There is no single academic major that is best for all students planning for a legal
career. Law schools accept applicants with degrees in almost every major. Business,
philosophy, economics, history, accounting, and English all provide a solid background
for law school. The social science disciplines in particular prepare students for
gaining admission to law school, excelling in legal studies, and, eventually, for
the practice of law. All of the social sciences place a strong emphasis on critical
reading skills, analyzing and evaluating what one has read, thinking clearly and logically,
and expressing one's self clearly, both orally and in writing. These are all skills
crucial to gaining admission to law school, doing well in legal studies, and practicing
in the legal profession.
But this leaves the question of which discipline—economics, political science, psychology,
science, history, accounting, or sociology—is the best one for you. There is no one
right answer to this question. What may be right for one person may not be right for
another. There is—most importantly—the question of your own interests, likes, and
abilities.
A good general rule to follow is to major in the field in which you are the most interested
and in which you enjoy studying the most. All of us have different interests and aptitudes.
The student who does well in and loves one subject area may dislike and not excel
in another area. You will learn more, mature, and develop more quickly and fully if
you are working in an area in which you have aptitudes and strong interests.
You will then be better equipped to gain admission to the law school of your choice
and to do well in legal studies. Students who have already identified a field of law
in which they have special interests can use those interests to help guide their choice
of a major. Also, each of the social sciences has certain special characteristics
that are relevant to legal studies.
Below are the four social science disciplines, followed by a discussion of the fields
of law especially relevant to each of them and their special characteristics relevant
to preparation for legal studies:
- Economics
Those who are especially interested in pursuing corporate, real estate, and tax law,
as well as other such fields dealing with business and economics, may consider the
economics major. Economics has a further benefit in that many of the analyses in which
economists engage in have a strong mathematical and theoretical aspect to them. These
quantitative skills tend to sharpen reasoning and analytical skills, which are helpful
in doing well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and in legal studies.
- Political Science
Political science has an immediate and direct relevance to the legal field because
laws and regulations are written by government officials, legislators, and the courts
that enforce laws are part of the judicial branch of government. There are political
science courses that deal directly with constitutional law and the judicial process.
Also, many students pursue legal studies in preparation for careers in government
service of one type or another: as elected officials, aides to elected officials,
judges or other judicial officials, or as one of the myriad administrative officials
on the state, local, or national levels. Students with career interests along these
lines may find political science an especially relevant major. It is also the most
popular major for students planning to attend law school.
- Psychology
Those who are especially interested in criminal or family law and dispute resolution
might want to consider a psychology major. Psychology seeks to develop an understanding
of human behavior and motivations, as well as insights into troubled or dysfunctional
human relationships. In addition, psychology helps individuals to bridge cultural,
economic, and social differences. A heightened sensitivity to these issues can assist
an attorney in dealing with clients, as well as other attorneys, experts, and adversaries
from all walks of life.
- Sociology
Sociology can be an especially helpful major to those interested in a wide variety
of legal fields that deal with social institutions. As with psychology, it can be
especially helpful for those interested in some aspect of criminal or family law or
dispute resolution. It can also be helpful for those interested in civil rights law,
welfare law, or estate planning and probate. As is true with psychology, sociology
helps individuals to bridge cultural, economic, and social differences, which can
assist an attorney in dealing with clients, other attorneys, experts, and adversaries.
The first question one faces in regard to applying to law school is where one should
apply. There are three factors to take into consideration: the reputation or prestige
of the various law schools, their location, and where you can realistically hope to
gain admission. There is a clear "pecking order" among law schools. Some law schools
are nationally known and very prestigious while others are seen as mediocre at best.
Various published guides to law schools give a good sense of the relative rank of
the various schools. Only you can determine the importance of the level of prestige
of the law school you attend. If you desire a career with a national or international
law firm you should make every effort to gain admission to a highly prestigious school
of law, although the top graduates of other law schools are also likely to have a
chance with such firms. If you desire a legal career in a smaller law firm or in a
small town, the prestige level of the law school you attend becomes less important.
Law schools are either accredited by the American Bar Association or by state accreditation
agencies. ABA accreditation is one important factor to consider since many law firms
will only hire students of accredited schools. Remember that competition for legal
jobs after graduation from law school is intense and-all things being equal-the more
prestigious the law school you attend, the more career options you will have.
The state where your law school is located is not very important. This is especially
true of the most prestigious law school since they attract students from around the
country and have a curriculum that is national in orientation. This also tends to
be true of less prestigious law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association.
Law schools that are state-accredited often are more oriented towards the law of the
state in which they are located. Thus if you attend a state-accredited law school
and then seek to practice law in another state, you could experience some difficulties.
Again, published national guides of law schools, as well as information put out in
the admissions packets of individual schools, are good sources of information on the
character and orientation of the various schools. Visiting the law schools you are
thinking of applying to can also be very helpful.
Published law school guides can help judge the reputation and rank of different law
schools. Such guides typically give the average LSAT scores and GPAs of previous years'
classes. You should plan to apply to more than one law school. If time and money allow,
it is advisable to apply to six to eight schools. At a minimum, you should plan to
apply to three. You should apply to several at or about the level at which you realistically
think to be admitted, one or two above where you think you probably will be admitted,
and one or two below where you think you will be admitted. This way in case you have
underestimated the level of the school you are likely to get into, you may be successful
and be admitted to a better school at a higher level than you had hoped; or if you
have overestimated the level you are likely to get into, you will at least have one
or two alternative schools from which to choose.
