My name is Amanda, and I am a current 3L at Rutgers Camden. I came to law school right out of undergrad. I went to the University of Tampa and majored in business management. I also had a minor in law, justice, and advocacy (I was also one class away from having a speech minor). However, this was not my original major. I initially majored in government and world affairs, as an aspiring lawyer. Before starting college I did a little (very little) research about what major helps future law students. I read somewhere that many law students come from backgrounds in government or history. My first semester I was taking a lot of history classes and I quickly realized this was majorly boring and not something I could do for four years. That is when I switched to a general business major. At first, I rationalized it as this is a good fallback safe career (lol). 

After completing undergrad and now two plus years of law school, I can officially say it does not matter what your undergrad major is! Yes, some classes click better if you have a vast knowledge of U.S. history. And yes, some classes are smoother if you are familiar with terms like mergers, acquisitions, LLCs, etc. But in the end it really does not put you ahead of any of your classmates. Law school is like starting fresh, it does not matter what you know coming into it. Every professor starts with the very basics and explains all the terms you need to know to help you succeed in the class. Sure some history majors are more familiar with Constitutional law terms, but it does not matter in the long run, your professor will help you understand every step of the way.

I know there are many sites out there that say this and that about what to major in, again, I did my research before college too. But I can assure you this is bogus. I have classmates who majored in art, music, business, philosophy, political science, math, etc., and guess what? We all made it to the same school, sit in the same classes, and pretty much receive the same grade in all of our courses. Law is one of the rare fields that does not require students to complete a set course of study for acceptance. This is a good thing and really keeps classroom discussions interesting. 

I am sure you have heard this somewhere, but law school is unlike any other education you have ever received and its like learning a whole new way of thinking. Moreover, what you know or think you know ahead of time does not really matter. The work you put into your classes is what counts, and just like anything else in life, if you do not understand it the first time you may just have to put a little work into it. 

With all that being said, I personally think there are some skill sets that will help anyone in the legal profession. Lawyers should have strong and effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills, written communication skills, time management skills, critical thinking skills, creativity, and stress management skills. Of course, one can be successful without these skills, but I think these will really help any legal professional succeed. Having the right set of skills of a lawyer can lead a career of abundance and great success.