Unlocking the Law: A Guide to the Best Majors for Aspiring Lawyers

Many people assume that you need a “pre-law degree” to get into law school. In fact, there’s no such thing as a pre-law degree. Pre-law is more easily understood as a particular “track” or course of studies. Undergraduates who express the intention to go on to law school are referred to as being on pre-law track.

For high school students who think they may want to go into law someday, it’s good to understand what college-level pre-law track studies look like. This way, you can begin to explore possible majors and even lay some groundwork in your extracurriculars.

Pre-law track in college is designed to provide a foundation in analytical, writing, and critical thinking skills, all of which you will need in order to pass the law school admissions test (LSAT), get accepted into law school, and go on to a successful career in law.

You can graduate with any major and apply to law school, though majors with more intensive reading, writing, and analysis requirements will best prepare you.

The most important thing is to choose a major that you’re interested in, even passionate about, where you can achieve good grades—because high GPA and LSAT scores are critical for a competitive law school application.

We have helped thousands of students choose a major that will optimize their chances of getting into a top school, based on their individual and personal strengths. Book a free consultation with us to help get started!

What Does ‘Pre-Law’ Mean?

Pre-law is a track or pathway, not a major.

The focus is on honing particular skills, such as writing, logic, and debate. And these can be acquired while studying a variety of subject matters. No matter what your declared major is, if you tell your advisor that your goal is to go onto law school, they will help you choose the right courses to put you on a pre-law path.

What is the post common major for law school?

The most common major for law school applicants is political science. But other subjects that are traditionally studied in preparation for law school include:

• Psychology
• Criminal justice
• History
• English
• Philosophy
• Business
• Economics

Having said this, students with majors as diverse as art, music, education, nursing, and the STEM subjects have also gone on to pursue a law degree.

The Skills Law Schools Look For

The most important factors in a competitive law school application are a high GPA and LSAT score.

However, law schools will also want to see that you’ve acquired the necessary skills to be successful in law school and beyond. The skills that are most required of law school and of lawyers include:

Your personal statement on your application is a good place to demonstrate that you have these skills and to persuade admissions officers that you’re a good fit for their school.  

Top Majors for Pre-Law Students

Law schools want to attract students who are well-rounded, capable of rigorous study and critical thinking, and who have a passion for the law. While traditional pre-law majors like political science, history, and philosophy are common—because they hone skills like researching, reading, and writing—there are multiple paths.

Political Science

Political science is the most common major of law school applicants in the U.S. Studying poli-sci, you’ll get an historical overview of the laws in our country as well as international law. And your studies will be directly related to government, policy, and political systems.

You’ll also learn about election systems and how special interest groups influence law and public policy. It’s a good choice of major for students who are interested in going into constitutional or public law.

Philosophy

Philosophy is also an advantageous major for a student on pre-law track. Studying philosophy, you’ll not only read and write a lot, you’ll learn to use formal methods of logic and reasoning. This will not only help you be able to analyze problems from multiple angles and challenge common assumptions but also to be comfortable debating and addressing profound ethical dilemmas.

All of this is necessary for effective legal argumentation and will prepare you well for the LSAT. These capabilities are very relevant to all work you might perform in the legal profession.

History

To major in history is to gain an in-depth understanding of the past, including legal systems and precedents. In fact, the study of law and the study of history have a great deal of overlap. You might even think of law school studies as the history of law.

In addition, both require the same skills. History majors spend most of their time reading, researching, and writing. As they attempt to make sense of the past by observing the evidence, historians put forth their interpretation and make a case for it. All of this is a good grounding for success in law school, passing the bar, and working in the legal profession.

English or Literature

Research and critical thinking are central to all work in the legal profession. And these are skills you’ll develop if you study in an English degree program.

As an English major, you will comb through large amounts of writing and have to judge reliable sources from unreliable ones. You’ll need to think critically, form an opinion, understand multiple viewpoints, choose sides, reach your own conclusions, and argue your viewpoint to others. This is very similar to the work you’ll do in law school and beyond. The best lawyers are excellent writers.

Economics or Business

To prepare yourself for law school with an eye toward a career in corporate, tax, or antitrust law, you can’t go wrong majoring in economics or business. Either program will give you an understanding of financial and corporate structures. And you’ll develop strong analytical and critical thinking skills, which are necessary to all legal reasoning.

Economics majors will study topics like public policy, regulation, and antitrust law. While business majors will study business structures, contracts, and financial regulations. Both are good grounding for corporate lawyers.

Business majors will also study business valuation, due diligence, and deal-making, which you would need to know if you want to be a lawyer who specializes in mergers and acquisitions. Understanding business strategy and innovation would be key for lawyers specializing in intellectual property. And a background in accounting and finance will be necessary for tax lawyers.

STEM

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. While only 6.6% of law school applicants in 2023 were STEM majors, that shouldn’t stop you from applying to law school with a STEM degree. You’ll probably find the logic portions of the LSAT a breeze—as doing geometry proofs will have honed your logical reasoning skills.

STEM majors can bring a unique set of skills that are beneficial to studying law, most notably the ability to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. This is essential for legal analysis.

STEM fields often require a high degree of precision and accuracy, and that is a must in legal work, where avoiding errors and ensuring the accuracy of legal documents is critical. STEM fields also encourage innovative thinking—something lawyers need in order to find creative solutions to complex legal challenges.

Areas of law where STEM majors add value include those involving quantitative data, such as intellectual property, antitrust, and tax law, or an understanding of technology, such as intellectual property, cybersecurity, and data privacy law.

Psychology or Sociology

Many undergrads who major in psychology or sociology go on to law school and law practice. Either program will help students develop the strong critical thinking and analytical skills that are essential for legal reasoning and problem-solving. You’ll also hone research and writing skills, which are necessary for success in law school and the legal profession.

Psychology studies provide an understanding of individual behavior, motivation, and decision-making, and that can be helpful if you want to go on to study criminal law, family law, or civil litigation. Whereas understanding the psychology of criminals and victims can be helpful if you want to go into criminal law.

Sociology majors study societal structures and institutions, and this gives them a broad perspective on social issues, such as inequality, poverty, and crime. This can be a good grounding for a career in criminal justice, family law, or civil rights law.