What kind of math is used in law school?

Asked by: Jayne Lubowitz  |  Last update: August 29, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (26 votes)

The pre-calculus mathematics recommended by the ABA and anecdotal suggestions by math majors who became lawyers, imply that future lawyers should at a minimum take undergraduate courses in college algebra, trigonometry, geometry, logic and statistics.

What math is needed for law school?

Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data. A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.

What type of math is used in lawyers?

Valuating the net worth of property and calculating the worth of each person involved that requires attorneys to be really cozy with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Malpractice law – many of these types of cases end up in litigation.

Can I be a lawyer if I'm bad at math?

Math is not a prerequisite of studying the law. However, to be a successful lawyer, you likely will need to need to understand certain aspects of math to best support your clients.

What kind of math is on the LSAT?

No, the LSAT does not explicitly test math. You may see some questions about percentages in the logical reasoning (arguments) section, and some analytical reasoning questions (i.e., logic games) may resemble math problems, but these questions are designed to test your logical reasoning, not your mathematical knowledge.

Law School FAQs: DO YOU NEED TO BE GOOD AT MATH IN LAW SCHOOL?

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Is the LSAT like an IQ test?

The LSAT is not an IQ test. Contrary to popular belief, the LSAT does not measure intelligence. Therefore, the test does not render those with higher scores smarter than those with lower scores. The LSAT is one of many factors relied upon by law schools to predict a person's chances of first-year success.

What math is best for law?

Undergraduate Math Classes

The pre-calculus mathematics recommended by the ABA and anecdotal suggestions by math majors who became lawyers, imply that future lawyers should at a minimum take undergraduate courses in college algebra, trigonometry, geometry, logic and statistics.

Is becoming a lawyer hard?

Considering there are a few more steps to take, the process to become a lawyer in this state is more extensive than other states. Law school is also challenging, regardless of the state you're in! High-ranking law California law schools will be even more competitive and rigorous.

How can I become a lawyer with a bad GPA?

Applying to Law School with a Low Undergraduate GPA – Five Tips to Consider:
  1. If you are still in undergrad, then work hard to achieve a high GPA! Get your GPA up as much as possible to offset your low-to-date GPA. ...
  2. Get a stellar LSAT score. ...
  3. Write an addendum that explains your low GPA. ...
  4. Apply to a lot of law schools.

What type of lawyer makes 6 figures?

IP attorneys are among the highest-paid types of lawyers, averaging around $167,000 a year, according to Salary.com, or $199,306, according to. ZipRecruiter for the year 2024*. Salary for intellectual property attorneys is subject to change due to the state, firm size, education, experience, and other factors.

How much math is involved in law?

In a typical law practice, it is common to have to deal with numbers as part of cases that might involve child support calculations, collection of debts that are accruing interest, totaling the value of estates, assessing losses in personal injury cases, etc.

What skills do you need to be a lawyer?

Important Qualities
  • Analytical skills. Lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client's case. ...
  • Communication skills. ...
  • Interpersonal skills. ...
  • Persuasion. ...
  • Problem-solving skills. ...
  • Research skills.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field.

Is law math heavy?

Although the LSAT does not include a math section and law schools don't teach math as part of their curricula, basic mathematical competence is useful to attorneys.

What major is best for law school?

The best major for prospective law school students is Political Science. Political Science offers a deep understanding of government, legal systems, and political theory. It also hones your critical thinking, analytical skills, and communication— key to law school and being a successful lawyer.

Is law school harder than med school?

Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.

Does it pay well to be a lawyer?

The average lawyer wage in the highest-paid area (San Jose, California, at $268,570) is four times greater than the average wage in the lowest-paid area (Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, at $62,380).

Does law school have summer break?

As a traditional law student at a three-year law school, you have two summer “breaks.” The first is between your first and second years of law school (your “1L summer”). The second is between your second and third years of law school (your “2L summer”).

Do you need to be good at math to get into law school?

For the LSAT and law school, significant data show that three majors do better than others—math, economics, and philosophy. But anyone with sufficient preparation can do well. And, regardless of your major, you should have a strong liberal arts background.

How hard is it to study law?

First, the workload is heavy. Law school students are expected to read hundreds of pages of legal text each week, and they are often required to write long essays and research papers for their law school classes. Second, the material you'll need to learn to become a lawyer is complex and non-intuitive.

How rare is a 160 on the LSAT?

A student scoring a 180 is in the 99.9 percentile because the student scored better than 99.9% of test-takers. A student scoring a 160 is in the 74.8 percentile because the student scored better than 74.8% of test-takers. You can hover over the blue outline to see a tooltip for all each LSAT/percentile combinations.

What IQ do you need for law school?

Believe it or not, the American Bar Association used to track this stuff. Law requires only a high average (IQ 115–130). High intelligence is desirable (because it makes the training easier) but not absolutely required.