Are you considering a pre-law degree? Whether you are thinking about going to law school or not, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into., Pre-law degrees at the Bachelor’s level are one path to gaining admission to law school. These degrees typically focus on critical thinking, communication, and law.
Essential Information
Four-year bachelor’s degree programs in pre-law can be found at a limited number of universities; however, pre-law advising is fairly widely available for students who intend to pursue a law degree after earning a bachelor’s degree in any major.
Pre-law programs are often offered through pre-professional studies or the political science departments of universities and may be available online. Before getting into a pre-law degree program, students need to have a high-school diploma.
Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Law
Admission into a pre-law program can be competitive. These degrees may include preparation courses for the Law School Admission Test LSAT, which is required to access most law schools.
The courses involved in a pre-law degree program help students think more critically, communicate more effectively and understand society more thoroughly – all skills often used in the courtroom. In addition to legal classes, students take math, English, and writing classes. A senior project involving a research paper may be required. Other topics include:
- Contracts
- Conflict management
- International law
- Litigation
- Dispute resolution
- Legal ethics
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
It’s presumed that students who pursue a bachelor’s degree in pre-law intend to continue their studies and become lawyers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) analysts predicted growth of 6% between 2014 and 2024, but competition will continue as there tend to be fewer job openings than qualified applicants. The BLS also reported that the median income for lawyers was $115,820 annually as of 2015.
Continuing Education Information
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law generally continue to law school, which requires three years of coursework. Upon completing law school, graduates must pass a written bar exam to be licensed and admitted to the bar in their state. Many lawyers also specialize in a specific area in law school, including business, environmental, criminal or immigration law.
For students seeking to build up their credentials to get into a law school, one option is to get an undergraduate degree in pre-law. While one can have a bachelor’s degree in about any field of study prior to law school, a bachelor’s in pre-law offers students coursework that will help them prepare for the LSAT, improve communication skills, and think critically.
Here are two things you need to know:
- Pre-law degrees provide an excellent foundation for becoming a lawyer. They teach students how the legal system works and give them the necessary skill set for a successful career in law.
- For most jobs, a pre-law degree is more than enough qualification.
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