Obtaining a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite for entering law school in the state of California, which lasts for about four years. There is no compulsory field for this bachelor’s degree, but some fields are a good prelude to law schools such as political science, psychology, criminal justice, economics, history, and English are particularly advantageous for a legal scholar because they may be applied to the many areas of study in law. A bachelor’s degree and a minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale are also requirements for admission to an online Juris Doctor program.
On an important note, when you apply to law school, please ask yourself if you truly want to practice law as a profession. Don’t base your decision solely on the possibility of financial gain or stellar undergraduate performance. Entering the legal profession requires a great deal of resolve and a broad understanding of the world. It is advised that you strive to learn about the various legal systems so that you will be better prepared if you ultimately decide to go to law school.
You may be wondering how the following degrees will are commonly deemed to be pre-law degrees. Here is a brief explanation of why:
Political Science
For students preparing to become lawyers, political science is by far the most common major. Given how closely it is related to the legal system, studying political science at the undergraduate level makes sense. Pre-law students should typically choose their major based on their interests and passions rather than what they think will most likely increase their chances of getting into law school. Nevertheless, it makes sense that many students who are interested in law also have a keen interest in politics and governmental structures.
Political science is a branch of the social sciences that concentrates on political behavior and government structures. You can develop a thorough understanding of the operation of the legal system as well as how laws are made and carried out through political science courses. Foreign political and judicial systems, the effects of treaties, and domestic historical cases are all topics covered in the coursework. By enhancing your reading, writing, and public speaking abilities, a political science degree positions you for success in law school and in your chosen field. A thorough understanding of the history of the legal system, the Constitution, and its founding ideals are all advantageous.
Average Political Science majors LSAT Score: 153.62
Psychology
For law students and legal practitioners, a psychology undergraduate degree has several advantages. Lawyers often have to collaborate with social care providers, such as social workers, in their many legal specialties. Students gain a strong understanding of these vocations and how they apply to their clients through coursework in this major. Additionally, generally speaking, psychology courses prepare lawyers to interact professionally with a variety of people more efficiently.
Psychology, which includes general feelings and actions, is the study of the human mind. Psychology has a scientific component, but it also includes branches into the fundamentals of human behavior. Law and psychology are intertwined because laws influence and control how people behave.
Average Psychology majors LSAT Score: 152.53
Criminal Justice
Criminal justice is a popular undergraduate major for people entering law school, much like political science. The three primary branches of the American justice system—the courts, the police, and the prisons—are something you will learn about as a criminal justice major. You’ll probably need to take classes in administration, constitutional law, criminal justice, evidence, forensics, law, criminal profiling, and judicial procedure. You can also earn a degree in Criminal Justice both on-campus and online.
If you want to work in criminal law, a criminal justice major may be the best choice. You can gain the research, analytical, and writing abilities you need from the coursework to be successful in law school and the legal field. Graduates of these programs might feel confident in their foundation before going into post-graduate legal courses due to the overlap between the legal and criminal justice worlds. Additionally, it can show admissions officers that you genuinely care about the law and the judicial system.
Average Criminal Justice majors LSAT Score: 145.87
Economics
If you want to explore the corporate law field, economics is a good major to pick. It might also be pertinent to other fields of study, such as intellectual property law. Pre-law students can hone crucial abilities necessary for a successful law school experience through this major. The analysis of huge volumes of data requires economics students to use logical reasoning. They are given issues, and they are expected to come up with and apply solutions.
The study of economics is important because the economy and how people use money in the current society are important driving forces. Both the development of the current economic system and the effects of booms and busts are taught to students. Legal change has historically been sparked by economic situations, and pre-law students who focus on this area deepen their awareness of these distinguishing characteristics.
Average Economics major LSAT Score: 158.99
HISTORY
You will grasp the history of the American judicial system better if you have a strong undergraduate history background. The existing legal system, which has undergone significant evolution since the days of colonization, is based on the English legal system. Additionally, you will learn about significant court decisions, agreements, the evolution of different political and legal systems, as well as other crucial elements. You could be better able to succeed in law school with this knowledge. Later in your profession, you might use your familiarity with legal precedents and background to enhance your performance.
Even though many students can excel in a history major, it is thought to be difficult. Finding a major in which you excel is crucial because your GPA has a significant impact on your ability to be accepted to law school. If you did well in your high school history studies and are fascinated by how history unfolds and how societies change over time, you might do well to major in history.
Average History majors LSAT Score: 156.27
ENGLISH
If you did well in your high school English classes, choosing an English major could help you achieve a higher GPA in college than you might in another subject. As you get ready for the future, this major might provide you with some other important advantages. Writing and reading are extensively emphasized in English education, particularly persuasive writing and reading comprehension. Students acquire strong reading and writing abilities that enable them to digest written material rapidly and utilize it to organize and analyze their thoughts, arguments, and positions. Grammar, word origins, and other concepts are all well-developed.
Average English majors LSAT Score: 154.78
How to Evaluate Your Pre-law Education in California?
To determine if an individual has the pre-legal knowledge required by Business and Professions Code section §6060, students starting their legal studies may apply to Evaluation of Pre-Legal Education. They can decide if they are prepared to study law with the aid of such an assessment. A potential student’s application may be submitted by law schools.
As stated by the State Bar of California, to be accepted for processing, the student or law school must ensure all necessary documents are submitted, including a completed Application for Evaluation of Pre-Legal Education form, a $100 cashier’s check or money order payable to the State Bar of California and all official college transcripts.
The following questions with the aid of the assessment can get you answers such as if you are eligible to be exempt from the First-Year Law Students’ Examination or more commonly known as the “Baby” bar, the amount of credit they will obtain for finishing law school and how much further legal education is needed to pass the California Bar Examination.
This application may be submitted by law schools on behalf of an enrolled or prospective student. The bar will inform the law student or a law school administrator in writing of his or her status after receiving applications for either of the aforementioned evaluations. Usually, it takes three to four weeks to conduct an evaluation. It is something to take note of, use neither of these processes if you are a legal student who received your education abroad. Submit an application for registration as a general applicant with foreign education. Moreover, for applicants who have at least two years of college, there is the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam which requires you to have a score of 50 or more, for you to meet the general education requirements before starting law school.
Conclusion
You either wind up at the most prominent law school on Earth or the most affordable one, you must understand that there are two major things to become an attorney: acquiring a law degree and passing the Bar exam. Anyone who has developed a passion for the legal field certainly faces a difficult road, but willpower will help you get there.