January 12th, 2023
Is Criminal Justice a Good Pre-Law Major?
A Criminal Justice degree can be a great major if you hope to pursue a career in law. Whether you want to work in defense, prosecution, or another law specialty, a CJ degree lays the foundation on which to build your career. It helps you understand the legal system and how to work within it. As you study criminal justice, you learn about law enforcement, courts, and correction facilities, and how they work together to seek justice. You explore relevant coursework and can acquire essential skills that law schools expect of their applicants. Here are a few other reasons why you might want to choose criminal justice for your pre-law major:
Criminal Justice Coursework Is Relevant to Law
The truth is that the American Bar Association does not advocate one undergraduate major over another. Instead, it encourages students to choose majors that interest them. But a music or computer science degree may not provide you with the background you need to succeed in graduate-level work focused on the law. As a Criminal Justice major, you learn about the tenets of criminal law and the history and philosophy of constitutional law. You explore the theory and practice of corrections along with the processes and procedures of the U.S. court system. This knowledge can set you up for success in the classroom and in the courtroom.
Impress Law School Admissions with Criminal Justice Skills
Criminal justice classes can help you develop skills that law schools hope to see in their students. Law schools appreciate rigorous coursework. As a Criminal Justice major, you can expect to take classes that challenge you to think critically, conduct in-depth research, and write persuasively and in the style used by lawyers. The American Bar Association also recommends that you take classes that allow you to hone your abilities to problem solve, think and read critically, write and edit, research, and stay organized – all skills that you can gain from a CJ major.
You Can Start a Career in Criminal Law
Think about the type of law you would want to practice. If you have an interest in criminal law, criminal justice would be a great segue from one program to another. As a criminal lawyer, you focus exclusively on those who commit crimes. You might prosecute people who have broken the law or defend those accused of a crime. To do that, you need knowledge of the criminal justice system including its history, practices, and pitfalls.
Criminal Justice Is a Popular Choice
You might not realize how many of your fellow Criminal Justice majors are also interested in a career in law rather than law enforcement. Criminal justice is among the top five majors for law school applicants, ahead of history, sociology, and business administration. If you choose to study criminal justice with the goal of becoming a lawyer, you’ll be in good company. Many of your peers will follow the same path, which can help you break the ice and make connections.
Are you hoping to become a lawyer one day? At Limestone University, we offer a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice-Law that can help you develop the analytical skills and legal foundation to prepare you for law school and the legal profession. The program is also available online to provide convenience and flexibility. Click the button to learn more.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Criminal Justice is an exciting and ever-changing field of study, with new information gained each day. New technology and techniques continually push the boundaries of information gathering in Criminal Justice and students will become conversant in these areas.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
This program is designed for Criminal Justice students who have an interest in law school or a law-related career. Courses will introduce students to a variety of practice areas while honing the same skills and knowledge as the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice but with an emphasis on the discipline and practice of developing and adjudicating law.
