First, it should be pointed out that most law schools do not require that you major in Pre-Law. If you major in English, say, or history, you’ll still be on the right track. Crucial to a Pre-Law major are critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. After all, as a lawyer, your job will require drafting cogent arguments and solutions to problems, then communicating those arguments and solutions effectively to persuade and convince a judge or jury. With a Pre-Law major, you’ll be taking courses dealing with crime, government, and international issues, but most of your study will consist of courses in the humanities and social sciences. Your education will give you perspectives on human nature, skills in oral and written communication, and the knowledge you’ll need to be a careful and creative thinker. A Pre-Law major will give you the opportunity to take courses in many different disciplines. Political science, anthropology, psychology, government, English, logic, philosophy, and history are only a few of the possibilities. You’ll be encouraged to take math and science courses as well. You’ll have to unravel quantitative mysteries as a lawyer, too. Your chances of being accepted into a good law school will be greatly improved if you can demonstrate knowledge in many areas. Knowledge of a foreign language will also give you an edge in our increasingly international culture.

Preparation

Pre-law majors are immersed in reading and writing, so now’s the time to polish your skills. Read as much as you can. Get engaged in your English courses and strive to write well. History, political science, and language courses will also be valuable. Remember, the key is to build knowledge in a wide variety of subjects.