Best Majors for Law School

The question is often asked, “What should I major in?” Sometimes, that is followed by “What should I minor in?”

First, the concern of law schools is that you can read, write, think, and analyze. Beyond that, they do not prefer any particular major or minor. Many law schools specifically discourage majors and minors implicitly or explicitly tailored to law school, majors such as pre-law, legal studies, American legal system, etc. (Loyola has no such majors or minors.) 

Such majors and minors seduce the student into the false belief that there is somehow an “inside track” to getting into law school, and such programs provide an excessively narrow undergraduate education whereas most law schools prefer breadth. Second, life is about finding something to love and then pursuing it. Therefore, use your undergraduate years to explore different things, different academic subjects. You might as an undergraduate, if you are lucky, find an area which ignites your excitement. If so, pursue it. The anticipation that you might go to law school should not drive your decision of what to major or minor in because in the end you might decide not to go to law school after all.

In short, it does not matter what you major in. Just make sure you do a good amount of analytical work, a good amount of written work, and make good grades.

For more information, view the ABA’s advice on majors and skills regarding success in law school.