Spend your undergrad years strengthening your writing, reading, and research skills. Do that how you best see fit.
If you’re planning to apply to law school, you may be wondering whether there’s a specific set of “pre-law” classes you’re required to take. The short answer is no.
Most law schools do not require particular undergraduate courses. Instead, they expect applicants to complete a bachelor’s degree and develop the academic skills necessary to succeed in a rigorous legal education environment.
That said, certain classes can better prepare you for the demands of law school, including courses that strengthen your writing, analytical reasoning, research, and critical thinking abilities.
Understanding the difference between required coursework and recommended preparation can help you make smart academic choices during college. Below, we’ll break down what law schools actually expect — and which classes can give you a strategic advantage before you apply.
Key takeaway
There are no required “pre-law” classes or majors for law school; the best preparation is choosing courses you can do well in while building strong writing, reading, research, analytical thinking, and communication skills.
Do law schools have prerequisite courses?
Typically, no. But each school is different.
Prerequisite courses are classes you must complete before applying or enrolling in a program. Some graduate programs, such as medical school, have prerequired courses. Most law schools do not require a specific list of undergraduate courses.
In fact, the American Bar Association (ABA) and Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) do not recommend any specific courses or majors for students considering law school. LSAC emphasizes that there is “no single path.” The ABA recommends pursuing a major that interests and challenges you, while also finding opportunities to research and write.
Law schools expect:
- A completed bachelor’s (aka undergraduate) degree.
- A strong academic record.
- Evidence that you can handle demanding reading, writing, and problem-solving.
Even though law schools do not require prerequisite courses, admissions requirements can vary from school to school. Check the website or contact the admissions office for the schools you are interested in attending. You can also review the LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs to compare admissions requirements.
What classes should I take to prepare for law school?
There are no mandatory or prerequisite courses to take before applying to law school, but there are courses and subject areas that can help develop skills that would benefit you in law school.
Skills law schools seek and areas of study that can help
Problem solving
- Logic
- Philosophy
- Economics
Reading
- Literature
- Political theory
- Economic theory
- Philosophy
- History
Writing and comms
- Rhetoric
- Composition
- English
- Public speaking
- Debate
Research
- Research-focused seminars and projects
At the University of Iowa, if you pursue a pre-law track as an undergraduate student, your academic advisor will help you find and explore majors and elective courses that develop reading, critical thinking, and analytics skills.
Remember, there are no specific classes or areas of study required to attend law school. Take advantage of courses and opportunities inside and outside of the classroom that develop foundational skills that will help you succeed in law school.
“Writing courses are great. Courses that involve writing and public speaking are great. Also consider quantitatively oriented courses. You don't need high-level math courses, but look at a basic accounting class, or an economics class.”
Which major is best for pre-law?
There is no single best major for pre-law.
Let that sink in. You can major in anything — from the social or hard sciences to liberal or performing arts. According to the ABA, students are admitted to law school from nearly every academic discipline. Instead of focusing on the “best” major, think instead about what interests and challenges you, and where you can excel.
“Your major is, in fact, less important than people might think,” Kirby says. “Play to your strengths. Interested in political science? Great — study political science. Interested in music? Study music. But in general, study what you love.”
Some common pre-law majors include political science, history, philosophy, and English. These are popular because they emphasize reading, writing, and discourse. STEM majors are also useful because they can provide good foundations for logic, problem-solving, and reasoning.
At the end of the day, the best major for pre-law is the major that is right for you and provides opportunities for you to develop relevant, foundational skills for law school.
Student perspectives
Jiale Turner, a law student at the University of Iowa, received a BA in political science from the University of Alaska. She says that major helped her with reading and writing because of the volume of reading assignments and the essay-based exams.
“That really helped when it came to law school exams and writing under a time crunch,” Turner says.
Pre-law student James Muszalski received a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Iowa. He saw those business fields as a solid foundation for legal education, and gave him the flexibility to pivot if law wasn't for him.
“I looked at it as a balance: What will set me up best for law skills while also giving me a different career path if I decide to switch things up?" Muszalski says.
What skills should pre-law students focus on developing?
This is the right question. Instead of focusing on collecting pre-law courses, think more strategically about developing skills for pre-law.
Developing core skills (we’ve provided a list) helps provide a solid foundation for your legal education. You can hone them through coursework, but it’s also important to think about opportunities outside of the classroom. These include debate teams, mock trial, research assistantships, and leadership experiences you can get through volunteering, student organizations, and paid work.
The core skills
- Analytical thinking
- Close reading
- Structured writing
- Research ability
- Oral communication
- Time management
“Get involved and take on leadership. It doesn’t matter whether you’re leading the pre-law club or the whitewater kayaking club — what matters is that you’re engaged in things that genuinely interest you and that you’re contributing meaningfully to your community.”
Should I take classes related to the type of law I want to practice?
If you’re interested in those topics, yes. But they are not required for admission.
Taking classes related to law or different types of law can be helpful exposure and useful background as you decide if law school is the right fit for you.
- STEM courses may help if you eventually consider patent or IP law.
- Accounting is a helpful foundation for tax law.
- Business courses may be relevant to corporate law.
- Psychology or sociology may be a base for criminal or family law.
- International relations may be a bridge for international law.
At the end of the day, no one expects you to know what type of law you want to study before you even start law school. Most students figure that out during law school or after they graduate. Undergraduate programs and courses can help provide useful background and context, but they do not signal professional commitments.
What GPA should I aim for in my pre-law classes?
A strong GPA matters. More so than any specific major or if you take pre-law courses.
The good news? There isn’t any magic GPA number or cutoff. Generally, a higher GPA gives you more options. There are nearly 200 accredited law schools in the country, and they have different admissions profiles. Instead of seeking a specific number, you’ll want to research what your desired school expects and plan from there.
Take LSAC's advice: Compare official application data from school to school. A look at recent class profiles can show the range. For example, the University of Iowa College of Law reported a median GPA of 3.78 for its entering class in 2025. Compare that with Harvard Law School, which reported a median GPA of 3.96.
You want some practical advice? Don’t tank your GPA by loading up on courses that feel “pre-law” but aren’t for you. It’s more important that you display consistent performance. Select courses that are challenging but manageable. A strong, consistent GPA or upward trend can help keep more law schools in play for you.
“One bad semester because of a personal issue is not going to tank your opportunity to go to law school,” Kirby says. “Explain what happened and point to an upward trajectory that followed. Or maybe you chose a major that wasn’t for you, resulting in some bad grades. If you changed course and improved your grades, that shows maturity.”
Ready to keep planning?
Explore more law school preparation resources, compare timelines and expectations, and use the rest of our law school content to build a smarter path from college to application season. We suggest the following articles: