Pre-Law Majors at Christian Colleges

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Law is the baseline for a functioning society. With no law, there is no order, peace, or safety. Society’s need for law is a reflection of the God’s design and nature, in that there is right and wrong, and right is to be chosen in order for good and peace to occur. This is where lawyers, judges, and the justice system comes in. When law is not kept or accusations are made, accountability is necessary, as is those who will prove the case of the parties involved, to ensure proper justice is carried out. This is the role of lawyers.

Choosing to pursue a law degree is preceded by a pre-law track. All that means is that you pursue any major at an undergraduate college, while preparing yourself for the eligibility requirements of law school. Where you choose to do this is important. Choosing to pursue a pre-law program at a Christian school will give you all the benefits of academic preparation, while also equipping your Spiritually to reflect and pursue Christ in a tough and emotionally demanding career. A Christian college will prepare you not just to excel in law school and your law career, but to live out your faith amidst even the toughest cases.

List of potential types of law to practice for someone pursuing a law degree:

• Criminal Law: Lawyers practicing criminal law could be defense attorneys, who protect and defend the rights and interests of the accused in cases where the law has allegedly been broken, or they could be prosecutors. Prosecutors work with the government and law enforcement to prove guilt in the accused through evidence, testimony, and building legal arguments. They may also be involved in negotiating plea deals.
• Civil Law: Civil law focuses on disputes between individuals, organizations, or businesses that do not involve criminal charges. Lawyers handing civil law cases often work toward settlements through negotiation rather than in court, however these cases do end up in court if negotiations cannot be reached. Civil lawyers will represent a client, protect their rights, and negotiate in favor of their interests.
• Family Law: A lawyer practicing family law will work with clients on legal matters involving family relationships or issues, such as child custody, adoption, divorce, and in some cases domestic violence situations. They represent clients, advise them, negotiate on their behalf for their best interest and to get a fair outcome. Occasionally these cases go to court but are often resolves through negotiated agreements outside of court.
• Intellectual Property Law: A lawyer practicing intellectual property law will help clients protect and benefit from their creative ideas, artistic work, or inventions. They will help file patents, register trademarks or copyrights, and even take actions against parties infringing or using intellectual property without authorization.
• Environmental Law: Lawyers practicing environmental law work on legal cases or issues involving the environment, natural resources, air and water pollution and quality, land use, and wildlife protection. They may represent business, the government, advocacy groups, or even individuals, helping clients follow laws and regulations or protecting their rights in court.

The outlook for a law degree is quite promising, with the graduating class of 2024 achieving a 93.4% placement rate within 10 months of graduation. It is important to note that statistic comes out of law school and not undergraduate studies. In order to land a career as a lawyer of any kind, you need to go to law school and acquire your Juris Doctor (JD) after getting your bachelor’s degree. Even with such high placement rates, a career with a law degree is quite competitive by nature, and with a high average salary of $151,160, it’s easy to see why. So, what can you do while in college to best set yourself up for success getting into law school and preparing for a career practicing law?

The first thing you need to focus on is your GPA. Entry to law school is competitive, so you need to be a standout candidate. As close to a 4.0 GPA as you can get and maintain is what you should aim for. It doesn’t matter what major you choose, as lawyers come from all sorts of backgrounds, so go with what you’re good at and what will enhance the skills you need as a lawyer. Some common majors amongst law students are English, Philosophy, Political Science, and History. Even if you choose a science major, or something more technical, make sure you take classes that will build your writing, communication, and reading comprehension skills, as these are absolutely paramount for a lawyer.

In addition to keeping a strong GPA, you’ll need to be prepared for the LSAT, which is the test that determines your eligibility for law school. Ideally, you want to take that at the end of your junior year of college, as that gives you more time for applications or to retake the test if your score is not competitive enough. The LSAT is scored on a range of 120-180, with scores in the 150’s being the minimum acceptable score for many law schools. To be competitive, you’ll want to score 160 or higher. Start conversations with your advisor about LSAT prep and extracurriculars to boost your application early in your college career.

You’ll also want to join a pre-law society, a mock-trial team, or a debate club, which will provide you with an environment to practice public speaking, civil arguments, and preparation for debates. Additionally, you’ll want to aim for some kind of job, internship, or volunteer experience related to legal work, such as working for a law firm, a courthouse, or the government. Keep contacts from these experiences, build a network that you can refer back to for references, job postings, or even advice. Experience and good connections are key for succeeding with a law degree.

All areas of a law degree and career are reading intensive. So, you’ll need to be a strong reader, have great reading comprehension skills, a critical thinker, and be attentive to details. Along with lots of reading, you’ll need great time management, as you’ll have heavy work loads that require proper balance with good sleep, diet, and other areas of life, to prevent burnout. Communication is key, both in written and verbal form, and you’ll need to be comfortable speaking in front of large audiences and able to stand up to criticism without getting flustered. Resilience in the face of stress and the ability to motivate yourself are necessary to keep from getting buried under the workload and the constant “go” of a law career. Someone with these characteristics would be a great fit for a career with a law degree, whether in a private practice, working for the government, or in ministry.

Work Cited:

• “What’s a Good LSAT Score?” Ohio Northern University, law.onu.edu/news/whats-good-lsat-score. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Lawyers, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/legal/lawyers.htm (visited March 23, 2026).
• Sloan, Karen. “2024 US Law Grads Posted Record-High Employment, Survey Shows | Reuters.” Reuters, 31 July 2025, www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/2024-us-law-grads-posted-record-high-employment-survey-shows-2025-07-31/.

By Calli Wolfenden, Staff Writer
 

Isaiah 1:17
"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

Proverbs 31:8-9
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Someone with a law degree can be a beneficial part of any church or ministry by providing legal advise, counsel, and helping protect their rights. Whether for a church or ministry, someone with a legal degree can help these parties navigate red tape, local regulations and laws, and ensure that they are properly complying and providing for employees and volunteers. They can also provide assistance with visas and legal logistics for mission trips or missionaries.

Legal ministry for the poor, immigrants, the homeless, victims of abuse, and others who cannot afford to fight for themselves is another way that someone with a law degree can make an impact for the Kingdom. They can fight and protect the rights of the least of these, exemplifying the love and just nature of the Lord. Whether they represent an individual, a church, or a ministry, they have the opportunity to be a warrior of justice, exemplifying faith in their profession and touching the lives of those in need.

Someone who chooses a career in law has the opportunity to impact people across all walks of life and reflect the justice, compassion, and love of the Lord through their work. If you have a strong desire to help others, are resilient and self-motivated, a great communicator, and sharp under pressure, then perhaps the Lord is calling you to pursue a pre-law program!