What undergraduate programs to do to study law?

Answer 1

Any undergraduate degree is acceptable. The major factors for acceptance into law school is the student's GPA (minimum 3.4) and LSAT ( top law schools require a minimum of 162, but the higher the better).

The best option would be for the student to major in what is of interest to them, whether it is criminal justice, political science, business (always a good choice) and so forth.

Answer

If you know what sort of law you'd eventually like to practice, major in something that goes along with that. Many people with science backgrounds and majors go on to practice patent law, and find that the specialized area with few practitioners is a great area. If you are interested in criminal law, criminal justice would be a good degree. If you are interested in a political career, poli sci.

Major in whatever interests you. Any BA/BS can be used to get into law schools in the US, and diversity of types of degrees is becoming more and more of an asset to law school admissions.

Answer 2

Formal requirements to become a lawyer usually include a 4-year college degree, 3 years of law school, and passing a written bar examination; however, some requirements may vary by State. Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them. Education and training.Becoming a lawyer usually takes 7 years of full-time study after high school-4 years of undergraduate study, followed by 3 years of law school. Law school applicants must have a bachelor's degree to qualify for admission. To meet the needs of students who can attend only part time, a number of law schools have night or part-time divisions. Although there is no recommended "prelaw" undergraduate major, prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically-skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the law. Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting. Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant's ability to demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law, usually through undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of the applicant's undergraduate school, any prior work experience, and sometimes, a personal interview. However, law schools vary in the weight they place on each of these and other factors. All law schools approved by the American Bar Association require applicants to take the LSAT. As of 2006, there were 195 ABA-accredited law schools; others were approved by State authorities only. Nearly all law schools require applicants to have certified transcripts sent to the Law School Data Assembly Service, which then submits the applicants' LSAT scores and their standardized records of college grades to the law schools of their choice. The Law School Admission Council administers both this service and the LSAT. Competition for admission to many law schools-especially the most prestigious ones-is usually intense, with the number of applicants greatly exceeding the number that can be admitted. During the first year or year and a half of law school, students usually study core courses, such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, torts, civil procedure, and legal writing. In the remaining time, they may choose specialized courses in fields such as tax, labor, or corporate law. Law students often gain practical experience by participating in school-sponsored legal clinics; in the school's moot court competitions, in which students conduct appellate arguments; in practice trials under the supervision of experienced lawyers and judges; and through research and writing on legal issues for the school's law journals. A number of law schools have clinical programs in which students gain legal experience through practice trials and projects under the supervision of lawyers and law school faculty. Law school clinical programs might include work in legal aid offices, for example, or on legislative committees. Part-time or summer clerkships in law firms, government agencies, and corporate legal departments also provide valuable experience. Such training can lead directly to a job after graduation and can help students decide what kind of practice best suits them. Law school graduates receive the degree of juris doctor (J.D.), a first professional degree. Advanced law degrees may be desirable for those planning to specialize, research, or teach. Some law students pursue joint degree programs, which usually require an additional semester or year of study. Joint degree programs are offered in a number of areas, including business administration or public administration. After graduation, lawyers must keep informed about legal and nonlegal developments that affect their practices. In 2006, 43 States and jurisdictions required lawyers to participate in mandatory continuing legal education. Many law schools and State and local bar associations provide continuing education courses that help lawyers stay abreast of recent developments. Some States allow continuing education credits to be obtained through participation in seminars on the Internet. Licensure.To practice law in the courts of any State or other jurisdiction, a person must be licensed, or admitted to its bar, under rules established by the jurisdiction's highest court. All States require that applicants for admission to the bar pass a written bar examination; most States also require applicants to pass a separate written ethics examination. Lawyers who have been admitted to the bar in one State occasionally may be admitted to the bar in another without taking another examination if they meet the latter jurisdiction's standards of good moral character and a specified period of legal experience. In most cases, however, lawyers must pass the bar examination in each State in which they plan to practice. Federal courts and agencies set their own qualifications for those practicing before or in them. To qualify for the bar examination in most States, an applicant must earn a college degree and graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) or the proper State authorities. ABA accreditation signifies that the law school, particularly its library and faculty, meets certain standards. With certain exceptions, graduates of schools not approved by the ABA are restricted to taking the bar examination and practicing in the State or other jurisdiction in which the school is located; most of these schools are in California. Although there is no nationwide bar examination, 48 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands require the 6-hour Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) as part of their overall bar examination; the MBE is not required in Louisiana or Washington. The MBE covers a broad range of issues, and sometimes a locally prepared State bar examination is given in addition to it. The 3-hour Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) is used as part of the bar examination in several States. States vary in their use of MBE and MEE scores. Many States also require Multistate Performance Testing to test the practical skills of beginning lawyers. Requirements vary by State, although the test usually is taken at the same time as the bar exam and is a one-time requirement. In 2007, law school graduates in 52 jurisdictions were required to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), which tests their knowledge of the ABA codes on professional responsibility and judicial conduct. In some States, the MPRE may be taken during law school, usually after completing a course on legal ethics. Other qualifications. The practice of law involves a great deal of responsibility. Individuals planning careers in law should like to work with people and be able to win the respect and confidence of their clients, associates, and the public. Perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability also are essential to lawyers, who often analyze complex cases and handle new and unique legal problems. Advancement. Most beginning lawyers start in salaried positions. Newly hired attorneys usually start as associates and work with more experienced lawyers or judges. After several years, some lawyers are admitted to partnership in their firm, which means they are partial owners of the firm, or go into practice for themselves. Some experienced lawyers are nominated or elected to judgeships. (See the section on judges, magistrates, and other judicial workers elsewhere in the Handbook.) Others become full-time law school faculty or administrators; a growing number of these lawyers have advanced degrees in other fields as well. Some attorneys use their legal training in administrative or managerial positions in various departments of large corporations. A transfer from a corporation's legal department to another department often is viewed as a way to gain administrative experience and rise in the ranks of management. For the source and more detailed information concerning this subject, click on the related links section indicated below.

