Lawyers advise and represent individuals, businesses, and government organizations on legal issues and disputes. A good lawyer needs knowledge of the law, strong writing ability, and an ability to work with a variety of clients.
Aspiring lawyers should earn a juris doctor (JD) after completing a bachelor's. Many who pursue a JD choose a pre-law major. This major fits with skills and background knowledge necessary for success in law school. Other common pre-law majors include English, history, and political science. However, law students come from a multitude of backgrounds.
Full-time students can complete most law programs in three years. Lawyers typically enjoy good job security and strong professional networks.
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is pre-law? | Pre-law focuses on topics related to law studies. Pre-law majors include the humanities, rhetoric, public policy, and sociology. |
| Can I study pre-law online? | Yes. Since no specific pre-law degree is required for admission to law school, learners can study various pre-law subjects online. |
| What majors are good pre-law majors? | The following majors are considered good general preparation because they emphasize critical thinking, reading/writing, and research: English, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, and economics. |
| Is there a difference between law and legal studies? | Yes. Learners who pursue degrees in legal studies do not become lawyers. They prepare to work in areas of legal support, such as paralegal, legal assistant, or legal administrator. |
25 Best Value Schools for Pre-Law 2021
The right online bachelor's in pre-law program can provide a solid base of knowledge in a related field. It can also allow you to hone critical thinking, writing, and research skills, preparing you for a profession that serves people and institutions.
The list below includes schools offering the most affordable pre-law bachelor's online degrees.
Career and Salary Outlook in Law Careers
Pre-law students often benefit from various job prospects. English majors may obtain teaching certification along with their degree and go on to teach in secondary schools. Those who study history may become archivists, curators, or museum workers. Social science majors often work for nonprofits and other organizations as social and human service assistants and managers. The pre-law field is broad, however, and graduates are certainly not limited to these paths.
Law school graduates typically experience a promising career and salary outlook. Lawyers earn a median salary of $122,960 per year, with an annual growth rate of 4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statics (BLS). This is as fast as the average growth of all occupations.
Lawyers typically work in private or corporate offices or for federal, state, and local governments. Since lawyers can choose their focus area, such as immigration or civil rights, they often enjoy meaningful and fulfilling work.
| Career | Median Annual Salary | Projected Growth Rate (2019-2029) |
|---|---|---|
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $63,930 | 8% |
| Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators | $66,540 | -6% |
| Court Reporters | $60,130 | 9% |
| Lawyers | $122,960 | 4% |
Source: BLS
Accreditation for Pre-Law Programs
In choosing an online bachelor's in pre-law, prospective students should consider accreditation. Accreditation refers to a quality review of higher education institutions and programs.
In the U.S., approximately 19 recognized institution accrediting organizations and 60 recognized programmatic accrediting organizations function through procured private, nonprofit organizations to conduct the review. The schools and programs under review are typically evaluated in part through self-study. Accreditors also visit sites, making judgements about accreditation based on a set of standards developed beforehand in consultation with the higher education community.
Generally, regional accreditation suggests higher quality than national accreditation. Be sure the online pre-law bachelor's program you choose is regionally accredited by one of these accrediting organizations.
Courses in Online Pre-Law Programs
An online bachelor's in pre-law requires 120 credits. Many programs offer accelerated formats, allowing students to complete the degree in 3.5 years. Other programs offer a three-year pre-law bachelor's degree that transfers seamlessly to a JD program. Learners' course loads depend on how quickly they want to finish the degree.
Some pre-law programs offer specialty courses such as introduction to law, American government, and legal research. While exact offerings vary by school, many pre-law programs feature the courses below. In their courses, pre-law enrollees learn research, writing, and analysis as part of the preparation for law school.
Women in U.S. History This course familiarizes learners with some of the most impactful women in the past 2.5 centuries, including Susan B. Anthony, Margaret Sanger, and Rosa Parks. Many women in U.S. history were organizers in movements for women's rights or civil rights. As such, numerous legal precedents are based on their involvements and work.
Undergraduate Torts This course examines the parameters of tort law and how to analyze and apply its principles. Students analyze how American jurisprudence assigns social duties, assesses damages, and determines the distribution of burdens for the risk of harm. Enrollees explore when a court should award money from one party to another for intentional acts, for negligent acts, and for certain non-negligent acts.
Introduction to Constitutional Law Commonly offered in online bachelor's in pre-law programs, this course explores the freedoms and rights that the U.S. Constitution guarantees American citizens. The course focuses on the powers and limitations of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government. Learners consider important Supreme Court rulings of the past and ask explorative questions regarding the Constitution.
Rhetoric and Persuasion Students in online bachelor's in pre-law programs may take courses that verse them in the strategies that underlie effective persuasion. They may also examine other elements of texts, such as diction, organization, and sentence structure. Since so much legal work includes persuading others, lawyers need to know how to convince others of their arguments.
The American Legal Tradition Enrollees gain knowledge of the function, structure, and daily operations of American courts. They may learn about the process of judicial selection, the legal profession in general, and nuances of legal education. They may also receive hypothetical clients and situations, and be asked to apply reason and draw conclusions while writing a judicial opinion.
Scholarships for Pre-Law Students
Aspiring lawyers can explore a variety of grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities to help afford their education. Unlike student loans, scholarships do not require repayment. Students enrolled in even the most affordable pre-law bachelor's online programs can benefit from scholarships. See below for a few of the many scholarships available for pre-law students.
Goodwin & Scieszka Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Goodwin & Scieszka, which handles personal injury cases in Birmingham, Michigan, offers $2,000 in scholarships to pre-law and law students. Students are judged on their academic merit and essay-writing skills. Applicants write on topics such as identity law and social media's role in legal marketing.
Amount: $2,000
Avvo Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Students who intend to pursue a law degree at any U.S. accredited institution may apply. Full-time students may use it toward tuition and books. Learners enrolled in an official pre-law program or those studying common pre-law majors, such as political science, English, criminal justice, or philosophy may qualify. Avvo awards the scholarship based on essay merit.
Amount: $5,000
Bady Scott Injury Lawyers Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Bady Scott Injury Lawyers encourages students from financially disadvantaged families to apply. Students who convey special passion for the law receive the award. Applicants need a 3.0 GPA and must be admitted to an accredited university. The scholarship is awarded based on essay merit.
Amount: $2,500
Augustana College Fryxell Scholarship
Who Can Apply: Undergraduates majoring in English or journalism may apply. Applicants submit a recommendation, an official high school transcript, a comprehensive list of professional goals, and a 700-word analysis on an assigned poem.
Amount: $1,000 annually
Captain James J. Reagan Memorial Scholarship
Who Can Apply: High school seniors or undergraduates in law enforcement or criminal justice may apply. The program offers two merit-based scholarships per year. Students seeking an undergraduate degree in criminal justice and those interested in working with private investigators and homicide detectives receive priority. The scholarship allows undergraduates to offset the cost of tuition and books.
Amount: $2,500
