Is English a good major for law?

Asked by: Furman Zboncak  |  Last update: July 19, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (7 votes)

As a large number of our majors and minors know or discover, the English major or English minor is excellent preparation for law school and a career in the law.

Why is English a good major for law?

Courses in English not only immerse you in great stories and great poetry; they also are the places in which students develop the capacity to read and analyze texts of significant complexity and sophistication, many of which deal directly with matters of law. These very skills are tested on the LSAT.

Should I major in English if I want to be a lawyer?

In general, students should pick a major that matches their future goals. If the undergraduate college does not have a pre-law program, students should take courses that match the law school's admission requirements. Students can benefit from choosing majors like philosophy, English and economics.

How does an English degree help for law school?

Students of the English major study dense and complex literature and are then required to process the information, make connections and create organized analytical arguments and defend positions. In this light, the critical thinking skills required of English majors mirror the skills required by law students.

Do English majors do well on LSAT?

English Majors

Clearly, the Reading Comp section is going to be comfortable ground. But don't underestimate the benefits an English major brings to the Logical Reasoning section. A keen eye for patterns of language could help you quickly sweep up some long parallel reasoning questions that slow many test-takers down.

Best Undergrad Major For Law School (and College Degree)

27 related questions found

What major gets the highest LSAT score?

For an updated look at this analysis, here are the LSAT scores and GPAs by major for 2017-2018 law school applicants based on numbers reported by the LSAC. The general trends identified by Muller remain the same with one notable difference—Math majors' LSAT scores and GPAs are now the highest among all the majors!

What are the benefits of an English minor?

If you plan to major in a field like biology, chemistry, clinical laboratory science, engineering, exercise science, nursing, nutrition and fitness, or psychology, for example, an English minor can help you interpret complex concepts and detailed information into language that non-experts can understand.

Is criminology a good major for law school?

Criminology is one of the most appropriate majors for those planning to pursue a career handling criminal cases as a lawyer or judge.

Is public relations a good major for law school?

Get exposure to legal practice through a communications internship that bolsters both your undergraduate work and your law school application. Public relations is a gold mine degree for pre-law students. If law sounds exciting, immerse yourself in the legal world while leaning into the skills taught in your PR courses.

Does my major matter for law school?

Unlike medical school, which requires certain prerequisite courses, law school doesn't require that you major in anything specific or take certain classes before applying. Your LSAT score and your GPA are the key determining factors in law school admissions.

Which subject is best for becoming lawyer?

Having an undergraduate degree is a minimum requirement for admission into law school. Although most lawyers have degrees in subjects like English, economics, political science, philosophy, journalism, mathematics and business, there is no official recommendation regarding any preferred major for law students.

Is a BA in law worth it?

Attending law school can be an excellent decision to further your education. A law degree can lead to a high earning potential, increased job opportunities and a broad professional network. This degree can also grow your critical thinking and communication skills.

What language is most useful for law?

Further, almost all literature on American law practice is written in English. Hence, the ability to read and use the literature depends on a person's knowledge of the English language. French is another language that is very useful to an international lawyer, especially in Europe.

Is psychology a good pre-law major?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, psychology is among the top five majors overall, in addition to being a popular choice for pre-law students. Psychology provides the research and writing skills, analytical competency, and fundamental education in human behavior needed for law school.

Is economics a good major for law school?

Economics is a good choice for pre-law students for several reasons: According to law school admissions staff, students majoring in economics and other quantitative disciplines perform better in law school than other majors.

What major gets into law school the most?

Best Undergraduate Majors for Law School. According to the LSAC report mentioned above, the most common undergraduate major for law school applicants was political science. The applicants with the highest rate of admittance (77.5%) were history majors.

What is the best school for a law degree?

Here are the 2023-2024 Best Law Schools
  • Stanford University.
  • Yale University.
  • University of Chicago.
  • University of Pennsylvania (Carey)
  • Duke University.
  • Harvard University.
  • New York University.
  • Columbia University.

What is the best business major for law school?

Business. Majoring in corporate or business administration is a great pre-law choice. Law schools find applicants with this major appealing because of the difficult coursework involved and the courses' skills.

What do most English majors do?

Studying English prepares you for a diverse range of professional fields, including teaching, journalism, law, publishing, medicine, and the fine arts. English majors also pursue careers in tech companies and other startup ventures--in Silicon Valley and beyond.

What do English majors usually minor in?

Typically, students take a minimum of 12 credit hours from a set curriculum in these seven minors:
  • Communications. In this discipline, students typically learn about mass communication and the best methods of conveying information to audiences. ...
  • Journalism. ...
  • Public relations. ...
  • Business. ...
  • Marketing. ...
  • Political science. ...
  • Humanities.

What are 3 benefits of learning English?

Learning English can help you better understand and appreciate other cultures. Learning English can also facilitate cultural immersion while travelling. Many popular tourist destinations, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, are English-speaking countries.

Where is it hardest to become a lawyer?

1. California

Law students across the US may be familiar with the famed “impossible” California bar exam. But why is the California bar exam so hard? For starters, the cut score (the score needed to pass the test) of the California bar is 1390 out of 2000, which is 40 points above the national average.

What is the unemployment rate for English majors?

Employment and Earnings

Employment statistics for English majors differ little from other fields. Immediately after graduation, English majors report 9.8% unemployment, compared to 8.8% in psychology and social work, 9.1% in computer science and math, 10.4% in economics, and 11.1% in political science.

How hard is it to get into law school?

The median acceptance rate across all 196 ranked law school programs was 41%, though some schools reported acceptance rates above 65%. The University of North Dakota Law School, ranked in the 180-196 range, reported the highest acceptance rate, admitting 73% of applicants.