Are you dreaming of being a lawyer? It’s a great profession. However, unlike becoming an engineer or a historian, there isn’t one specific major you need to do in college to become a lawyer. Some schools have a “pre-law” track, but you can major in almost anything before going to law school. Popular majors for hopeful lawyers include History, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, and more. Since there is no one track for lawyers in college, there is no set list of classes you need to take in high school. That being said, there are some classes that you should consider taking that will not only look good to colleges but give you important skills that will help you on your path to being a lawyer.
English
Take the highest level of English that your school offers. Lawyers need great writing and speaking skills. Taking something like IB or AP English will help you with this. Lawyers also have to do a lot of reading and taking AP English or even History will help you get used to this. High-level English courses also will let colleges know that you have the skills to be a competitive applicant in the arts.
Public Speaking/Communication
Not every school has a Public Speaking or Communications course, but many offer them as an elective. If your school doesn’t have a class like this, they might have a club that also has an emphasis on public speaking. Maybe it’s a mock trial, model UN, or a speech and debate club. These are also great ways to gain skills in public speaking.
Government or Law
If your school is old school, this might be called civics. It might also be called Government or Law or even Social Studies (though social studies can also mean almost anything.) Sometimes this is also part of a US history class. Whatever it is called, these classes usually cover the basics of the legal system. This class can help you learn more about the legal system and how laws work in America. This can be a really valuable introductory course for those going into the legal field.
Latin
Habeas Corpus, Modus Operandi, Malum prohibitum. What do these words have in common? Well, one, they are all legal jargon, and two, they are all in Latin. A lot of legalese comes from Latin. Does this mean you have to “speak” Latin to be a lawyer? No. If you love your Spanish or French class, that’s fine, but having a background in Latin is not only impressive but legitimately helpful. Taking a high-level Latin course won’t only help you get into college, but might help you in your career down the line.
Statistics
AP Stat is one of the most slept-on classes out here. Most high schools offer it. It looks great on transcripts. And it teaches students really great skills. Stat is the basis of a lot of research and undergrad research will help you eventually get into your dream law school. Ok, that was a lot of steps to get to the end result, but trust us, this class is a value add.
Philosophy
Having a background in philosophy can help you understand a lot about the law. Many hopeful lawyers will take philosophy in college to help better understand the place of law in society. Not all high schools offer this, but many do. Many schools have an after-school philosophy club which is also a great choice.
Take a class outside of class
Maybe your school doesn’t offer a lot of classes or doesn’t allow for a lot of elective flexibility. You can always explore your interests outside of school. A great way to start is to take a class. There are many ways to take a class outside of your high school, but the ones we see the most, for hopeful lawyers, are intensives and online courses.
Summer Intensives
Many colleges offer pre-college programs. These ranges when it comes to subjects but you can either choose a law-specific one or one that aligns with your intended undergraduate major. Colleges like NYU, UPenn, Wake Forrest, and even organizations like the ACLU and Bar Association offer summer programs for hopeful high school lawyers.
Online classes
While we love summer intensives, they can be rather expensive. Not everyone can afford to do one or is free during the summers. Online classes are often free or inexpensive and flexible when it comes to scheduling. We recommend for all of our students to consider online classes to learn more about their intended majors. Some great ones for Pre-Laws include:
Penn’s Intro to American Law or Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases
Feminism and Social Justice at UC Santa Cruz
Stanford’s International Women's Health and Human Rights or Intro to Logic
Introduction to Environmental Law and Policy at UNC Chapel Hill
There is no one path to becoming a lawyer. We suggest exploring what is interesting to you and following your passion. At the same time, taking high-level courses and showing a commitment to what you want to study will help you get into a college that will help you on that path.
Need help planning for college and beyond? It’s what we do! Reach out here.