If you want to become a personal injury lawyer, you must first obtain a bachelor’s degree and complete law school. Unfortunately, many pre-law students focus so much on law school that they forget to focus their efforts on their undergraduate major.
The undergraduate major you choose could give you advantages as you attend law school and begin your legal practice. Law schools are interested in majors that require rigorous schedules. Your commitment to your undergraduate major can be a good indication of how devoted you will be to your legal studies.
Choosing Electives to Compliment Your Studies
Once you choose your undergraduate major, carefully consider each elective. Electives give you an additional opportunity to take classes that can give you skills for law school. Electives also allow you to learn about studies that support a law degree without majoring in that specific field of study.
If you have trouble deciding on an undergraduate major, you could talk to several personal injury attorneys with successful practices. They may provide insight into the qualities and skills that help them with their practice. That information may help you identify which undergraduate major is best for your career plans.
Undergraduate Majors to Consider Before Law School
The following six undergraduate majors help you prepare for rigorous studies in law school. The majors also help develop skills that help personal injury attorneys as they represent clients in injury and accident cases.
Political Science
Many pre-law students major in political science. Having a foundation in government systems can be very helpful when entering law school.
A degree in political science allows you to study the judicial system, including the development of the court system. A thorough understanding of the United States Constitution also benefits a pre-law student.
Biology
Personal injury attorneys review detailed medical records. An undergraduate degree in biology prepares a lawyer for comprehending injuries and health conditions.
A medical background may help an attorney as they calculate the value of damages. The personal injury attorney has a better understanding of how the injuries may impact the person’s daily activities. The attorney can incorporate the background in biology when preparing settlement demand letters and arguing cases in court.
English
An English major gives a personal injury lawyer the skills to write persuasive settlement demand letters and legal pleadings. Studying English can improve a person’s command of the English language. In addition, it can improve a person’s ability to argue theories and concepts, which is beneficial for trial attorneys.
Philosophy
Philosophy covers topics including ethics, logic, and morality. It allows students to debate many of the concepts that are the foundations of the legal system in the United States. Students learn to consider difficult questions and develop solutions that might not be immediately apparent.
Students conduct research to support their arguments and present those arguments. The studies assist personal injury lawyers as they research case law and statutes to support their allegations of fault and liability.
History
Studies in history provide a background of events that shaped our legal system. Students learn about the social conditions that spurred change and caused our legal system to evolve. Students analyze and study the landmark court rulings that shaped the laws that we have now.
Psychology
The study of psychology gives a student insight into how humans think. Topics include motivation, behavior, emotion, and language. All these topics can assist personal injury attorneys as they negotiate settlements and argue cases before juries.
By understanding the human mind and behavior, attorneys can communicate effectively with different types of people. A personal injury attorney must know how to deal with clients, judges, insurance adjusters, mediators, arbitrators, and jurors.
Other Undergraduate Majors for Personal Injury Lawyers
In addition to the above undergraduate majors, several other majors are worth mentioning. Many of these majors develop the same skills as the above majors:
- Economics
- Sociology
- Communications
- Business
- Social work
- Arts and Humanities
Law schools consider many factors when reviewing admittance applications. Having an excellent score on the LSAT examination and high grades in your chosen field of study are just two factors. The law school may consider recommendations, extracurricular involvement, leadership experience, and strong writing and analytical skills.
Qualities Law Students Need to Graduate and Become Successful Attorneys
All of the above majors improve writing, reading, and public speaking skills. The subjects require heavy research. Many of the majors require students to debate and argue their positions.
Law students benefit from these skills. Developing and improving these skills during undergraduate studies gives you an advantage when you begin law school. After law school, these skills give you an advantage when negotiating personal injury settlements or arguing cases in court.