What is the “best” pre-law major?

Many pre-law students wonder what major to choose as an undergraduate student.  In my opinion, there are several important criteria to take into account.  Some of the key ones are discussed below.

Law Schools Do Not Require, Or Even Prefer, Any Specific Undergraduate Major

The first thing to remember is that law schools do not require any specific major in college.  However, law schools do like a diverse student body.  Diversity of race/national origin and gender; diversity of background experiences; diversity of political beliefs; diversity of undergraduate institutions; etc.  And, they also like diversity of undergraduate majors.

Many pre-law students believe they should select a “pre-law major” such as Political Science, Criminology, or Law and Society, etc.   If you want to major in one of those subjects because it interests you, then you certainly should feel free to do it.  These majors may also give you a sense of what the law entails, and help you make the decision of whether you want to go to law school.

But you should not expect that choosing a “typical” law school major will enhance your law school application.  In fact, there may even be a slight advantage in selecting a less common major (e.g., French, Biology, Engineering, etc.), because such majors may add to the law school’s quest for a diverse student body.

Grades Matter More Than One’s Major

Although law schools do not care much about one’s major, they care tremendously about one’s grade point average.  Unfortunately, that may mean one should take into account which major(s) will allow you to maintain as strong a gpa as possible.  Law schools may appreciate the difference between a “hard” major and an “easy” major, but it won’t matter as much as differences in one’s gpa.  While its impact upon one’s gpa should not be the only consideration in choosing a major, it is worth factoring into the equation.

Consider Maximizing One’s Options

Articles frequently get written about which undergraduate majors are most in demand in the working world, and which will command the highest wages.  If you are not certain you will be going to law school, you may want to consider a major that will give you a variety of other options.  For example, Computer Science and Engineering tend to be two of the higher paid undergraduate majors, compared to other ones.  In contrast, a History or English major may provide fewer alternative options.

One shouldn’t become a Computer Science or Math major if one has no passion (or actively dislikes!) the subjects.  But, if you enjoy the type of undergraduate work that may lead to attractive options outside the legal field, it may make sense to consider those majors…even if you believe it is likely you will go to law school.  You never know where life will take you, and many students are still “on the fence” about whether to go to law school.  Having alternatives is always a good thing.

What Do You Enjoy?

One of the most commonly overlooked criteria that people often fail to consider sufficiently is what they enjoy doing.  Doing what you like not only makes life more fun, it may positively influence your law school application.  For example, your passion for the subject may lead to a higher gpa because you are willing to study more, and that same passion may also inspire you to find meaningful extracurricular activities that may enhance your law school application.

Conclusion

If you can still choose your undergraduate major, remember there is no preferred “pre-law major.”  Consider some of the following:  (1) law schools appreciate diversity, including a student body with different majors; (2) maintaining a strong undergraduate gpa is important, (3) majors providing you with alternatives to law school may have advantages, especially if you are not absolutely certain about going to law school, and (4) don’t forget to pick a subject you like!