“The ABA [or ‘American Bar Association’] does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, nursing or education.”
– Website of the American Bar Association – and, specifically, their page on “Pre-Law”
I once thought about going to law school. Moreover, I got a bachelor’s degree in business, which is one of the more traditional routes for entering the legal profession. But I have never so much as applied to a law school, let alone gotten in or out of one. Thus, I freely admit that I am not an expert on this topic. But it is a topic that I have thought about often over the years. I’ve read some legal classics, such as the Federalist Papers – or Sir William Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Laws of England.” Thus, I have some experience (after a fashion) with the law, at least in a narrow sense. Thus, I would like to offer my perspective on what kinds of undergraduate majors would be most helpful for law school.
Magna Carta replica and display, in the rotunda of the United States Capitol
To be clear, this is not intended to replace studying the ABA webpage on this subject, which is simply entitled “Pre-Law.” Indeed, I plan to quote from this page often in this particular post. This is just intended to supplement their most definitive webpage with some brief commentary of my own. I will here be focusing on the six majors that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school. This is because, with one exception, these are the relevant areas about which I personally know the most. As the quotation above shows, there are six traditional law school preparation majors. In their words, these are “history, English, philosophy, political science, economics, [and] business.” I will start with English, the only one of these subjects with which I lack any substantial personal experience. Otherwise, I will adhere to the sequence in which they mention these six subjects, giving my commentary on each of them in turn. So let’s dive into the English major first.
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United States Constitution, which is still the supreme law of the land in this country
English
English majors can be particularly relevant with the writing part of law school. As the ABA website says, “As you seek to prepare for a legal education, you should develop a high degree of skill at written communication. Language is the most important tool of a lawyer, and lawyers must learn to express themselves clearly and concisely … Legal education will provide you with good training in writing, and particularly in the specific techniques and forms of written expression that are common in the law. Fundamental writing skills, however, must be acquired and refined before you enter law school. You should seek as many experiences as possible that will require rigorous and analytical writing, including preparing original pieces of substantial length and revising written work in response to constructive criticism.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) Ideally, literature can also be helpful with developing critical reading skills as well. But literature programs (English programs in particular) have become corrupted in recent years – since, these days, they often fail to teach the subject itself. Thus, one would have to study this at a school that actually teaches the subject, rather than the latest postmodern fads. But the old version of the English literature major (or other kinds of literature, such as Greek and Roman literature) were actually very helpful preparation for law school. Reading the classics independently can also be a good preparation for law school. Thus, this may still be a good choice, if the subject is actually taught at your school.
William Shakespeare, one of the greatest names in English literature
History
History has some of the same writing-related benefits mentioned above for English. But history is also specifically mentioned as a content area for law school. As the ABA website says, “Some of the types of knowledge that would maximize your ability to benefit from a legal education include: A broad understanding of history, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of our society in the United States.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) You would be surprised at how broad this can be. The United States was greatly influenced by European history, particularly that of the British Isles. It also shows the influence of other cultures, such as Ancient Greece and Rome – the founders of popular government. Thus, the particular content of history can be extremely relevant for law school. Things unrelated to American history can also be useful in other ways, as I will show later on in this post. But things directly related to American history will definitely help one to understand some of the relevant legal debates. History also sharpens your critical reading skills, since there are some controversial areas in history that one must think about. In so many ways, studying history can be helpful for law school. However, the discipline of history has likewise become corrupted in recent years, again making it harder for me to recommend majoring in this subject in school. You’d likewise have to study this at a place that actually teaches the subject, rather than the “politically correct” (or revisionist) versions of history – which are seldom correct in any other way.
Representation of the Roman Senate
Philosophy
Philosophy can also be particularly helpful for developing analytical skills. As the ABA website says, “You should seek courses and other experiences that will engage you in critical thinking about important issues, challenge your beliefs and improve your tolerance for uncertainty and criticism. Your legal education will demand that you structure and evaluate arguments for and against propositions that are susceptible to reasoned debate. Good legal education will teach you to ‘think like a lawyer’, but the analytic and problem solving skills required of lawyers are not fundamentally different from those employed by other professionals. Your law school experience will develop and refine those crucial skills, but you must enter law school with a reasonably well developed set of analytic and problem solving abilities.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) Philosophy trains you for critical reading and critical thinking, and also sharpens your debating skills. Philosophy training can still be a good choice, for someone wanting to go to law school. Thus, I feel like I can still recommend the major somewhat, but the philosophy programs corrupted by postmodern neo-Marxism may have their quality compromised in some ways. Nonetheless, being well-versed in silly political ideas may still be helpful for anyone who’s assigned to argue against them. And independent study of philosophy can also be quite helpful for going to law school.
