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Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:10 pm
by usnjag
Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to this website, so I hope my post is in the correct location.

I'm an aspiring research, and after thorough and tiresome research, I've learned a lot about the legal market and the requirements to be competitive in it. I had a few questions, because I have many goals and interests in learning how to incorporate them into one career plan has puzzled me. (I am a high school Junior.)

1. I have read over and over again that law schools don't discriminate against, or prefer any major as long as you study something that is academically challenging. I know many lawyers do Political Science, Philosophy, etc. but is software engineering ok?
I know poly scy degrees prepare you for law school, but I have decent writing skills, and my communication and analytic skills are advanced for my age. I won't go to law school unless I get into a T14, and ideally, I want to be at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and other top LS. So would a school like Harvard want someone like me?

2. Getting into BigLaw. If everything goes well and I receive training and education as an attorney, I want to serve in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate General. I come from a military family and I want uphold the tradition and serve. However, will I sabotage my chances of making partner if I spend 8-10 years in the military?

I feel as if associates who learn the ropes will be preferred rather than a guy coming out of the Air Force, a whole different ball game.

3. If I don't make partner, could I continue working at a big law firm as an associate for the rest of my career? Or would they swap me for a young grad? I hear all the time that lawyers who were rejected from partner status seek new employment. But is this in hopes of getting partner? Or is it because they have no other choice?

4. How does becoming a partner work? I understand you must have superb and admirable skills that allow you distinguish yourself, but is it really like if a partner likes you you become one?


Sorry for the long list, I would appreciate any answers.

Re: Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:12 pm
by ilikebaseball
usnjag wrote:Hello everyone, I'm fairly new to this website, so I hope my post is in the correct location.

I'm an aspiring research, and after thorough and tiresome research, I've learned a lot about the legal market and the requirements to be competitive in it. I had a few questions, because I have many goals and interests in learning how to incorporate them into one career plan has puzzled me. (I am a high school Junior.)

1. I have read over and over again that law schools don't discriminate against, or prefer any major as long as you study something that is academically challenging. I know many lawyers do Political Science, Philosophy, etc. but is software engineering ok?
I know poly scy degrees prepare you for law school, but I have decent writing skills, and my communication and analytic skills are advanced for my age. I won't go to law school unless I get into a T14, and ideally, I want to be at Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and other top LS. So would a school like Harvard want someone like me?

2. Getting into BigLaw. If everything goes well and I receive training and education as an attorney, I want to serve in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate General. I come from a military family and I want uphold the tradition and serve. However, will I sabotage my chances of making partner if I spend 8-10 years in the military?

I feel as if associates who learn the ropes will be preferred rather than a guy coming out of the Air Force, a whole different ball game.

3. If I don't make partner, could I continue working at a big law firm as an associate for the rest of my career? Or would they swap me for a young grad? I hear all the time that lawyers who were rejected from partner status seek new employment. But is this in hopes of getting partner? Or is it because they have no other choice?

4. How does becoming a partner work? I understand you must have superb and admirable skills that allow you distinguish yourself, but is it really like if a partner likes you you become one?


Sorry for the long list, I would appreciate any answers.
law schools would accept the major of grabass. i hope this answers your question

Re: Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:18 pm
by lacrossebrother
Software engineering is an ideal major for law. There's lots of complicated software cases, disputes, and needs (patent drafting) and a scarcity of people who know how to deal with it. I'd encourage you to pursue that major if it's what interests you, but please also consider double majoring in a more writing-intensive major. Legal work will require a ton of writing, and right now, you're absolutely terrible at expressing yourself. I don't know if you have an excuse like being foreign, but given your military family, it seems like you are indeed native but attend one of those high schools we hear about on the news that's lagging behind. At the very least, start reading some truly good writing and perhaps some style guides. Cheers.

Oh --your other questions are inane. JAG is an admirable path and you'll get good training quickly.

Re: Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:20 pm
by phillywc
Law Schools don't care about majors and if they did yours would only help.

Just focus on the LSAT first bro

Re: Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:23 pm
by ManoftheHour
choward014 wrote: law schools would accept the major of grabass.

Re: Will my major be accepted by law schools?

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 9:57 pm
by mephistopheles
Stop thinking about anything law related for at least 3-4 years.