What is Pre Law Studies ?
Pre-law refers to a course of study that prepares students for law school. Although pre-law schools are not officially announced every year, however students prefer to take part in a pre-law school to get themselves prepared for a reputed law college admission. This can be either an undergraduate major or a declaration of plans to enter best law schools especially in united states or any other country, after earning your bachelor’s degree. Many universities require students to choose a major, such as political science or English, and reserve pre-law as a separate track where students meet with a law advisor to ensure they have the correct courses and grades to apply for law school. Here another very important question arises in new generation’s mind that why study law? Law helps us in every field of life and it is the most essential tool to survive in society. Specialized colleges that focus on sending their students to law school Some colleges may offer a specific pre-law undergraduate degree that allows students to focus on the rigorous coursework required for the area of law they intend to study.
Law schools typically do not have specific undergraduate major requirements, so students are encouraged to study a field that interests them and take the recommended law preparatory classes. These preparatory law, debate and policy focused classes teach students important research, writing, analytical and persuasion skills. Possessing these skills helps prepare students for a range of careers in law, business and public policy.
Is Pre law necessary for law school ?
Most law Universities of the world do not consider pre-law as an actual major, so there is no official pre-law consultation available to the students. It becomes difficult for the law students to decide either they should go to pre-law school or not even they don’t know which pre-law school is the best.
In fact, the pre-law refers to any course of study taken by an undergraduate in preparation for study at a law school. The American Bar Association requires law schools to admit only students with an accredited Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalent depending on the student’s country of origin.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-9649777835476667&output=html&h=280&adk=722200732&adf=2913691003&pi=t.aa~a.3614257129~i.16~rp.4&w=1068&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1627998062&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=3711201067&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=1068×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bestlawschools.net%2Fbest-pre-law-schools-and-majors-in-2021%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=200&rw=1068&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiNi4xIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTIuMC40NTE1LjE1OSIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLG51bGxd&tt_state=W3siaXNzdWVyT3JpZ2luIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9hdHRlc3RhdGlvbi5hbmRyb2lkLmNvbSIsInN0YXRlIjo3fV0.&dt=1631098287877&bpp=6&bdt=6551&idt=7&shv=r20210831&mjsv=m202109010101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D9fa7d81ab1dfc14c-226d6cc37cca00ac%3AT%3D1631098285%3ART%3D1631098285%3AS%3DALNI_MYd1HP3yucwiycEwbhJNk0hHuLcVg&prev_fmts=0x0%2C970x250%2C970x250&nras=2&correlator=5481528663585&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1565543807.1631098286&ga_sid=1631098287&ga_hid=1026488029&ga_fc=0&u_tz=60&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=800&u_w=1280&u_ah=760&u_aw=1280&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=98&ady=1691&biw=1263&bih=689&scr_x=0&scr_y=645&eid=42530671%2C44747621%2C44748553%2C21067496%2C31062297&oid=3&pvsid=64736328371835&pem=55&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1280%2C0%2C1280%2C760%2C1280%2C689&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=BL1pxyspFX&p=https%3A//www.bestlawschools.net&dtd=346
An undergraduate degree in business will serve the pre-law student well because it prepares the student in many facets of the legal system. The business major will have a strong understanding of issues such as contracts, negotiations, and corporate structure.
Most people who pursue a career as a lawyer generally take the traditional path of earning a bachelor’s degree followed by three years of law school. The amount of time this actually will take you depends on whether you attend school full-time and pass the bar exam on the first try.
What are the best Pre-law majors?
There’s no undergraduate major that will guarantee entry into OR rejection from law school, nor ensure your success once you get in. Your choice of major will not improve performance on the LSAT, the bar exam, or in a courtroom. According to a recent case study conducted among law students of united states, the most popular pre-law majors are as follows:
Rank | Pre-law Major | Students Admitted | Interest Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Political Science | 9,612 | 18% |
2 | Psychology | 2,960 | 8% |
3 | Other | 2,917 | 7% |
5 | English | 2,564 | 6% |
4 | Criminal Justice | 2,220 | 6% |
6 | History | 2,657 | 5% |
7 | Economics | 2,373 | 5% |
8 | Philosophy | 1,858 | 4% |
9 | Liberal Arts | 1,496 | 3% |
10 | Sociology | 1,327 | 3% |
- Political Science
Political Science is the not-at-all-surprisingly undisputed top pre-law major. 18% of all applicants admitted were from this major.
- Psychology
A Psychology degree can be very helpful for prospective attorneys, since practicing law is as much about the people involved as it is about the law itself.
- Others
The second highest number of admitted law students majored in “Other” – topics that did not fall under the other 144 majors listed. 7% of all applicants were admitted from these majors.
- Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice major tends to have a lower percentage of applicants admitted than other majors. English, History, and Economics all had more admitted applicants than Criminal Justice.
- English
Practicing law also requires strong oral and written language skills for things like case briefs, reports, and analyzing & presenting a case. You’ll be expected to use these skills in law school as well as in practice.
- History
Law is tightly entwined with History, as it requires knowledge of legal precedents and origins of laws.
- Economics
If you’re interested in corporate or tax law, an Economics major is a good foundation. Economics is also broadly applicable to other areas of law, such as intellectual property.
