🎓 Top Undergraduate Degrees for Law School: What Should You Major In?

🏛️ 1. Political Science

Why it helps:
Political Science is the most common pre-law major because it teaches students how governments function and how laws are created, interpreted, and enforced. You’ll study the judicial, legislative, and executive branches, along with public policy, international relations, and constitutional frameworks. This makes it a near-direct pipeline to the foundational subjects of law school.

Students build skills in evaluating power structures, constitutional rights, and judicial decision-making—all crucial for law school’s issue-spotting exams. Courses often mirror first-year law classes (like Constitutional Law and Public Policy Analysis), giving you an early advantage. Political Science also trains you to see law as part of a larger institutional and political process, not just isolated statutes.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • Michigan State University – Political Science: Pre-Law concentration with LSAT prep seminars and courses like American Politics & Constitutional Law.

  • Cal State Bakersfield – Political Science tracks in Pre-Law and Power & Justice, with structured internships in courts and legal offices.

  • UCLA – Pre-law advising paired with courses in Legal Institutions, Public Policy, and Government & Law seminars.

📘 Example Classes: Constitutional Law, American Government, Legal Institutions, Public Policy Analysis.

📚 2. History

Why it helps:
History majors develop the ability to research deeply, synthesize large amounts of information, and write persuasively—exactly what lawyers do. Since law itself is built on precedent, history majors learn to analyze today’s disputes in light of past decisions.

Studying legal history, constitutional changes, and civil rights movements also helps future law students understand how laws evolve over time. History forces students to interpret ambiguous evidence, preparing them to navigate conflicting precedents in case law.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • Yale University – Offers concentrations in Legal History and Constitutional Development.

  • University of Virginia – Courses in American Legal History and the History of Civil Rights.

  • University of Chicago – Focus on historical interpretation and archival research.

📘 Example Classes: American Legal History, Constitutional Development, Civil Rights Movements, Research Seminar in History.

🧠 3. Philosophy

Why it helps:
Philosophy majors consistently score among the highest on the LSAT because the discipline sharpens skills in logic, ethics, and argumentation. Law school exams are structured like puzzles: identify the issue, apply the rule, and reason to a conclusion. Philosophy students are trained in exactly this process.

Through courses like Symbolic Logic, Philosophy of Law, and Ethics, you’ll learn to dissect arguments step by step, evaluate assumptions, and craft precise reasoning. Beyond logic, philosophy gives students grounding in abstract legal concepts such as justice, equality, rights, and duties—core themes of constitutional law.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • Princeton University – Top-ranked in Philosophy, with courses in formal logic and legal philosophy.

  • New York University (NYU) – Offers Philosophy of Law and Ethics programs that align directly with law school preparation.

  • University of Notre Dame – Renowned for combining philosophy and ethics with social and political theory.

📘 Example Classes: Symbolic Logic, Philosophy of Law, Ethics & Morality, Critical Thinking.

📝 4. English

Why it helps:
Law is a discipline of reading, writing, and interpretation. English majors excel in all three, entering law school with advanced skills in breaking down complex texts, analyzing themes, and writing clear, persuasive arguments.

Because legal education requires constant briefing of cases and persuasive writing, English majors often thrive in legal writing and appellate advocacy courses. Studying literature also exposes students to enduring debates about justice, morality, and human conflict, enriching their legal perspective.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • Harvard University – Offers rhetoric and argumentation programs tied to pre-law.

  • Columbia University – Focus on advanced literary analysis and critical writing.

  • University of California, Berkeley – Emphasizes English with intersections in law and social justice.

📘 Example Classes: Rhetoric & Argumentation, Legal Writing, Literature & Law, Critical Composition.

💼 5. Business / Economics

Why it helps:
Business and economics majors are excellent preparation for law school, especially for careers in corporate law, tax law, antitrust, and mergers & acquisitions.

Economics teaches quantitative reasoning, game theory, and the study of incentives—all vital for analyzing contracts and regulations. Business majors, meanwhile, provide grounding in finance, corporate governance, and compliance—practical knowledge that law firms highly value.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • Baylor University – Offers customizable economics tracks (BA, BS, BBA) suited for pre-law.

  • University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) – Combines business ethics with legal studies for a competitive edge.

  • University of Chicago – Known for economics rigor that pairs naturally with law school.

📘 Example Classes: Microeconomics, Business Law, Corporate Finance, Law & Economics.

⚖️ 6. Criminal Justice

Why it helps:
Criminal Justice majors get a practical introduction to the legal system: how courts operate, how evidence is gathered, and how constitutional protections are applied. For future prosecutors, defense attorneys, or criminal law specialists, this major offers a strong professional foundation.

The caveat is that some elite law schools prefer majors with a more theory-driven liberal arts background. Pairing Criminal Justice with electives in English, Philosophy, or Political Science strengthens its academic rigor while keeping its real-world focus.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) – Renowned for its legal and justice programs.

  • University of Cincinnati – Strong in criminology and legal processes.

  • Florida State University – Offers hands-on courses in courts, law enforcement, and legal policy.

📘 Example Classes: Criminal Procedure, Evidence & Proof, Judicial Process, Forensics & Criminal Investigation.

🔬 7. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

Why it helps:
STEM majors are increasingly in demand in fields like ⚙️ patent law, 🌍 environmental law, 🧬 health law, and 💻 cybersecurity law. A background in STEM equips students with structured problem-solving skills, data analysis, and technical literacy—abilities that directly translate to law school’s logical reasoning and modern legal practice.

  • Engineering majors bring precision and modeling skills to statutory interpretation.

  • Biology/Chemistry majors excel in intellectual property and biotech law.

  • Math/Computer Science majors strengthen logical proofs, data analysis, and algorithmic reasoning.

Law schools also prize STEM students for their diverse classroom perspective, which enhances group problem-solving and prepares graduates for high-demand, tech-driven fields.

📍 Strong Programs:

  • MIT – Leading in engineering and computer science, with strong intellectual property pathways.

  • Stanford University – Known for integrating technology and law.

  • Georgia Tech – Excellent for engineering and pre-law intersections.

📘 Example Classes: Engineering Ethics, Environmental Science, Biotech & Intellectual Property, Data Analysis & Law.

✅ Final Takeaway: Major in What You Enjoy

Law schools accept students from all academic backgrounds. What matters most is your GPA, LSAT score, and writing ability. Choosing a major that challenges you intellectually and interests you personally ensures both high performance and strong preparation for legal education.

📚 Works Cited

  • CollegeVine. “Best Majors for Law School.” CollegeVine, 2024.

  • Forbes. “Best Pre-Law Majors.” Forbes Education, 2024.

  • SoFi. “Law School Acceptance Rates by Major.” SoFi Learn, 2023.

  • U.S. News & World Report. “Best Colleges for Pre-Law.” U.S. News Education, 2024.

  • CollegeGuidePost. “Best Pre-Law Schools in the U.S.” College Guide Post, 2023.

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