5 answers
sarah
Student
McKinney, Texas
1
Question
Updated
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Is a minor in legal studies or something business/finance related a better fit for me?
I'm a college freshman double majoring in political science and philosophy. I'd like to declare a minor later on, but i'm not sure if I should go the legal studies route or something related to business/ finance. Legal studies would help prepare me for law school, but I'm interested in corporate law so I know having some background knowledge in business will also help me down the line. I'm already majoring in political science to help me in law school and philosophy to help me on the LSAT and bar, so I know legal studies can seem like i'm pushing it a little, but you can never be too prepared for law school.
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4 answers
Rick Kneisley
Retired Investment Broker and Investment Sales Manager
33
Answers
Georgetown, Texas
Updated
Rick’s Answer
Sarah,
Here is my opinion, and I’ll begin with a quote from President Calvin Coolidge in 1925: “The chief business of the American people is business.”
You will learn law in law school. But since you are already drawn toward corporate law, what will truly separate you from many others is your understanding of the business world itself. Corporate law is civil law, not criminal law. Your clients will be business owners, executives, and shareholders who come to you for legal guidance on the inner workings of their companies and the problems they are facing in real time.
You will be dealing with issues like IPOs (initial public offerings), secondary offerings, mergers, acquisitions, the issuing of stock, rights and warrants, corporate restructurings, and many other complex financial matters. The more you understand the language of business before you ever enter law school, the more effective and confident you will be as a future corporate attorney.
You will also represent individuals and groups who have grievances against corporations and want to pursue legal action. Having a solid foundation in business and finance will allow you to see both sides of the table clearly, and that perspective is invaluable.
For that reason, I strongly believe a business, finance, or economics-related minor will serve you better long-term than a legal studies minor. You are already majoring in political science and philosophy, which will prepare you beautifully for law school, the LSAT, and the analytical thinking the legal profession demands. A business-focused minor will give you a real-world advantage that many future law students won’t have.
In short, law school will teach you the law. College is your opportunity to learn how the world of business truly works. And if corporate law is your goal, that knowledge will make you a smarter, more effective, and more successful attorney.
Rick
Here is my opinion, and I’ll begin with a quote from President Calvin Coolidge in 1925: “The chief business of the American people is business.”
You will learn law in law school. But since you are already drawn toward corporate law, what will truly separate you from many others is your understanding of the business world itself. Corporate law is civil law, not criminal law. Your clients will be business owners, executives, and shareholders who come to you for legal guidance on the inner workings of their companies and the problems they are facing in real time.
You will be dealing with issues like IPOs (initial public offerings), secondary offerings, mergers, acquisitions, the issuing of stock, rights and warrants, corporate restructurings, and many other complex financial matters. The more you understand the language of business before you ever enter law school, the more effective and confident you will be as a future corporate attorney.
You will also represent individuals and groups who have grievances against corporations and want to pursue legal action. Having a solid foundation in business and finance will allow you to see both sides of the table clearly, and that perspective is invaluable.
For that reason, I strongly believe a business, finance, or economics-related minor will serve you better long-term than a legal studies minor. You are already majoring in political science and philosophy, which will prepare you beautifully for law school, the LSAT, and the analytical thinking the legal profession demands. A business-focused minor will give you a real-world advantage that many future law students won’t have.
In short, law school will teach you the law. College is your opportunity to learn how the world of business truly works. And if corporate law is your goal, that knowledge will make you a smarter, more effective, and more successful attorney.
Rick
Your perspective makes a lot of sense and is super helpful. I agree that i'll have law school to learn the law and undergrad is my chance to learn business in the classroom, so i'll definitely go the business focused route. I see you worked in investment, did you notice a difference between lawyers who understood business and those who didn’t? Additionally, what part of business do you think is most important for someone entering corporate law —finance, economics, or general business—and what skills or areas of study do you think I should prioritize? Thank you for your insight, Rick!
sarah
Sarah,
Very kind of you to send such a nice follow-up note. To succeed in life we must be confident at all times, especially when it comes to our career. You are on the right path for doing exactly that. Sitting in front of a corporate client you must understand immediately their business, how it works and then demonstrate your skill and understanding for solving their problem.. Your success as a corporate attorney depends on it. Let them see your legal brilliance in that first meeting. And I did an answer for Jackson here on Career Village that will help. Pull up all my answers and you'll see it. Best of luck going forward. Rick
Rick Kneisley
Rebecca Aidoo
Fashion specialists
20
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
It’s exciting that you’re already double majoring in political science and philosophy—both excellent foundations for law school. Adding a minor is a chance to strengthen your future career and explore your interests even further.
Since you’re aiming for corporate law, a business or finance minor could give you practical skills that will make you stand out. Understanding how companies operate, reading financial statements, and learning business strategy will give you a real edge when working with corporate clients. These skills are highly valued in internships and in your future career.
A legal studies minor is also valuable—it can deepen your understanding of law and prepare you for law school. But since you’re already covering law-related foundations through political science and philosophy, a business-focused minor could balance your knowledge and give you a unique perspective in the corporate world.
Remember: there’s no wrong choice here. Both options will add value and make you more prepared for your goals. The key is to choose something that excites you and builds skills you’ll actually use, so that you feel confident and motivated as you move toward law school and your career in corporate law.
You’re already setting yourself up for success—whatever minor you choose, your thoughtful approach and curiosity will help you thrive.