Many law schools have also added dual-degree programs in areas such as law and business
(JD/MBA), law and theology (JD/MDiv), and law and public policy (JD/MPP). These joint-degree
programs provide unique educational experiences and may be a way to pursue particular
areas of specialization and distinguish oneself from one's classmates. Every school
has unique and specific entrance requirements for dual degree programs so it is important
to research these before applying.
Law school admission offices typically take six factors into account in making their
admission decisions:
- LSAT score (Law School Admission Test)
- Academic record (grade point average and class standing)
- Personal statement/essay
- Work experience
- Letters of recommendation
- Quality of the application
The LSAT is by far the most important of the six factors. It is a standardized test
periodically given nationwide. The long-term trend of most law schools has been to
give added weight to the LSAT since it provides a uniform yardstick to compare all
applicants. GPAs can be inflated, letters of recommendation can exaggerate, and application
forms can even be ghostwritten by others, but LSAT scores are objective and reliable
and provide some indication as to whether a student will succeed in law school.
Law School Admission Council (LSAC) studies show that the LSAT is the single best
numerical predictor of first-year performance in law school, that the LSAT is superior
to undergraduate grades as a predictor of law school success, and that the two measures
when combined, are superior to either one standing alone. The LSAT largely seeks to
measure one's reading and analytical skills.
The abilities to read quickly and with good comprehension and to reason logically
are best learned by sharpening them through careful work in all of your courses. Some
have suggested that taking a couple of extra math or statistics courses can help sharpen
one's reasoning skills. Philosophy 290 (Logic) is an excellent course that helps to
improve one's analytic skills and thereby improves one's performance on the LSAT.
One step that is clearly very helpful is to purchase a copy of an LSAT preparation
guide, many of which include copies of previously administered LSAT exams. By taking
several practice tests within the tests' time limits, one can prepare for the actual
test experience. Taking an LSAT preparation course, such as those offered by KAPLAN
or Princeton Review, is a great option for some undergraduate students, but the high
cost of these programs can deter many. Opinions differ as to whether, or to what extent,
these courses are able to assist a student in raising their LSAT score.
Arguably, the most valuable portion of these courses is the exposure that they provide
students with actual LSAT questions and old LSAT practice tests, which may be purchased
separately from any major bookstore or the Pepperdine Bookstore. If you have the money
and time, taking one of these preparation courses is probably wise.
Many students want to know when to take the LSAT. Most students take it in the fall
of their senior year. Some take it during the summer between their junior and senior
years, figuring they will be more rested and better able to concentrate at that time
than in the midst of an academic semester. Others put the test off until the beginning
of the second semester of their senior year, seeking to get as many of their studies
under their belt as possible before taking the test.
Most students would be well advised to take it earlier than that since most law schools
begin to make admission decisions in January, and taking the exam early affords students
the opportunity to retake the exam if they are unsatisfied with their score. Most
students also take the exam more than once, but it is not advisable to take it more
than two or three times. Scores do not usually vary significantly between exams. There
is, of course, no one right answer for everyone and much depends on individual inclinations
and circumstances.
GPAs are the second most important factor after the LSAT score. While getting an undergraduate
degree, it is absolutely essential that students study as hard as they can and devote
themselves to developing strong reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
There is no substitute for taking and mastering different subjects. Your transcript
will be included in your application, and the rigor of the courses you selected may
be weighed by the law schools in their evaluation of your GPA.
One word of advice in regard to letters of recommendation is to try to take two or
three courses from a few professors in order to make certain that several professors
get to know you well. A strong letter of recommendation is one that is not couched
in general terms, but refers specifically to you and can mention attributes specific
to you.
For professors to write such letters they need to know you personally. This can best
be achieved by taking two or three courses with at least two professors, and perhaps
doing an independent study with one of them. One of the advantages of a Pepperdine
education is that professors can get to know you personally. You can maximize this
advantage by developing a close working relationship with your professors.
Be sure to give the professors you ask to write letters of recommendation plenty of
time to do so. Coming in with a request for a letter of recommendation a few days
before the deadline, almost assures the letter will be a pro forma, not a personal
letter. You should also give a copy of supporting materials to the professors writing
letters of recommendation, such as your résumé and a statement of your goals in pursuing
legal studies.
Finally, be sure to fill out your law school applications for admission carefully
and fully. This is no time to save time or cut corners. If a personal statement or
another essay is required, spend time with this. It should be brief (well within the
space limits given), well organized, and logical in its flow of ideas. Quadruple check
for spelling and grammatical errors! All forms should be typed and professional in
appearance. Ask a friend or advisor to look over your application before you submit
it.
There is no prescribed course of study or sequence of courses that constitutes the
one correct sequence or course of study. It may, however, be helpful to set down examples
of pre-law courses for each of the social science disciplines. For example, PHIL 290
is a logic course that may provide you with skills that will improve your LSAT score;
therefore, it is recommended that you take this course before you take the LSAT.
Following are examples of courses that can provide guidance for students interested
in preparing for legal studies, and may serve as a starting point in planning your
pre-law studies. Your academic adviser and other professors can help you design the
course of study best suited to your interests, abilities, and career goals.
