What is the best major for lawyers?

Asked by: Darius Daugherty  |  Last update: January 28, 2026
Score: 5/5 (72 votes)

There's no single "best" major for law school; the American Bar Association (ABA) recommends choosing a major you excel in, focusing on developing strong reading, writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills, with Political Science, History, English, Philosophy, and Economics being popular and helpful choices due to their relevance to legal reasoning, government, and argumentation. Your GPA and LSAT score matter more, so pick a major that allows you to get great grades while building relevant skills and perhaps offering a solid backup career path.

What is a good major for a lawyer?

When it comes to top-notch undergrad majors for law school, political science and pre-law often take the lead. These majors lay a sturdy groundwork in the basics of law, legal procedures, and the political landscape where laws are born and enforced.

What did most lawyers major in?

Top 10 Most Popular Undergraduate Majors for Prospective Law Students

  • Political Science. Percentage of Students Admitted: 74.0% ...
  • Economics. Percentage of Students Admitted: 78.2% ...
  • History. Percentage of Students Admitted: 79.1% ...
  • Philosophy. Percentage of Students Admitted: 75.5% ...
  • English. ...
  • Finance. ...
  • Arts & Humanities. ...
  • Psychology.

Which degree is best for a lawyer?

The best degree for a lawyer involves a bachelor's degree in any major that builds critical thinking, writing, and research skills (like Political Science, History, English, Philosophy, Economics) followed by a required Juris Doctor (JD) from law school, which is the professional degree to practice law in the U.S. While no single undergraduate major is mandatory, fields focusing on analysis, human behavior, and government, or specialized areas like STEM for patent law, offer strong foundations. 

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
 

Best Undergrad Major For Law School (and College Degree)

22 related questions found

How old is the youngest lawyer?

The youngest lawyer is generally considered to be Sophia Park, who passed the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother Peter's previous record, though she'll be sworn in and licensed in March 2025 after turning 18, as most jurisdictions require lawyers to be 18. She accelerated her education, starting law school at 13 while in junior high and graduating early.
 

How difficult is law school?

Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.

Is law school 2 or 3 years?

As a law student, you can expect to spend at least three years in law school. Full-time students typically complete their studies within three years, while part-time students take up to five years. Graduating from law school is an impressive achievement for many aspiring lawyers.

Which law is easy to study?

Which is the easiest law to study? Intellectual property law and tax law are the easiest to study and practice in India.

What are 5 careers in law?

Five prominent legal careers include Lawyer/Attorney (representing clients in various specialties like corporate, criminal, or IP law), Paralegal/Legal Assistant (supporting lawyers with research and case prep, requiring less education), Judge (presiding over courts with a professional degree), Compliance Officer (ensuring organizations follow laws, often in finance/tech), and Mediator/Arbitrator (helping resolve disputes outside of court).
 

How to pick a law school?

Everything You Need to Consider in a Law School

  1. Location. Location is arguably the single most important factor in choosing a law school. ...
  2. Admitted Student Profile. ...
  3. Cost and Financial Aid. ...
  4. Academic Programs. ...
  5. Faculty. ...
  6. Size. ...
  7. Student Culture. ...
  8. Career Support and Job Placements.

What is a major in law called?

Juris Doctor (JD)

A Juris Doctor degree is the required legal degree for professionals who are pursuing a career as a practicing attorney.

Do law schools accept any major?

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.

Is a lawyer degree worth it?

As a profession, lawyering is among the highest-paying careers outside of physicians, and while law school is rigorous and can also be expensive, the law profession pays out a median annual wage of $135,740, as per data retrieved in 2023 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Which lawyer has the highest demand?

Lawyers specializing in cybersecurity, intellectual property, health law, labor and employment, and cannabis law are in high demand. Emerging areas like elder law and student loan law are also growing rapidly due to societal and regulatory changes.

What did Barack Obama get on the LSAT?

Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
 

Is law school harder than med school?

Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
 

Who gets into law school?

Many students wonder what they should major in to get into law school. The answer is simple: it doesn't matter. Law schools are looking primarily for certain skills: analytical reasoning, reading comprehension and writing ability. Any major which gives you these skills will be what the law school wants.

How long has Kim Kardashian been in law school?

Kim Kardashian has graduated from her law program after six years of studying and working under California's Law Office Study program.

Does law school take 7 years?

A: Generally, it takes about 7 years to become a lawyer in the United States. This includes 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 3 years of law school. However, the timeline can vary depending on the specific path you choose and factors such as part-time study or dual degree programs.

Do lawyers make good money?

Yes, lawyers generally make good money, with a median salary well above the national average, but earnings vary drastically based on specialization, firm size, location, and experience, ranging from moderate incomes in public service to millions for elite partners in "Big Law" firms, though many lawyers earn modest salaries, especially early in their careers or in smaller practices. 

Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer?

Yes, $400 an hour is a significant rate for a lawyer, often reflecting experience, specialization, and location, falling at the higher end of average rates ($100-$400+) but can be standard or even considered a "deal" for highly specialized work in major cities, while being quite expensive in other areas or for less complex cases. Factors like the firm's size, location (big city vs. rural), the lawyer's expertise (e.g., corporate, IP vs. family law), and case complexity greatly influence this rate. 

Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?

Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.

What is the fail rate of law school?

How race and ethnicity play a role in law school attrition. The 2023 law school attrition rate was 3.8 percent, varying across demographics and institutions.