Since you’re aiming for corporate law, a business or finance minor could give you practical skills that will make you stand out. Understanding how companies operate, reading financial statements, and learning business strategy will give you a real edge when working with corporate clients. These skills are highly valued in internships and in your future career.
A legal studies minor is also valuable—it can deepen your understanding of law and prepare you for law school. But since you’re already covering law-related foundations through political science and philosophy, a business-focused minor could balance your knowledge and give you a unique perspective in the corporate world.
Remember: there’s no wrong choice here. Both options will add value and make you more prepared for your goals. The key is to choose something that excites you and builds skills you’ll actually use, so that you feel confident and motivated as you move toward law school and your career in corporate law.
You’re already setting yourself up for success—whatever minor you choose, your thoughtful approach and curiosity will help you thrive.
Jaime Freed
Legal Editor
6
Answers
Northport, New York
Updated
Jaime’s Answer
Hi Sarah,
I agree with Rick’s answer! If you’re interested in corporate law, business/finance will serve you best. I did not know the area of law I wanted to practice and I wound up in real estate finance (mainly because it was one of the few practice groups hiring at the firm where I summered). I had zero background in finance, and I felt like I was at a real disadvantage. There’s a lot of learning on the job anywhere, but if you have some background knowledge or exposure to the underlying industry, it’s a leg up.
I hope this helps!
Jaime
I agree with Rick’s answer! If you’re interested in corporate law, business/finance will serve you best. I did not know the area of law I wanted to practice and I wound up in real estate finance (mainly because it was one of the few practice groups hiring at the firm where I summered). I had zero background in finance, and I felt like I was at a real disadvantage. There’s a lot of learning on the job anywhere, but if you have some background knowledge or exposure to the underlying industry, it’s a leg up.
I hope this helps!
Jaime
Amber Lee
Tax Associate
83
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Amber’s Answer
Hi Sarah,
I went to law school and ended up working in mergers and acquisitions tax consulting so I can give you my two cents.
You're right in that you can never be too prepared for law school, but to be honest I think a more holistic undergraduate education (instead of a legal-focused one) would be far more beneficial to you in a long run. There were a number of folks at my law school who took the traditional PoliSci / Legal studies-to-law-school route, which is not surprising given that people generally wanted to start their legal education journey on a strong footing. However, I will point out that while people who did legal studies might have a slightly easier time during their first semester of law school, the playing field is generally leveled out by the second semester. People who did not have legal studies background were not disadvantaged in any way during law school.
In fact, I feel like the people who came from non-traditional undergrad backgrounds (i.e., majors aside from legal studies, PoliSci, philosophy, history, etc.) were generally the ones who really shone and were able to set themselves apart from their peers. The thing about law school is that lot of legal discourse in school are very theoretical and very "academic"--meaning, they're largely irrelevant to the actual practice of law unless you practice in a developing area of the law (or one that is experiencing changes due to governmental policies, etc.). It would be far more beneficial if you could bring with you knowledge from outside of the law (e.g., business and finance) and apply it while you're in law school. As an example, between two students in a corporate law class--one with prior business / finance knowledge and one without--I would imagine the former would get a lot more out of their corporate law class because they have what the other doesn't: context.
I myself had 0 business and finance knowledge before going into law school. I also had 0 legal studies background. Speaking from experience, I think learning the basics of the law as a first year was hard but not an insurmountable challenge. What I really struggled with were my corporate and tax law classes in my second and third year of law school just because I had no frame of reference when it came to the business world.
This is a very long-winded way to say: I think you ought to consider a minor in business / finance. Even if you don't end up practicing in corporate law, you would still have picked up enough business acumen through your business classes, which could be applied to any other practice areas.
I went to law school and ended up working in mergers and acquisitions tax consulting so I can give you my two cents.
You're right in that you can never be too prepared for law school, but to be honest I think a more holistic undergraduate education (instead of a legal-focused one) would be far more beneficial to you in a long run. There were a number of folks at my law school who took the traditional PoliSci / Legal studies-to-law-school route, which is not surprising given that people generally wanted to start their legal education journey on a strong footing. However, I will point out that while people who did legal studies might have a slightly easier time during their first semester of law school, the playing field is generally leveled out by the second semester. People who did not have legal studies background were not disadvantaged in any way during law school.
In fact, I feel like the people who came from non-traditional undergrad backgrounds (i.e., majors aside from legal studies, PoliSci, philosophy, history, etc.) were generally the ones who really shone and were able to set themselves apart from their peers. The thing about law school is that lot of legal discourse in school are very theoretical and very "academic"--meaning, they're largely irrelevant to the actual practice of law unless you practice in a developing area of the law (or one that is experiencing changes due to governmental policies, etc.). It would be far more beneficial if you could bring with you knowledge from outside of the law (e.g., business and finance) and apply it while you're in law school. As an example, between two students in a corporate law class--one with prior business / finance knowledge and one without--I would imagine the former would get a lot more out of their corporate law class because they have what the other doesn't: context.
I myself had 0 business and finance knowledge before going into law school. I also had 0 legal studies background. Speaking from experience, I think learning the basics of the law as a first year was hard but not an insurmountable challenge. What I really struggled with were my corporate and tax law classes in my second and third year of law school just because I had no frame of reference when it came to the business world.
This is a very long-winded way to say: I think you ought to consider a minor in business / finance. Even if you don't end up practicing in corporate law, you would still have picked up enough business acumen through your business classes, which could be applied to any other practice areas.