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What degree do you need to get to become a lawyer
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Desiree’s Answer
Hi Chloe, It looks like you are in California, so I'll tell you about typically path for becoming a lawyer in the U.S. However, each country is a little different. You are going to need two degrees: BS/BA and JD. You need to have an undergraduate degree (4-year bachelor's degree -- Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts), and good law school admission test (LSAT) scores to get into law school. Then law school is 3 more years after you graduate from university (Juris Doctor). And, as you have probably heard, after law school, you have to pass the Bar Exam (it is really hard, but if you’ve done well in law school, you should be okay! Your study habits should be well honed by the end of law school and you’ll be ready to buckle down and study more for the Bar!).
In the U.S. there is no particular required major - or minor - for that bachelor's degree. It's pretty common for people heading to law school to major in History, Political Science, Business, or English. However, you should major in something of interest to you and in which you'll get stellar grades. Having good grades is key to being admitted to law school. So if Math or Chemistry is your passion, do that! (I am a lawyer, my undergraduate majors were in science.)
Depending on what type of lawyer you think you might want to be, you could select undergrad elective courses to help you get familiar with particular skill sets. If you are interested in, say, criminal law, then you might consider classes about criminal justice, forensics, criminal science. If you are interested in say, environmental law, then a basic understanding of statistics, biology and chemistry will serve you well. Corporate law? Consider math, accounting, business classes. I imagine you can see a pattern forming: the law has many focus areas and you can try to tailor your study (& eventually, practice) of law so that it aligns with the area(s) of your interest. But even if you radically change paths with respect to the area of law you choose to practice, your undergrad classes won't preclude those options. At law school there is no "major" (although you can tailor your electives towards the sort of law you might want to practice).
Go on line and research law school admission criteria and law school courses.
In the U.S. there is no particular required major - or minor - for that bachelor's degree. It's pretty common for people heading to law school to major in History, Political Science, Business, or English. However, you should major in something of interest to you and in which you'll get stellar grades. Having good grades is key to being admitted to law school. So if Math or Chemistry is your passion, do that! (I am a lawyer, my undergraduate majors were in science.)
Depending on what type of lawyer you think you might want to be, you could select undergrad elective courses to help you get familiar with particular skill sets. If you are interested in, say, criminal law, then you might consider classes about criminal justice, forensics, criminal science. If you are interested in say, environmental law, then a basic understanding of statistics, biology and chemistry will serve you well. Corporate law? Consider math, accounting, business classes. I imagine you can see a pattern forming: the law has many focus areas and you can try to tailor your study (& eventually, practice) of law so that it aligns with the area(s) of your interest. But even if you radically change paths with respect to the area of law you choose to practice, your undergrad classes won't preclude those options. At law school there is no "major" (although you can tailor your electives towards the sort of law you might want to practice).
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Jennifer’s Answer
Desiree's answer is right on point. I would only add that I recommend taking classes in undergrad that help with your writing skills. I was a legal research and writing teaching assistant my second year in law school, and I worked with the first year law students. In my experience, those with a good background in writing struggled less in legal research and writing and were better able to deal with law school exams.
If your college major doesn't focus on writing, consider picking up extra writing/analysis courses somewhere along the way. I also find that reading helps with writing skills. Read a lot of different types of books on anything that interests you, and you'll see all kinds of different writing. You'll also increase your vocabulary!
If your college major doesn't focus on writing, consider picking up extra writing/analysis courses somewhere along the way. I also find that reading helps with writing skills. Read a lot of different types of books on anything that interests you, and you'll see all kinds of different writing. You'll also increase your vocabulary!