Best Subjects for Law School: Starting Early!

Best Subjects for Law School — A career in law offers an opportunity to young minds to engage with transformative ideas and contribute to the betterment of a society by driving it towards a positive trajectory. They get a chance to grapple with complex issues in this ever-evolving field that stimulate and challenge them intellectually.

Early preparation for a career in law requires students to strategically pick the best subjects for law school. This article will discuss the recommended subjects for aspiring lawyers to hone their critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills that would benefit them in this career path of theirs.

Preparing for a Law Career in High School

If you are considering a career in law, it’s important to research the field to check whether it would align with your skills, interests and goals. To give you a brief idea about the diverse career paths with law, you can go for legal practice, corporate counsel, public service, judiciary or academia. If these options excite you, beginning your ‘legal’ dreams early in high school can prove to be a valuable asset. Certain subjects in GCSE or IGCSE that may be relevant to give you a basic foundation to pursue law include –

In order to study law at A-Levels, you are expected to get Grade C or above in Mathematics, English and Science. Some university law programs have requirements like specific grades in some subjects at GCSE/IGCSE or A-Levels.

A-Level Subjects for Law

Once you reach A-Levels, consider taking up the following subjects that would give an edge if you are planning a career in law. Although there are no specific subject requirements for Law Schools, certain strategic subject choices could significantly enhance your application paving a smoother way getting into them. Do take into consideration the university requirements and how you can develop essential skills for law students like critical thinking, communication and problem-solving abilities. We have listed some of the best subjects for law school to pursue at A-Levels –

1. English Literature – Crafting persuasive statements is a mandate for a lawyer. Understanding the language well, its nuances and being able to dissect arguments by analysing complex texts, hones your critical thinking abilities and helps you to comprehend fundamental issues with a broader perspective.
2. History – Studying history at A-Levels, necessitates a lot of practice in research, evaluating evidence and constructing reasonable arguments. Being aware of historical context, gives you an edge in grasping the evolution of legal systems in a country.
3. Law – Taking up law as a subject at A-Levels, familiarises a student with basic legal concepts, legal terminologies and introduces them to the fundamentals of the legal system. This ensures a smoother transition for a student into a university-level law program.
4. Politics – It’s extremely important for an aspiring law student to understand the role of law in society and the legal framework that exists here. Politics as a subject in A-Levels, explores political ideologies, the system of governance and how laws are formulated and implemented.
5. Economics – Knowledge of economics is relevant in areas of commercial and corporate law. A-Levels economics helps a child to develop their analytical thinking, quantitative skills, and how societal dynamics work.
6. Miscellaneous – Subjects like mathematics can benefit future law students as they develop their logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Psychology and sociology teaches students about human behaviour and social structures that can be helpful to law students while understanding prevalent legal issues in a society and the impact of law on society.

IB Subjects for Law

Wondering how to choose subjects for law in IB? We recommend you take up critical thinking subjects for law that aid in developing your reading comprehension, logical reasoning, verbal reasoning, analytical skills along with research and information gathering abilities. Based on this, the best subjects for law school that you can opt in IB are –

• IB English Literature (HL or SL)*
• IB History (HL or SL)
• IB Global Politics (HL or SL)
• IB Economics (HL or SL)

*HL and SL refer to Higher Level and Standard Level indicating the depth and breadth of study in a subject.

Other helpful subjects could be –

• IB Psychology (HL or SL)
• IB Social and Cultural Anthropology (HL or SL)
• IB Philosophy (HL or SL)

The benefits of taking up English Literature, History, Global Politics, Economics and Psychology have been discussed above. IB Social and Cultural Anthropology explores varied cultures and social structures providing valuable insights into understanding legal systems and their impact on communities. Philosophy helps students develop their logical reasoning, rhetorical skills, argumentation and critical thinking skills necessary for analysis of legal issues.

Academic Requirements For Law School

1. Strong GPA – Competitive programs in Law Schools look for strong GPA (Grade Point Average).
2. Standardised Tests – Standardised tests assess critical thinking, reading comprehension  and logical reasoning skills to test an applicant’s aptitude for law. Depending on the location, different law schools require them to take standardised tests like LNAT (National Admissions Test for Law) in the UK or LSAT (Law School Admission Test) in the US. 

Additional Information on Law School Prerequisites

1. Specific Courses – Some law school courses may have specific prerequisites for certain programs. For example – a program on environmental law may have a prerequisite for applicants to have a science background or should have taken environmental studies previously. 
2. Letters of Recommendation – They should speak about your academic abilities and how you are well-suited for law school.
3. Personal Statements – Showcase your unique qualities, experiences and inspirations in the personal statements for pursuing this particular career path.
4. Transcripts – You will have to submit official transcripts from your previous school.
5. TOEFL or IELTS – A proof of English language proficiency will be required for foreign students.
6. Miscellaneous Documents – Every university has its specific requirements. Go through the list properly before submitting your completed application.

‘Crack The Law’ with Ascend Now

Start your legal journey early with Ascend Now as we help you choose the best subjects for law school, excel in each of them, plan and execute a career path to achieve your dreams. We are not only the best at tutoring, right from IGCSE/GCSE levels to A-Levels/IBDP, we also provide all kinds of college counselling services. Be it the UK, US or anywhere else, begin your quest for the best law schools today!