2 answers
Samantha
Student
Hopewell, Virginia
12
Questions
Asked
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What should I major in If I want to be a criminal lawyer ?
I'm in 9th grade and really want to be a criminal lawyer when I grow up. I'm still thinking about what schools to go to after highschool.
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2 answers
Iryna Tam
Writer, copywriter
225
Answers
Hagerstown, Maryland
Updated
Iryna’s Answer
Hi Samantha!
Choosing the right major in college is an important step on your path to becoming a criminal defense attorney. While law schools don’t require a specific undergraduate major, certain fields can provide valuable skills and knowledge that will benefit you in law school and your future career. Here are some recommended majors to consider:
1. Political Science
Overview: This major explores government systems, political behavior, and public policy, providing a solid foundation for understanding the legal system and how laws are created and enforced.
Benefits: Develops critical thinking, argumentation, and analytical skills.
2. Criminal Justice
Overview: Focuses specifically on the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, legal procedures, and rehabilitation.
Benefits: Offers insights into the legal framework and the functioning of the criminal justice system, which is directly relevant to criminal law.
3. Sociology
Overview: Studies society, social behavior, and institutions, which can help you understand the broader social context of legal issues.
Benefits: Enhances understanding of social influences on crime and justice, which can inform your practice as a defense attorney.
4. Psychology
Overview: Explores human behavior, which is useful in understanding clients’ and jurors’ motivations and actions.
Benefits: Equips you with skills to analyze behavior, which is valuable in criminal defense, especially in understanding mental states and motivations.
5. Philosophy
Overview: Focuses on ethics, logic, and critical thinking—the foundation of legal reasoning and moral considerations in law.
Benefits: Develops strong analytical and reasoning skills, both essential for constructing legal arguments.
6. History
Overview: Examines past events and their impact on present laws and societies.
Benefits: Provides context for understanding the evolution of laws and legal systems.
7. English or Communications
Overview: Enhances writing and speaking skills, which are crucial for preparing legal documents and presenting cases effectively.
Benefits: Trains you to articulate arguments clearly and persuasively, both in written and spoken form.
Additional Tips
Get Involved: Consider joining debate clubs, mock trial teams, or student government in high school to develop your advocacy and public speaking skills.
Internships: Look for volunteer opportunities or internships at law firms, legal aid offices, or civic organizations to gain firsthand experience in the legal field.
Networking: Connect with professionals in the legal field to learn more about their experiences and gather advice.
As you approach college, consider majoring in one of the fields mentioned above that aligns with your interests and strengths. Whatever major you choose, focus on developing your critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and communication skills, as these are essential for a successful career as a criminal defense attorney. Stay passionate about your goal, and seek opportunities to learn as much as you can about the legal profession on your journey!
Good luck!
Choosing the right major in college is an important step on your path to becoming a criminal defense attorney. While law schools don’t require a specific undergraduate major, certain fields can provide valuable skills and knowledge that will benefit you in law school and your future career. Here are some recommended majors to consider:
1. Political Science
Overview: This major explores government systems, political behavior, and public policy, providing a solid foundation for understanding the legal system and how laws are created and enforced.
Benefits: Develops critical thinking, argumentation, and analytical skills.
2. Criminal Justice
Overview: Focuses specifically on the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, legal procedures, and rehabilitation.
Benefits: Offers insights into the legal framework and the functioning of the criminal justice system, which is directly relevant to criminal law.
3. Sociology
Overview: Studies society, social behavior, and institutions, which can help you understand the broader social context of legal issues.
Benefits: Enhances understanding of social influences on crime and justice, which can inform your practice as a defense attorney.
4. Psychology
Overview: Explores human behavior, which is useful in understanding clients’ and jurors’ motivations and actions.
Benefits: Equips you with skills to analyze behavior, which is valuable in criminal defense, especially in understanding mental states and motivations.
5. Philosophy
Overview: Focuses on ethics, logic, and critical thinking—the foundation of legal reasoning and moral considerations in law.
Benefits: Develops strong analytical and reasoning skills, both essential for constructing legal arguments.
6. History
Overview: Examines past events and their impact on present laws and societies.
Benefits: Provides context for understanding the evolution of laws and legal systems.
7. English or Communications
Overview: Enhances writing and speaking skills, which are crucial for preparing legal documents and presenting cases effectively.
Benefits: Trains you to articulate arguments clearly and persuasively, both in written and spoken form.
Additional Tips
Get Involved: Consider joining debate clubs, mock trial teams, or student government in high school to develop your advocacy and public speaking skills.
