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#Pre-Law Degree Programs and Course Information

Essential Information

Pre-law degree programs can be found at a limited number of 4-year universities; however, pre-law advising is fairly widely available for students who intend to pursue a law degree after earning a bachelor's degree in any major. Pre-law programs are often offered through the pre-professional studies or the political science departments of universities, and may be available online as well.

Prerequisites: High-school diploma.

Online Availability: Commonly available online.

Program Length: Typically offered as a four year degree.

Bachelor's Degree in Pre-Law

Admission into a pre-law program typically requires a high school diploma, and can be competitive. These degrees usually take four years to complete, and may include preparation courses for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), which is required for admission to most law schools.

The courses involved in a pre-law degree program help students think more critically, communicate more effectively and understand society more thoroughly - all skills that are often used in the courtroom. In addition to legal classes, students take math, English and writing classes. A senior project involving a research paper may be required. Other topics include:

• Contracts
• Conflict management
• International law
• Litigation
• Dispute resolution
• Legal ethics

Employment Outlook and Salary Info

It's presumed that students who pursue a bachelor's degree in pre-law intend to continue their studies and become lawyers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), approximately 26% of lawyers are self-employed (www.bls.gov ). BLS analysts predicted growth of 10% between 2012 and 2022, but competition will continue as there tend to be fewer job openings than there are qualified applicants. The BLS also reported that the median income for lawyers was $114,970 annually as of 2014.

Continuing Education Information

Graduates with a bachelor's degree in pre-law generally continue on to law school, which requires an additional three years of coursework. Upon completion of law school, graduates must pass a written bar exam to be licensed and admitted to the bar in their state. Many lawyers also specialize in a specific area in law school, including business, environmental, criminal or immigration law.