- Philosophy
Law and Philosophy are like the positive and negative poles of a magnet. Very different, but inseparable. At their foundation, the law must consider ethics, human nature, common sense, and other philosophical topics to be effective.
- Liberal Arts
This major may include concentrations like language, religion, and design.
- Sociology
Sociology is the study of people in groups. Laws are guidelines for how people are expected to act in groups.
What are the best Pre-law Schools ?
Many enthusiastic college students have their heart set on attending law school. In order to feel fully “prepared” for the rigors ahead, many undergrads will declare themselves pre-law and try to customize their courses to get a jump start of the legal curriculum. In reality, there’s no clear course of study for pre-law students, nor is there a specific major.
Taking a few classes to prepare a bit academically, however, is a wise decision. Below is our list of the specific classes that will best help college students prepare for law school. Followings are the most best pre-law schools according to popularity:
The Best Pre-Law Schools
Now it’s time to take a look at our top picks for the best pre-law schools in the United States.
This unscientific ranking of the best pre-law schools is based on gathering schools from a few different law school rankings list, and lists of top schools for undergraduate studies, particularly ones that are strong in humanities. I also considered whether the school has an exceptional pre-law major or is academically strong overall. I also tried to make sure this list had some variety, since not everyone is just looking to get into a top-10 law school.
Keep in mind that while there are schools who offer pre-law degrees on this list, they may not be top schools overall since the major is fairly uncommon. You still need to carefully consider whether or not you should actually major in pre-law, and what your goals are for law school.
#1: Harvard College
A traditional feeder school, a Harvard education will undoubtedly give you an advantage in your law school applications, especially with the right grades and LSAT scores. Harvard also has several organizations for pre-law students, including the Harvard Law Society and the Harvard College Black Pre-Law Association. You’ll also be able to take advantage of Harvard’s alumni network at top schools and law firms.
#2: Yale University
Yale is considered the top law school in the country, and is the 4th best university overall according to US News and World Report. Though Yale does not have a pre-law major, the school does offer an interdisciplinary track that allows students to create their own major that can give them the skills that law schools seek. The Yale Law School Admission Council also provides undergraduates with pre-law counseling and events throughout the year.
#3: Northwestern University
Northwestern is known for academic rigor, and a big school means lots of resources, including their own law school. Northwestern’s Legal Studies track can be completed as a major or a minor, and differs from pre-law programs in that it has an interdisciplinary focus and aims to teach students to think critically about the relationship between law and society, and includes everything from psychology to literature to religious studies. It’s a well-rounded degree, and the added advantage of being in Chicago means more opportunities for internships.
#4: University of Maryland
The University of Maryland has a department dedicated to advising pre-law students, which also connects students with resources and mentors, and works closely with the university’s law school. Maryland also has a three year arts/law degree program, in which a student can apply to law school in their third year of undergrad, and be awarded their baccalaureate degree in their first year of law school. College Park is also close to Washington D.C., which can help you with landing an internship.
#5: Georgetown University
Georgetown’s pre-law advising center offers resources on all things law school, including one-on-one advising, help with applications, and workshops. Additionally, Georgetown’s record of academics in the humanities make it a great place to learn the skills necessary to excel in law school, and its Washington D.C. location means opportunities to have internships and make connections with those working in the legal field or in politics.
#6: New York University
NYU is in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, and certainly offers a ton of opportunities for internships both in the legal industry and beyond. NYU also offers the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program, or LAMP, for pre-law students. The school’s academics are rigorous overall, and has a strong record in the humanities, particularly English.
#7: Michigan State University
Michigan State offers a pre-law major that is also considered a liberal arts degree. The pre-law major aims to introduce students to legal studies while also teaching critical thinking and analytical skills so that pre-law majors are prepared to work in law enforcement, become paralegals, or go into a career in government.
#8: University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin’s career center hosts one of the largest Law Fairs in the country every year, which allows students to interact with over 100 law school admissions professionals. The career center also hosts panels and workshops, law school application coaching, and more. If you’re stuck between majors, these resources can help you decide what is best for you, and what will help you stand out on an application. UT Austin offers many majors in both sciences and humanities, and UT students go onto to law school with degrees in numerous fields.
#9: Florida State University
In addition to one of the country’s top Criminal Justice programs, FSU has a pre-law advising center that helps students magnify their achievements within their majors, and works closely with the law school. FSU hosts the Donald J. Weidner Summer Program for Legal Studies, a four-week program taught by law professors. Even better: 70% of program attendees have gone on to law school. The program is open to undergraduates from all schools and is competitive.
#10: George Washington University
George Washington University encourages pre-law students to establish themselves as pre-law early on, and take advantage of the many groups, societies, and panels dedicated to that goal. Advisers at GW help you find the law schools that are the best fit for your background and goals, and they tailor your undergrad education to those schools. Additionally, the Washington D.C. location makes for a great spot to score internships.
#11: Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern is a little different than the other schools on this list because of its thorough pre-law (legal studies) major that offers an undergraduate law degree. Nova Southeastern is dedicated to helping students prepare for law school by offering a challenging program and a dedicated interest in the humanities. The school’s B.S. in Legal Studies major also allows students to take classes in philosophy, history, and more as they work toward their degree.