Acceptance to law school has nothing to do with undergraduate major or minor. Select a major or minor that reflects your interests and ability to do well. Acceptance in to law school has nothing to do with the number of major or minors that one has declared. Having completed a double- or triple major does not compensate for a lower overall grade point average, and can limit the number of elective courses one can take. Choose a second major because it suits your interests and is illustrative of your intellectual path.
There is no such thing as a "prelaw major." Most reputable schools of law neither require nor recommend any particular undergraduate major or any prescribed course of study as preparation for law school. Schools of law encourage undergraduate students to undertake and complete a curriculum characterized by rigorous intellectual training involving relational, syntactical and abstract thinking. You should pursue a discipline not because it is relevant for law school, but because you find the discipline interesting and satisfying.
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), “students who are successful in law school, and who become accomplished lawyers or use their legal education successfully in other areas of professional life, come to their legal education from widely differing educational and experiential backgrounds … Thus, the ABA does not recommend any particular group of undergraduate majors, or courses, that should be taken by those wishing to prepare for legal education; developing such a list is neither possible nor desirable.”
No specific undergraduate major is recommended. Your decision regarding a major should be based on personal desires and needs. One approach is to select a major that would prepare you for an occupation other than the law. You can pursue an alternative career in this manner and simultaneously be “preparing” for law school. This will allow you the option of foregoing a legal education for whatever reason, or allow you to pursue an alternative career for a few years before entering law school, in order to gain experience and maturity. For example, it is not uncommon for students to choose a major in English, government, economics, or psychology with the intentions of working for a few years before applying to law school.
The most important aspects of choosing a major are that (a) you choose it, not someone else, and (b) you enjoy the discipline and believe that you can excel in this area academically. Why? A very important criterion for admission to law school is one’s GPA (even when taking courses at other universities or community colleges). If you select a major based on what someone else wants you to do, there is a high likelihood that you will be unhappy, and your grades will reflect that dissatisfaction. Never choose a major based on the ease of attaining high grades, but it makes sense that you will likely not excel if you have no interest in the subject area.
Many courses that will be handy in law school are types that are typically required for graduation. For example, introductory courses in American history and government are essential. Writing- and research-intensive courses are also helpful. Other suggested types would include those that develop or stimulate analytical thinking. Obvious choices in this field would be accounting, economics, math or engineering courses, but don’t overlook music theory or English composition.
Courses in literature, foreign language, speech, composition, philosophy and logic can develop the analytical skills necessary for success in law school and the legal profession. Furthermore, the study of history, political science, economics and statistics helps students to understand the structure of society and the problems of social ordering with which the law is concerned. The examination of human behavior in sociology and psychology will aid a prospective law student in understanding the human behavior with which law is involved. The systematic ordering of abstractions and ideas acquired by studying logic, mathematics and the sciences contributes to a student's capacity to analyze and rationally organize his or her thoughts.
Consider courses that focus on communications skills, such as speech or foreign language classes. Courses in introductory logic or arguments (offered in philosophy, i.e. Introduction to Logic and mathematics) are also useful, as are many sociology and psychology classes.
Just remember, you will have a number of hours open for electives after finishing requirements for your major. Aim for a broad-based education. Such an education will help you become a better rounded student and applicant in the long run.
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