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what colleges are good if you want to major in law and become a lawyer?
I'm in 10th grade and I really want to become a lawyer. so I want to know what colleges I should look at.
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9 answers
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Jennifer’s Answer
In my over 20 years of practicing law, I don't recall a single conversation about or need to know a fellow attorney's undergraduate degree unless you are interested in becoming a patent attorney. If that's the case, then you should have a bachelor's degree in science or engineering. Absent that, study what interests you in undergrad but also consider challenging yourself and taking some courses outside of your comfort zone. You never know what you might learn and what will inspire you.
Getting into law school, in the United States, involves multiple factors one of which is your performance in undergrad, but not what classes you took. There are some "pre-law" programs in some undergrad schools but I confess that I do not know what they entail nor am I aware if they are helpful. What I am fairly confident stating is that they are not required by law schools.
I studied international business with minors in economics, French and English in undergrad. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I applied to undergrad and I believed I wanted to work for a for-profit company that conducted business overseas and in the US. I thought having a business degree would be most helpful in understanding my future clients needs and goals. I combined that with my law degree and have been serving mostly as in-house counsel to organizations working in the US and overseas.
Best of luck!
Getting into law school, in the United States, involves multiple factors one of which is your performance in undergrad, but not what classes you took. There are some "pre-law" programs in some undergrad schools but I confess that I do not know what they entail nor am I aware if they are helpful. What I am fairly confident stating is that they are not required by law schools.
I studied international business with minors in economics, French and English in undergrad. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer when I applied to undergrad and I believed I wanted to work for a for-profit company that conducted business overseas and in the US. I thought having a business degree would be most helpful in understanding my future clients needs and goals. I combined that with my law degree and have been serving mostly as in-house counsel to organizations working in the US and overseas.
Best of luck!
Updated
Marva’s Answer
Hi, The best college for you is the school that is the right fit for you and where you can do your best. It is a combination of many factors: a good education (many schools will fit this bill), that you can afford and not take too many loans, and that feels right to you (is it too big, too small, too far from home, too close to home, does it offer after school activities that seem to fit me, will I like the weather, and lots more). Take this time in 10th and 11th grade to learn about you - what you like, what makes you feel comfortable so that you can do your best - and then with that list, start narrowing down the list. Get to know you first - you can start by asking your parents, siblings and close friends/relatives to help you think through who you are. And some students will thrive in any school; that's their personality.
Updated
Joseph’s Answer
Unlike most of the people who have answered you, I am not in the field of Law. Having said that, my daughter is a senior in high school and wants to become a lawyer. What I have driven her towards and what she has done is to determine first what kind of law are you thinking? Once you have that, the schools may vary. Is there a law firm in particular you are eyeing to work with? If so, see if they have a partnership with any schools that they hire from, this may help you get to where you're going. Then look at schools that interest you and see if they have a law program. In state schools offer lower tuition rates, look at schools you may be able to get a scholarship from (athletic and/or academic). Good luck in your schooling and career whatever that may end up being.
Updated
Francne’s Answer
Hi Alliyah,
I agree, for now the most important thing for you to do is focus on doing your very best to get good grades during your high school years and identifying the college of your choice to earn a 4 year degree. I would say that there is no harm in understanding the criteria for pursuing a graduate / law degree. If you understand or have an idea of what will be required of you to get into the graduate / law school of your choice, it can help you with your selection and studies for your undergraduate 4 year degree. I suggest you share your higher education goals with your high school counselor who can help you learn more, navigate and create a path to reach your goals. In the meantime, you can see a list of 2023 Best Law Schools published on the U.S. News site (https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools). It is never too early to start. Best of luck!
I agree, for now the most important thing for you to do is focus on doing your very best to get good grades during your high school years and identifying the college of your choice to earn a 4 year degree. I would say that there is no harm in understanding the criteria for pursuing a graduate / law degree. If you understand or have an idea of what will be required of you to get into the graduate / law school of your choice, it can help you with your selection and studies for your undergraduate 4 year degree. I suggest you share your higher education goals with your high school counselor who can help you learn more, navigate and create a path to reach your goals. In the meantime, you can see a list of 2023 Best Law Schools published on the U.S. News site (https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools). It is never too early to start. Best of luck!
Updated
Jane’s Answer
There are many colleges and universities that have strong programs in law, and many of them are considered to be some of the best in the country. Some of the top law schools in the United States include:
Yale Law School
Harvard Law School
Stanford Law School
Columbia Law School
University of Chicago Law School
New York University School of Law
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
University of Michigan Law School
Duke University School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
It's important to note that attending a prestigious law school does not guarantee success as a lawyer, and there are many successful lawyers who graduated from less well-known schools. Additionally, it's always recommended to conduct more research and to visit the schools in person before applying.
