Pre-Law Studies Degree - Online and Campus Programs

Pre-law studies prepare students for work in the legal profession, either as lawyers or paralegals. Lawyers are experts in matters relating to the law. They represent clients in court, advise clients regarding their legal rights and obligations, and perform a variety of other functions. Paralegals do much of the work behind the scenes, like conducting legal research and drafting documents.

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If you want to pursue a pre-law degree, you should:

Be highly analytical
Have excellent communication skills
Be methodical and detail oriented
Possess personal integrity and high ethical standards

What to Know About Pre-Law Studies and Degrees

A pre-law degree is typically a four-year degree in preparation for an additional three years of law school or work in paralegal assisting. Although majors vary, pre law classes include public speaking, political science, philosophy and economics If you're interested in specialized legal work, such as tax law or corporate law, you need to take appropriate classes, such as accounting or business.

Career Outlook for Legal Professions

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for lawyers will grow approximately 13 percent from 2008 through 2018. Opportunities for paralegals will grow 28 percent. Salaries for lawyers depend on the industry and break down as follows:

Management of companies and enterprises: $145,770
Federal executive branch: $126,080
Legal services: $116,550
Local government: $82,590
State government: $78,540

As of May 2008, paralegals earned $46,120, on average. A pre-law degree is the starting point of a long, lucrative legal career and can help you gain the knowledge and expertise crucial to this high-powered career.