What are some pros and cons with receive a LEGAL STUDIES degree instead of Poli Sci?
969309
I am currently a Legal Studies Major with a Political Science/Pre-Law Minor attending UCF. Let me assure, for law school preparation, this is the way to go. \n\nThe legal studies program will give you the necessary hands-on experience to succeed in law school. You will know how to brief a case from Day 1, instead of struggling through it with your fellow students. You will know how to do legal research and writing, a major source of failing grades for 1L's. You should take classes in Contracts, Property, and Ethics--all 1L classes. \n\nThe Political Science training will provide you with the theoretical component of your law school preparation. Most of your Constitutional Law and International Law classes will be through the Poli Sci Dept. Also, your classes on the workings of the Courts, Executive and Legislative branches are Poli Sci. A word of advice--DO NOT take Con Law or International Law without having completed Legal Research and Legal Writing FIRST!! Not being able to write a case brief or a legal outline has been the cause of many failing grades. \n\nAnd if you do not mind a brief plug for my school--UCF is currently the 4th ranked legal studies program in the nation and #1 for programs that are not attached to a law school. When law school admissions reps come to UCF, they do not come to do presentations, they come to recruit--and they bring scholarship money with them. Every time I attend a recruiting function, students from our program get singled out for private tours, meetings with key faculty, etc. Other programs exist around the country, and having met with those student (I was on the Trial Team), I believe that I have made an outstanding decision to attend UCF. \n\nGood luck with your future endeavors.
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
937308
Poly sci is a sham degree with near zero job prospects in the real world.  However, if you speak another language fluently, you could be an interpretor or work in some function as an attache somewhere, usually for a foreign company that has interest in doing business in the US.\n\nAnother possibility is to continue on with a JD and specialize in either international law (limited job prospects unless you are connected) or the laws of another country.  For example, there is a TON of money to be made handling asset protection programs for wealthy clients who locate assets offshore for this purpose.  It takes a specialist to understand the laws of our country, the laws of the tax haven, how they interact, and (most importantly) changes in the near future.  That's the type of job that will net you your 80 grand a year.
362484
In today's competitive environment, majors OTHER THAN the typical choices of political science and philosophy can make a law school candidate look appealing, especially if the major has something to do with the area of law in which the candidate hopes to specialize (as outlined in the engineering recommendation above).\n\nLaw school admissions committees are looking for evidence that the candidate can think critically, reason soundly, read closely, and write clearly.  Any major can provide these skills.  It is up to the candidate to distinguish him- or herself in some arena of undergraduate study. \n\nPersonally, these days, I'd recommend religious studies, anthropology, or a language associated major (like Eastern European or South Asian studies) as majors with potential, especially given the increasingly international scope of the legal profession.\n\nWhatever you choose for a major, just make sure you enjoy it.  Passionless study is tedious and painful, and will not enable you to distinguish yourself, because you'll just be forcing yourself to get through it.
140307
as far as best paid jobs bussiness and pre-med are the way to go (pre-law is up there but not as high as you would expect) but the highest paid college graduates are not nesecarily bussiness majors but ones with general liberal arts degrees, but here's the thing if what you're studying makes you hate yourself all the money in the world can't buy that back, if you're miserable when you take bio, but Com classes make you come alive, do that instead, another interesting point is, a very low percentage of grads go into their major, (I think it's around 30% but possibly less) I'm a poli sci major and I recently met a grad of the poli sci department at my school (a fairly prestigious university) working as a director at a Christian summer camp
481116
Not specifically but a University will require a decent academic standard to admit you onto a legal degree.\n\nHave a look at the entrance requirements for legal courses at some universities and see what is required in terms of academic qualifications.\n\nGood luck.
51092
None, really.  Law school is a graduate-level school, so that means you have to go through a four-year university first.  Thus, no law school is going to look at your highschool transcript.  That said, you'll probably want to take as many A.P courses as you can in a variety of fields (A.P European History and A.P English Literature are great at sharpening your critical thinking skills).  That way, you can apply to better undergraduate colleges (and be better prepared for them) so that you can eventually move on to better law schools.  Regards.
851686
political science is government, and that is the road to working politics the rest of your life, benefitual yet difficult!
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.
414701
if you are interested in pilitics i suggest you should study law cause if you study politics you probably will end up teaching history in some school.law contains politics.
607913
Dear Friend,\n\nThere are economic benefits.  Depending on whether you work for a big firm, for yourself, for government and/or, or a corporation, the salary can be huge or minimal.  \n\nThere are social benefits.  For all the lawyer jokes, being an attorney is still a widely-respected profession.  To be an attorney is to have a certain amount of status.  More fundamentally, much of society is run by people with law degrees -- like all judges, most legislators, and a fair amount of executives and other government officials.\n\nBut, ultimately, you will hate the law if you choose it for those reasons.  The only real reason to be a lawyer is because you want to take part in the progress of the law, the continual and gradually process of creating an orderly and equitable society.  Even the big money attorneys working for world-class corporate clients have to think in terms of values like due process, reasonableness, fair notice, and proportionality.  It is a professional all about getting facts straight and making value judgments -- applied social philosophy -- and when approached correctly, it can be the best job in the world.\n\nYour Friend,\nFrancesois
802356
so if you want to be an attorney i would recommend majoring in international relations with a political science minor or public administration minor. International studies/relations at my school is what most take in efforts to become a lawyer. Once you get your undergraduate degree in international relations you have to apply to a law school and take the LSAT prior to entry of the law school.   \n\nlook to colleges with a great Liberal Arts Dept. and most universities in the U..S have websites where you can see the majors and minors they offer.\nhope that helped!
544855
You'll get a better JOB and more PROMOTIONS with a degree in biology, zoology or engineering.\n\nThe lab sciences "run" the great outdoors, either you have a degree in one or work for someone who does!\n\nSomething tells me you'll get bored with teaching and the gossipy teacher's-lounge politics.
364870
you need to have a bachelors...doesn't matter in what.  I found that political science as a major was helpful.  Criminal justice also would be very helpful.  There is no specific program to follow...you can have a bachelors in gym, they don't really care....unless you are applying to a super competitive school like Harvard or something.  Have a good GPA, then apply and get accepted to law school.  Then it will be 2-3 years and you will have a juris doctor. Then you have to pass the bar, and you can practice law.
1027767
Change your major. I have a poli sci degree and had to get a MPA to get a good job. Good luck.
17546
Typically political science majors take courses in government, law, lobbying, statistics and history. They also may be required to do internships with a legislator, lobbyist or statistian. By the way the internship is often the best part. You'll learn how things really work and make good contacts.
607849
Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts with a focus in Law & Paralegal\n\nI am the Legal Officer at my job.