I want to be a criminal lawyer, what should I major in?! Is a criminology major good for top law schools?
925310
G'day MoeVaygen,\n\nThank you for your question.\n\nI would stick with criminology. It will come in handy when you are practising as a criminal lawyer. Possibly look at doing it as your major together with some more traditional subjects.\n\nI would speak with counsellors at your school. If you have any contacts in law schools, I would seek your advice.  In answering a similar question, Professor X advised that "Law school admissions committees are looking for students that write clearly and elegantly, read closely, and demonstrate strong critical thinking abilities." \n\nThe nub of his advice is that law schools are looking for people who have done programs with intellectual rigor. \n\nTaranto got best answer on an question on whether economics was a good major by arguing that doing a course different from the norm may be an advantage. Certainly criminology may be useful background for someone studying criminal law and a definite advantage for someone practising it.\n\nIf your criminology course is highly regarded, you enjoy it and it is useful, I would stick with it.\n\nRegards
341253
If you want to be a Social Worker, you should major in Social Work.  If your university doesn't offer that, Psychology would be a close second.  Maybe make sociology your minor.
534127
Why do you need SOURCES?? I'm a college student who is planning on attending law school in a year. As a lawyer, you choose which cases and clients you wish to represent, and what type of law you want to go into. There are also so many types of law, not every lawyer is a defense lawyer for criminals! There are good lawyers out there - "Christian" or not!
215549
Another good fan of Jodie Foster's!! Awesome. I want to go into criminology myself. I don't know much about it, but I know qutie a bit on forensic science. Watch Forensic Files on CourTV and that give tons of info. You get to go to crime scenes and stuff. Like Clarice Starling on my favorite movie "The Silence of the Lambs". She got to check a body out, what you would do if you have to. Also, that deals with DNA and DNA encoding. Good Luck, and reply back so we can talk about Jodie.
20394
Sounds like you're referring to a criminal lawyer.  You'd need a strong English background to hone your communication skills, plus social sciences and anything to do with crime or the law.  Universities with a pre-law program have a curriculum that will guide you better than anything.
103615
Criminology is the study of crime,criminals ,their\nbehavior, also corrections.\nPeople confuse the term Criminology with Criminalist,\nwhich is the collection of physical evidence.The programs\nsuch as CSI are showing Criminalists.
418109
It depends what area of Forensic Science you wish to specialize in.  If you were to become an expert in ballistics, for example, then a degree in Physics should be your choice.  For things like toxicology or pathology, then a degree in chemistry/medicine would be in order.
935669
Do well in high school, then go to college. It does NOT matter what you major in, although many lawyers major in history, political science, and such.  Plenty of them major in the sciences, languages, or other areas. \n\n On graduation, enter into law school (3 years).  Then take the bar exam for the state where you want to practice.  If you pass, you are admitted to the bar, and you are a lawyer.\n\nGood luck!!
612095
I agree that social sciences are a good way to go...psychology is a good base for many of the things you mentioned...you may want to consider taking some education classes and some law classes as well.\nAnd don't forget, you are able to do a major and a minor, or a double major.  This way, you can combine some of the things you are interested in, and have a more comprehensive educational experience.
725870
I am pre-law as well and I am majoring in English, with a minor in History (because that interests me). I plan on becoming a probate attorney and I know that a political science, although popular for pre-law students, is not really looked upon as a wonderful choice. English is a great major to have in my eyes due to the simple fact that you are doing a massive amount of reading, writing and analyzing; all of which you are going to have an abundance of in law school.\n\nAt this point, there is no real needed emphasis on becoming the type of attorney that you want to be. That will come when you are in law school. Yes, you will have required courses, but you will still have a certain level of "electives" where you can take classes that have emphasis on tort law.\n\nGood luck to you and all of your future studies.
285147
most places want a degree in criminology
692467
Don't state your age when asking a question.\n\nTo be a forensic investigator, you want to be a science major in college, preferably biology and forensic science, that will give you the necessary background you need. Criminal Justice isn't as helpful because it is geared towards law enforcement which really has nothing to do with forensic sciences.
536475
You should certainly check that out; I understand that many ex-convicts have obtained law degrees and made careers in the legal field, as lawyers, private investigators, parole officers, sometimes even as cops.  Restrictions vary by state.  Your felony conviction will remain on your record (as you know) but it is not necessarily an impediment.  Good luck.
126484
With a BS in Crimiology you can get a job in a police department as a police officer,  in a prison as a correctional officer.  You may get a job in social services or in youth services.\n\nIf you include additional materials to include work in a crime lab.   \n\nAreas of teachings and mangement can be included with higher degrees.
648187
If you want to go to the crime scene and collect evidence, you'd pretty much need to become a police officer and major in criminal justice.\n\nIf you want to work in the lab and analyze the data, you'd want to major in forensic chemistry (usually offered as a separate chemistry major, sometimes with a biology department)\n\nIf you want to do autopsies, you need to go for your M.D.\n\nNo job will have you do everything, probably because it's inefficient to have an M.D. doing all that work AND there is a conflict of interest. (It's easier to prosecute if 5 independant people analyze the evidence)
1185154
If you want to go to into law inforcement you have to go to some kind of an academy afterward, like the police academy or fbi academy.  Or you could go to law school, but i don't think there are any real good openings.
862416
There is no specific major required for those wishing to attend law school.  My sister just graduated from law school and she majored in economics.  I'd recommend participating in activities that might appeal to any law schools that you apply to, such as joining the debate team or finding out if there is a pre-law fraternity or club that you can join.  Also, it would be a good idea to get a job or volunteer at a law firm or other organization that provides legal services.  This will give you an idea of what it's actually like to work as a lawyer, and it will also give you the opportunity to make valuable contacts within the legal community.  But the best advice I can give you would be to speak with a pre-law advisor if your school has one.  They'd be the most qualified to answer your questions.