Aspiring lawyers must earn their Juris Doctor (JD). Establishing an undergraduate background that encompasses subjects that pique your curiosity may make law school easier for you to navigate successfully.
Consider majoring in a subject that helps develop thinking capabilities, research proficiency and effective communication abilities – these competencies will be crucial as an attorney.
History
Lawyers provide legal guidance and representation to individuals, businesses and government entities in legal matters. After earning their bachelor’s degree they typically attend law school for three years before passing the bar exam to become licensed attorneys.
History majors are among the top applicants to law school. This is due to many of the skills learned in history courses being relevant in legal profession. For instance, studying history helps develop students’ abilities to research and interpret large bodies of data – essential skills for lawyers who must comprehend complex regulations.
History studies also help students hone writing and speaking skills, which is essential for lawyers who must effectively communicate with clients as well as defend against opposing viewpoints. A strong grasp of English as well as being able to articulate complex thoughts clearly is also required of effective attorneys.
Economics
Economic analysis underlies many areas of legal work, from property law and contracts to criminal law and business laws. To be effective at legal work, an understanding of key economic concepts like choice, risk, cost and benefit analysis, supply and demand dynamics, externalities and transaction costs is indispensable.
Bachelor degrees are necessary for those aspiring to become lawyers. Studying law major can help students develop critical analysis and research abilities, while many schools also provide extracurricular activities like speech and debate clubs or mock trial teams that help aspiring lawyers hone their communication skills.
Some undergraduate students interested in law may pursue pre-law studies such as political science or philosophy; however, general bachelor’s degrees can also help those looking forward to law degrees by creating greater societal awareness and developing analytical thinking skills. Courses offering critical reading and writing lessons may be especially helpful; taking these courses can serve as excellent preparation for taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the initial step in entering law school.
Philosophy
Though most lawyers possess strong personal philosophies, these may not always come out in conversation. Some lawyers may advocate taking an aggressive stance while others favor more gentle approaches. These differences could have significant ramifications on how your case is managed; therefore it’s vital that you find one who shares your ethos.
Philosophy can provide invaluable preparation for legal practice as it fosters critical thinking and ethical decision-making, as well as teaching you to evaluate problems objectively and develop informed plans of inquiry – essential skills in law practice. English, another essential requirement in most legal fields, also gives useful training in writing well and communicate effectively with clients as well as professionals in the legal field. Moreover, studying this subject allows you to conduct research using data-driven recommendations to create an effective defense strategy for clients.
Communication
Being a lawyer requires having exceptional communication skills. Although communication is an essential soft skill for all professionals, its importance in the legal realm cannot be overstated. Lawyers need to communicate effectively with clients regarding case proceedings, plans of action and other relevant information as well as speak confidently in public to gain trust of clients and convince them of their worthiness as attorneys.
Lawyers need to write clearly and concisely, which requires mastery of grammar and vocabulary. To prepare for law school and career in legal world, take classes focused on these skills in undergraduate school – this will set the foundation for future successes!
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law can assist those interested in becoming attorneys with its JD program, which offers advanced knowledge of legal theory and the legal system in addition to critical thinking abilities. Furthermore, this institution also offers LLM programs which enable professionals to specialize in specific areas of law.