Introduction
Colleges provide many opportunities, one of which is the abundance of classes offered. This means that while you are focusing on your major, you can also focus on your other areas of interest to help you grow in that specific field, one way of doing this is by opting for a minor. Let us know ‘Best Minors For Law School’.
Best Minors For Law School
The difference between a minor and a major
While you are required to pick one major for your bachelor’s degree, colleges provide the students with the option to choose numerous minors of their choice and interest. Minors are less intensive and the primary difference between a major and a minor is the number of classes you have to take
The legal Education system in the USA
In the USA, there is no specific law program available right after law school, students must enroll themselves in any undergrad program of their choice and after they get their Bachelor’s degree with a good grade point average (GPA), they have to sit for the Law School Admission Test(LSAT) where they have to do well as this test is the indicator of the student’s potential in Law schools.
Benefits of a Law-Related Minors Before Law School
- A minor is less academically demanding than a major.
- It is a great way to utilize your time and enhance your application for Law School.
- Students can get exposure to legal matters and learn more about what they want to seek in Law school.
- It also serves as a trial for people who are not sure if they want to pursue the legal field.
- It supplements their resume and future career prospects.
What to look for while choosing a minor?
It is important to choose a minor that is related to your field of interest since you will have to perform well in it for it to prove beneficial for you. Just like a major, a minor will significantly affect your academic report which is one of the key factors that law schools consider while accepting students, thus, it is not advisable to pick a minors based on the chances of getting an advantage while seeking admission in a law school rather than out of interest.
Now, if you are considering getting a minor, here are a few suggestions that may help you-
- Psychology
The law forms society, which is why it is important to understand the nature and behavior of the people that form it and psychology is the subject that helps you do that, it has both legal and social significance. Studying psychology can help a law student construct a map of how a person perceives, decides, and acts. It can help you understand the people that are going through the legal system such as the eyewitnesses, victims, and the accused. An applicant with an academic background related to psychology has been preferred by law schools because success in practicing law requires the collection and analysis of data while efficiently communicating your conclusions to others, which is a major part of studying psychology.
- Political Science
Political science is the study of theories and practices of government, it is deeply integrated into the legal system. A minor in this area will provide an aspiring law student with an understanding of the court systems and procedures, the constitution, the political aspects of how laws are made, the functioning of the government, and the political theories and ideologies that shape it.
Political science is one of the most sought-after subjects by students considering Law school and a minor in the same reflects a prior interest in the legal field.
- English
A good lawyer is one who can easily transmit his thoughts into words and construct his sentences in a way that is clear and easy to understand while remaining impactful which is why fluency in communication is a must. A Law school requires you to have good analytical sense and excellent written and oratory skills which can be developed through a minor in English.
If you love reading or writing or have an interest in studying literature, then doing a minor in English not only prepares you for a future in law school but also helps you nurture your interest.
- History
Study of history will help a law aspirant understand the background and development of legal concepts, many of which have constantly been shaped and re-shaped for a very long time which is why a good grasp of the world and local history is essential, and also, understanding the competence of people who made the decision that has come to influence the country’s current legal situation. Knowledge of History also makes understanding constitutional law much easier when you know the intention of the framer who made it.
- Pre Law minors
Taking up a law-related minor pre-law school will most definitely help you develop a definite legal interest; all that prior knowledge will certainly give you an edge over other students in law school and this may give you a clear path and prospects for future employment. Below are a few pre-law minors that may interest you-
- Human Rights Law
This minor is perfect for students who are interested in the growing field of human rights and want to see themselves working at NGOs, foundations, IGOs, and government after finishing law school. understanding this subject requires an interdisciplinary approach that combines in a new way the study of other disciplines such as culture, law, politics, and economics.
- Business Law
A business law minor will add more job opportunities for you as a lawyer especially if you are interested in the corporate legal sector. Students who pursue this minor will learn about subject matter like employment, business management, contracts and transactions, international law, commerce, intellectual property and entertainment law, bankruptcy and securities law, and the law governing profit and non-profit organizations.
- Criminal Justice
Students who minor in criminal justice take courses that put a specific emphasis on subjects including policing, courts, corrections, and the law, as well as the nature and causes of crime and delinquency. Special themes including terrorism, white-collar crime, jury deliberation, and victims of crime are also available.
- Economics
This minor will help students who want to be hired by large corporations as legal advisors. Students studying economics learn how to comprehend the internal and external economic environment in which the company operates which helps them do better at being a legal arm of the company. Apart from that, students also develop an understanding of tax laws and the government’s position on corporate affairs. Doing a minor in this subject will certainly help you reach your bigger goals in and after law school.
- STEM-based minors
STEM is a term used collectively for disciplines that include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Compared to other disciplines, these are difficult and demanding to take up. Students who choose them are considered to have good analytical and logical reasoning; they also develop good problem-solving skills. Moreover, taking up a STEM-based minor will help you develop an understanding of a particular industry, e.g., taking up physics will help you in patent law, understanding chemistry will help you in environmental law and a good grip on mathematics helps lawyers analyse large and complex numerical data such as financial record and statistics. Applicants from this academic sector are rarer and reputable law schools substantially prefer them because of their perception of them as academically more qualified and talented so if you are good at these disciplines you may take up them as your minor.
Conclusion
College is a great time to explore and figure out yourself. Search for your area of interest during your undergrad and try to get clarity of whether law school is really the place you want to go or not because to keep it straight, Law school is tough, it’s intense. Taking up several minors is one way to do that. But always keep in mind that you need to perform decently in the disciples you pick because law schools care a lot about your GPA.
Minors can help you in a lot of ways, but that is only if you are eager enough to learn. Firstly, prioritize your area of interest when you are choosing minors. It is not at all necessary to take nothing but law-related minors, you have several options to choose from and a lot of them are not directly related to law at all but still help you develop the skills that will help you excel in law school and also beyond that.
Frequently asked question
- Is it necessary to get a minor pre-law?
The simple answer to this is no, there is no requirement for any student to have any prior legal knowledge or a law-related degree to apply for legal education in the USA. It is only a matter of the student’s personal interest and choice, but you are highly suggested to supplement your bachelor’s degree with a minor because you might want to utilize all that free time you get in college and learn things that will help you in the future.
