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Reviewed by:
Former Head of Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University, & Admissions Officer, Brown University
Reviewed: 7/8/24
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.
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!
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.
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!
Reviewed by:
Former Head of Northeastern University's Pre-Law Office, Northeastern University
