What should I study in undergrad for law school?

Throughout my career as an attorney, I have spoken at many high schools across the country.  I have noticed that the most frequently asked questions are all related to the types of classes students should take if they want to become lawyers.  Invariably, a student will ask me what I majored in at Fordham University, and I reluctantly explain that I studied Political Science because my counselor told me that it was the chosen major of most aspiring law students.

In my job search following graduation, I quickly realized that majoring in Political Science (though it was an interesting and enjoyable experience) did not translate to ready job offers.  From a practical standpoint, I had entered the job market with no marketable skills. This is why I tell aspiring law students to choose a major that is a balanced combination of interesting, practical, and marketable.

Keep in mind that law school admission isn't guaranteed nor is the desire to actually practice law once you graduate. Maximize your college experience and prepare yourself for both life and law school.  Attain skills that enable you to find work in a field you enjoy so that you have viable options should your path toward becoming a lawyer take an unexpected turn.

As for which classes to take—if I had the opportunity to go back to college and do it all over again—I’d major in business and take classes in drama, computer science, communications, debate, office management, marketing, and software development.  All of these classes would have benefited me in the practice of law.

Today, I run my own civil rights practice, but my ability to do so was gained on the job by trial and error and by asking the advice of others. In retrospect, it would have been much more helpful to have prepared for this throughout college by taking a greater variety of classes.