What majors do most law students have?

Asked by: Ezra Welch PhD  |  Last update: October 23, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (45 votes)

“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,” their website says, “or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer ...

What did most law school students major in?

What Are the Most Popular Majors for Applicants?
  • Political science.
  • History.
  • Criminal justice.
  • Business.
  • Arts and humanities majors like English and philosophy.
  • Nursing.

What major does best on LSAT?

Philosophy and math majors tend to top the LSAT score lists, probably because their majors require practice in logical thinking, which is one of the sections on the LSAT. It is likely that those who are good at logical thinking are more likely to choose majors like philosophy and math.

What is the best double major for law school?

Philosophy + a more profitable double major just in case you can't get into law school (Econ, PoliSci). Philosophy majors do better on the LSAT and are stronger competitors than general pre-law candidates.

What is the most common law degree?

There are many different law degree types, but the most common one is the Juris Doctor, or JD. This is a graduate degree and is the one most often required and held by lawyers and legal professionals.

Top 5 Majors to Prepare for Law School

27 related questions found

What do most lawyers major in?

“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,” their website says, “or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer ...

What is a first year law student called?

1L, 2L, 3L: In undergrad, your year in school is usually referred to as freshman, sophomore, etc. In law school, we use 1L to refer to first year, 2L to second year, 3L to third year. Your law school might have a part time division, and in that case, some students might be referred to as 4Ls as well.

What is the hardest law degree to get?

The hardest law school to get into is Yale Law School, with an acceptance rate of 5.5%. Followed by: Stanford Law School: 7% acceptance rate. The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School: 3.8% acceptance rate.

What is the highest paying double major?

The most profitable second majors, regardless of the first major, appear to be Business and Administration, Computer Science, and Engineering. In some cases, gender appears to matter greatly. Female engineering-math/science double majors, for example, have greater earning returns than males.

Does it matter what I major in for law school?

The ABA 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.

What major has the highest acceptance rate to law school?

Classical studies is one of the best majors for law school preparation because of its high acceptance rate, which is over 83 percent.

Is your GPA or LSAT more important?

Most law schools tend to give LSAT scores a bit more weight, but some schools care more about grades. The admissions process is inevitably subjective, and some admissions officers might be more forgiving of a gap than others.

What major scores highest on MCAT?

Interestingly, students who pursue math and statistics, humanities, and physical sciences as pre-med majors tend to achieve higher scores on the MCAT than those who take other majors. While there are exceptions, these three majors are definitely good majors for pre-med students.

Do law schools look at major?

In one word, NO. Law schools care about many things: your GPA, your LSAT, the story you tell, the obstacles you've overcome. But if there is one thing law school admissions committees care least about, it may be your major.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Patent Attorney Salary

Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.

What degree is most common at Harvard?

The most popular majors overall in Harvard are Political Science and Government, Economics, Social Sciences, Evolutionary Biology, and Psychology. Both men and women tend to lean towards those fields of study, but a majority of men are found in Physics, Math, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Statistics.

What is the number #1 highest paying major?

No surprise, majoring in engineering and finance yields the biggest paydays five years after graduating college, while majoring in liberal arts or performing arts pays the least.

What double major is best with law?

Beyond expanding the knowledge of these specialty areas of law, there are other benefits for aspiring law students.
  • Benefits of a Double Major for Law School. ...
  • Political Science and Economics. ...
  • English and Sociology. ...
  • Economics and Psychology. ...
  • Psychology and Criminal Justice. ...
  • Accounting and Business.

Can you have a triple major?

Triple majors are extremely rare, with fewer than 1% of students at some universities pursuing a triple major program. Even though expanding your education plan to include additional majors might seem like a great idea, the additional amount of work is often a deterrent to many students.

Is law or doctor harder?

Each path demands extensive education and a commitment to rigorous training before becoming a qualified professional. 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.

What is the most prestigious law degree?

Stanford University Law School

Stanford University Law School is in Stanford, California. Along with being California's top law school, Stanford is also the nation's top-ranked law school. Stanford Law School has a competitive acceptance rate of 6.88%. Stanford Law School is known for its collegial culture.

What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?

So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School.

How old are most law students?

What Is The Average Age Of Law Students? The average age of law students is 25 or younger. Only 20% of law students are 30 or older. While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates.

What does "l" mean in law?

★ 1L, 2L, 3L: A students "level" in law school. Rather than freshman, junior, senior. 1L for. first year students, 2L for second year students, 3L for third year students.

What is a 4 year law degree called?

Juris Doctor (JD)