Yale Law School
Harvard Law School
Stanford Law School
Columbia Law School
University of Chicago Law School
New York University School of Law
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
University of Michigan Law School
Duke University School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
It's important to note that attending a prestigious law school does not guarantee success as a lawyer, and there are many successful lawyers who graduated from less well-known schools. Additionally, it's always recommended to conduct more research and to visit the schools in person before applying.
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
I very much agree with Marva -- go to the best undergraduate school that fits your personality, interests and budget. Then do the same with Law School. While a prestigious university or law school may open some doors for you just because of the name, it's more important in the long run to go to a school that fits you and that you can maybe get through without too many loans (so you have more choices in jobs when you exit law school and don't feel pressure because of loans to take a particular path). Doing something that you love in undergrad will help you as well as in the future! Best career advice I was ever given was to find something that I love and do that because when you love what you do, the rest falls into place! Good luck!
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West’s Answer
I second Ms. Gorman's answer.
I'd like to add that I think your undergraduate major should be something that expands your skills rather than pre-law or something that won't give you an extra skill set. As Ms. Gorman stated, you never know what you might find to peak an interest you didn't know you had.
If I could have gone back and done it over, I would have found an undergraduate degree to compliment law (a stem dergee, foreign language, business, IT, or some such degree). My undergrad was in history, and while enjoyable and helpful for research/writing skills, I haven't found it to be too useful in conjunction with my law degree.
I would also suggest that you do everything in your power to get grants and scholarships. Do the best you can NOW. Good high school grades means better ranked schools/scholarships for college. And the same goes for your undergrad grades going into law school. I coasted through high school and undergrad, and as a result didn't get much in the way of scholarships or grants. My student loans are now comically astronomical. It may seem like a future issue for you to address, but the best way to get through as cheap as possible is to START NOW.
Best of luck!
I'd like to add that I think your undergraduate major should be something that expands your skills rather than pre-law or something that won't give you an extra skill set. As Ms. Gorman stated, you never know what you might find to peak an interest you didn't know you had.
If I could have gone back and done it over, I would have found an undergraduate degree to compliment law (a stem dergee, foreign language, business, IT, or some such degree). My undergrad was in history, and while enjoyable and helpful for research/writing skills, I haven't found it to be too useful in conjunction with my law degree.
I would also suggest that you do everything in your power to get grants and scholarships. Do the best you can NOW. Good high school grades means better ranked schools/scholarships for college. And the same goes for your undergrad grades going into law school. I coasted through high school and undergrad, and as a result didn't get much in the way of scholarships or grants. My student loans are now comically astronomical. It may seem like a future issue for you to address, but the best way to get through as cheap as possible is to START NOW.
Best of luck!
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hi Aaliyah,
Its mainly dependent on where you want to study- close by home or out of state. The other thing is what course are you planning on taking. To become a lawyer you need a JD from an accredited school. There are some law schools offering online law degrees but most of those schools are not accredited. You could get some classes done at community colleges to save money but you need to find out if they are transferable to your degree. There is many research on top tiered law school reports online too.
Its mainly dependent on where you want to study- close by home or out of state. The other thing is what course are you planning on taking. To become a lawyer you need a JD from an accredited school. There are some law schools offering online law degrees but most of those schools are not accredited. You could get some classes done at community colleges to save money but you need to find out if they are transferable to your degree. There is many research on top tiered law school reports online too.
Updated
Victor’s Answer
Here are their top-20:
Duke
UVA
Cornell
Chicago
Vanderbilt
WashU
Michigan
Columbia
Northwestern
Penn
UT Austin
Berk
Georgia
Notre Dame
Yale
Harvard
NYU
USC
Illinois
UNC
Methodology:
Quality of jobs (based on biglaw + fed clerkship placement): 35%
Full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage: 30%
Education cost: 15%
Debt-per-job ratio: 10%
SCOTUS clerks: 5%
Federal judgeships: 5%
You can check out the rest of the rankings and learn more about their methodology here: https://abovethelaw.com/top-law-schools-2022/methodology
Duke
UVA
Cornell
Chicago
Vanderbilt
WashU
Michigan
Columbia
Northwestern
Penn
UT Austin
Berk
Georgia
Notre Dame
Yale
Harvard
NYU
USC
Illinois
UNC
Methodology:
Quality of jobs (based on biglaw + fed clerkship placement): 35%
Full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage: 30%
Education cost: 15%
Debt-per-job ratio: 10%
SCOTUS clerks: 5%
Federal judgeships: 5%
You can check out the rest of the rankings and learn more about their methodology here: https://abovethelaw.com/top-law-schools-2022/methodology