication skills.
2. English
An English major develops skills in reading comprehension, critical analysis, research, and persuasive writing—all vital abilities for lawyers. Courses also strengthen cultural literacy through studying literature. Topics can range from Shakespeare to diversity in contemporary novels.
3. Economics
Economics majors master analytical thinking, statistical analysis, research, and argument formation. Microeconomics focuses on individuals and companies. Macroeconomics looks at entire economies. The skills economics students build align well with many LSAT question types.
4. Philosophy
Philosophy is ideal for sharpening logic and debate skills. Students explore major schools of philosophical thought and take courses in ethics, metaphysics, and logic. Philosophy majors post top scores on the LSAT, and law schools recognize it as solid preparation.
5. History
History students learn to gather and synthesize information, identify key arguments, and present reasoned conclusions. Coursework develops research abilities and persuasive writing skills. Understanding historical context also informs legal analysis.
6. Criminal Justice
For students interested in criminal law, a degree in criminal justice offers relevant foundational knowledge. It combines social sciences like psychology and sociology with legal topics. Students gain insights into criminology, law enforcement, and the justice system.
7. Finance
A finance degree equips students with quantitative and analytical skills ideal for legal fields like tax, corporate law, and estate planning. Coursework covers areas including business law, financial markets, managerial economics, and accounting principles.
8. Communications
From debate to public speaking to persuasive writing, communications majors develop abilities crucial for practicing law. Lawyers must argue points effectively. They speak in court, address clients, and draft proposals. This major provides great practice.
9. Psychology
Understanding human thinking and behavior benefits lawyers in many specialties. Psychology students take scientific and theoretical coursework to study cognition, personality, mental health, and interpersonal dynamics. This helps build insight into legal clients.
10. Business Administration
A business degree can be useful for students aiming for corporate law or other business-focused legal careers. It combines business law, management, finance, marketing and other topics. Students gain professional insights and learn to analyze complex problems.
Key Factors in Choosing a Major
Beyond the specific majors above, a few key guidelines can help students select an undergraduate focus:
- Seek fields matching your abilities and interests to help you excel
- Consider required coursework and if it aligns with your strengths
- Ensure your major is sufficiently rigorous and analytically focused
- Review degree requirements; avoid easy, unchallenging programs
- Target majors that build skills directly relevant to legal work
- Research the acceptance rates for your major at top law schools
- Weigh whether a minor or double major makes sense for expanding your skills
The bottom line is choosing a major you find genuinely compelling. Passion and dedication lead to strong applications. Admissions officers ultimately look for excellence, whatever its source.
Pre-Law Programs: Should You Major in Legal Studies?
Separate from traditional majors, some colleges offer pre-law or legal studies programs for undergraduates interested in law school. These interdisciplinary majors combine basis legal knowledge with broader skills development.
Typical courses include:
- Introduction to Law
- Logic and Legal Reasoning
- Legal Research and Writing
- Constitutional Law
- Business Law
- Judicial Process and Behavior
Such programs can provide helpful exposure to the legal field. However, some experts caution they may be less rigorous than traditional arts and science majors. Since admissions officers focus heavily on grades and academic challenge, generic “pre-law” degrees don’t always demonstrate one’s full potential.
Students who are drawn to the legal exposure these offer may want to pursue them as minors rather than full majors. This allows pairing core law-related coursework with a more intensive traditional major.
No matter your undergraduate path, the keys to success are embracing challenge, developing key skills, and pursuing your interests with dedication. With sound preparation, your dream of law school can become reality.
What are the most popular majors of law school applicants?
If you’re not sure what major is right for you, a quick look at the most popular pre-law majors might help. According to the LSAC report for 2020-2021 enrollment, these were the top 10 most popular majors.
Should you choose to double major for law school?
If you are seriously interested in two different areas, a double major can allow you to dive into two subjects and show that you are up for the challenge, writes Gerald Bradshaw in the Chicago Tribune.
“If you are serious about law school, a few clients suggested you go one more step and take a double major. If you enjoy history, for example, why not add a second major such as economics? Economics requires a strong quantitative component while history will require a lot of writing. Both skills are highly valued in the job market and by potential law schools. Even if you decide to work after graduation and attend law school at a later date, what you gain by taking harder classes will pay off when you take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT),” says Bradshaw, an international college admissions consultant with Bradshaw College Consulting. “A double major, or even a single major with a strong concentration in a secondary subject, will make you that much more competitive. But be cautious. Some majors are easier than others to combine. For example, engineering requires so many prerequisites that it might not leave room for a second major or even a minor area of concentration.”
While a double major might not be for everyone, the point is, once again, to challenge yourself in your undergraduate studies.