Internships: Look for volunteer opportunities or internships at law firms, legal aid offices, or civic organizations to gain firsthand experience in the legal field.
Networking: Connect with professionals in the legal field to learn more about their experiences and gather advice.
As you approach college, consider majoring in one of the fields mentioned above that aligns with your interests and strengths. Whatever major you choose, focus on developing your critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and communication skills, as these are essential for a successful career as a criminal defense attorney. Stay passionate about your goal, and seek opportunities to learn as much as you can about the legal profession on your journey!
Good luck!
Chris Kavosky
2
Answers
Mountain View, California
Updated
Chris’s Answer
Hi Samanta,
It’s fantastic that you already have a clear goal in mind as early as 9th grade! Deciding to become a criminal lawyer is an exciting path, and you’re smart to start thinking about your future now.
What Should You Major In?
The great thing about preparing for law school is that you don’t have to pick a single “right” major. Law schools accept students from all kinds of academic backgrounds. However, some majors can give you a head start by building skills and knowledge that are especially useful for a future in criminal law.
Popular Majors for Future Criminal Lawyers:
- Political Science: This is one of the most common majors for pre-law students. It helps you understand how laws are made and how governments work. For example, former President Barack Obama majored in Political Science before attending Harvard Law School.
- Criminal Justice: This major focuses directly on the criminal justice system, including courts, law enforcement, and corrections. It’s a practical choice if you want to dive right into topics that criminal lawyers deal with every day.
- Psychology: Understanding how people think and behave can be a huge advantage in criminal law, where you’ll often need to analyze motives and behavior. For instance, famous defense attorney F. Lee Bailey, who worked on the O.J. Simpson case, studied psychology before law.
- English or Communications: Strong writing and speaking skills are essential for any lawyer. Majoring in English or Communications will help you build these abilities, which are crucial for making persuasive arguments in court.
- History: Studying history teaches you how laws have changed over time and how society has dealt with crime in the past. It also helps you develop research and analytical skills.
What You Can Do Now:
- Get involved in debate or mock trial teams at school—these activities build the argument and public speaking skills you’ll need as a lawyer.
- Read books or watch documentaries about famous criminal cases to get a feel for what criminal lawyers do.
- Reach out to local lawyers or look for summer programs for high school students interested in law.
In Summary:
Pick a college major that interests you and helps you develop strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. There’s no single “best” major for becoming a criminal lawyer, but Political Science, Criminal Justice, Psychology, English, and History are all excellent choices. Most importantly, work hard and stay curious—you’re already on the right track!
It’s fantastic that you already have a clear goal in mind as early as 9th grade! Deciding to become a criminal lawyer is an exciting path, and you’re smart to start thinking about your future now.
What Should You Major In?
The great thing about preparing for law school is that you don’t have to pick a single “right” major. Law schools accept students from all kinds of academic backgrounds. However, some majors can give you a head start by building skills and knowledge that are especially useful for a future in criminal law.
Popular Majors for Future Criminal Lawyers:
- Political Science: This is one of the most common majors for pre-law students. It helps you understand how laws are made and how governments work. For example, former President Barack Obama majored in Political Science before attending Harvard Law School.
- Criminal Justice: This major focuses directly on the criminal justice system, including courts, law enforcement, and corrections. It’s a practical choice if you want to dive right into topics that criminal lawyers deal with every day.
- Psychology: Understanding how people think and behave can be a huge advantage in criminal law, where you’ll often need to analyze motives and behavior. For instance, famous defense attorney F. Lee Bailey, who worked on the O.J. Simpson case, studied psychology before law.
- English or Communications: Strong writing and speaking skills are essential for any lawyer. Majoring in English or Communications will help you build these abilities, which are crucial for making persuasive arguments in court.
- History: Studying history teaches you how laws have changed over time and how society has dealt with crime in the past. It also helps you develop research and analytical skills.
What You Can Do Now:
- Get involved in debate or mock trial teams at school—these activities build the argument and public speaking skills you’ll need as a lawyer.
- Read books or watch documentaries about famous criminal cases to get a feel for what criminal lawyers do.
- Reach out to local lawyers or look for summer programs for high school students interested in law.
In Summary:
Pick a college major that interests you and helps you develop strong reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. There’s no single “best” major for becoming a criminal lawyer, but Political Science, Criminal Justice, Psychology, English, and History are all excellent choices. Most importantly, work hard and stay curious—you’re already on the right track!