The execution of Socrates (which was by drinking hemlock poison)
Political Science
Some of the same things said above about philosophy would also apply to political science, since it also exposes you to various kinds of debates. But political science is also specifically mentioned as a content area for law school. Specifically, the ABA website says that one type of knowledge that would maximize one’s ability to benefit from a legal education includes “A fundamental understanding of political thought and of the contemporary American political system.” Another is a knowledge “of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) Political science can help with all of these. Political theory, in particular, can help with developing one’s critical reading skills. This major can also be important in other ways, as I will show later on in this post. That’s why political science is one of the most popular pre-law majors. For these reasons, it still seems like political science can be an excellent choice for aspiring lawyers. But the social sciences have not been immune to the kinds of corruption mentioned above, so one may again have to be careful in this area. Again, it may still help to be well-versed in silly political ideas, for one who’s assigned to argue against them.
Thus, this subject may still be helpful for studying the law.
Great Seal of the United States
Economics
Again, one type of knowledge that would maximize one’s ability to benefit from a legal education is a knowledge “of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.” Another would be “Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) Economics can be particularly relevant for both of these. International economics can help with the first part, and the mathematical part of economics can also be helpful for the second part. Some economics classes (like money and banking) specifically apply to financial data, so economics can likewise help with this part. And economic theory of any kind can help to develop your critical reading skills, as I will show later on in this post. Sadly, this subject has been corrupted somewhat by Marxist thinking, but still has many good areas within it. There are still some bastions of sanity within the economic community. Thus, consider an economics major, if you want to go to law school. You would be surprised at how relevant it can be to the law.
Business
Again, one type of knowledge that would maximize one’s ability to benefit from a legal education is a knowledge “of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.” Another is “Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) Business can be particularly relevant for both of these, especially the last one. Accounting classes in particular can be helpful with analyzing financial data, and finance classes are likewise helpful for this. Classes in international economics and business can also be helpful for the international side of things. Business also offers good skills for managing a law firm, if you choose to do that. Business also helps with doing tax law, corporations law, securities law, and many other types of business law. And this is one of the few subjects that (so far, at least) is relatively free from the corrupting influence of “political correctness.” A business major still teaches you how to make a profit, even if you occasionally hear some nonsense about inflated “corporate social responsibility” (which is code for giving away the shareholders’ money). More about that in a Milton Friedman quote here. Thus, as a former business major myself, I strongly recommend the business major, if you want some practical skills that would actually apply to studying the law.
Early 19th-century ledger
Concluding thoughts
Some other types of knowledge that would maximize one’s ability to benefit from a legal education would include “A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.” This can be obtained from a variety of classes, including psychology and communications. Communications classes can also help with another skill that is specifically mentioned in this ABA webpage. Specifically, it can help with developing skills in “oral communication and listening,” which receives its own section at that page. Another is “An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) There are many things that can help you with this part (including world history), so I will refrain from giving specific recommendations on this particular subject. Many are relevant here. But the American Bar Association also recommends developing your skills in research, organization, and “management” – that is, time management. Many different kinds of majors can help with these important parts, so pick some major that’s good for you (if you’re inclined to go to college of any kind, that is). If you enjoy your chosen subject, you’re more likely to get good grades – and that can be helpful in getting into law school in the first place, if that is your goal. I also personally recommend learning Spanish, or another language that you can actually use on the job. This might not help you to get into law school, but it could provide another practical skill that you can use on the job as a lawyer.
The fictional defense attorney Perry Mason, as portrayed by Raymond Burr in the Perry Mason TV show
There are many paths to success for an aspiring lawyer. Other majors can also help with this. In particular, biology and chemistry can help with healthcare law (such as medical malpractice), and computer science and engineering can help with patent law – the only specialty to be officially recognized by the American Bar Association. And, again, business helps with many different kinds of business-related law. As this ABA webpage concludes, “it is not essential that you come to law school having fully developed all of the skills, values, knowledge, and experience suggested in this Statement, as you may be able to continue to develop these during the initial years of law school. However, if you begin law school having already acquired the foundation suggested in this Statement, you will have a significant advantage and will be well prepared to benefit fully from a challenging legal education.” (Source: Their page on “Pre-Law”) I couldn’t have said it better myself.
“You can develop your critical reading ability in a wide range of experiences, including the close reading of complex material in literature, political or economic theory, philosophy, or history. The particular nature of the materials examined is not crucial; what is important is that law school should not be the first time that you are rigorously engaged in the enterprise of carefully reading and understanding, and critically analyzing, complex written material of substantial length.”
– Website of the American Bar Association – and, specifically, their page on “Pre-Law”
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