Answer 3

A pre-professional degree in law is definitely the best route to go. For Bachelor's degrees though it is best to get a degree in Political Science, Economics, English, or History. Some people will tell you philosophy, but that assumption has become more mythic than based in reality. Getting a B.S. and a B.A. (in the above) is a great way to show law schools you are diverse. Law schools like diversity. If you only have a B.S. it calls into question your ability to perform the basic humanities skills required for law school. However, if you prove you are capable of doing both then you can show an added diversity that you can add to the law school--even if you don't think of yourself as diverse.

Answer 4

Prelaw

English

History

Political Science

Economics

Social Science

Psychology

Sociology This is a very good list but just remember that pre-law is not a major. It is a program that includes a pre-law advisor in the college. You decide which major you want in a pre-law program.

Answer 5

There is no specific undergraduate requirement to get accepted into law school. You can major in anything - computer science, accounting, basket weaving, physics, etc.. However, some popular majors are English and Political Science. English will help with your writing, and of course a lot of people who go to law school never really want to practice law, but rather get into politics (hence the poli sci major).

There's ONLY two things that you need to get into law school! Don't let anyone tell you differently.

1. A great LSAT score! This is the single most important aspect of you getting in or not. If you have an LSAT score of 176 out of 180, but you have a 2.7 GPA*, Guess what? You'll easily get into a top-tier law school somewhere. And you'll DEFINITELY get into a teir II school.

* Let me add to that. If you have a 2.7 GPA in Elementary Education, that's not a rigorous major of study and does not come close to equating to you having a 2.7 GPA as a Physics, or Chemistry major. Use your common sense.

2. A great GPA (the better the school, the closer you better have to a 4.0 average)

That's it!

Answer 6

Most schools require a bachelor's degree. The topic is not important. Any subject field is adequate to be considered for admission.