Is taking a criminal justice class in highschool going to help me if i want to become a lawyer?
Question:
Answer:
It is always a good idea to get as much exposure as you can to something you are thinking of doing for a living... And an elective in criminal law will be a help to you in life, in this time of criminalizing everybody and everything.
I do not know why you want to be a lawyer, but you might want to look into the average salary and hours of lawyers in the field you think will be interesting, before you commit.
There are more lawyers than jelly beans out there, and most of them do not earn more than a good waiter. The education process itself is brutal and cut-throat because only the best have any earning potential, or potential for prestige. There is a long expensive education followed (at best) by a grueling low paid apprenticeship, for many years, with no guaranteed payoff at all. Check out how few of those 'best and brightest' who get into large firms end up as partners. Check some of the lawyers blogs out there that say things like 'the best qualification for a new associate is a great typing speed... because that is what you want them for for 3 years anyway'.
If you want to be a lawyer to 'help people' you may want to look into the experiences of the professionals who do that, and see if you could take it. It is a sad thing but most public lawyers barely manage to make their student loan payments, and do not have time to do a good job for anyone at all, unless they really let down everyone with a lesser charge. Public defenders essentially sell plea bargains. Everybody they speak to lies to them *everybody*.
If you still want to do it, then pursue it, knowing what you are getting into. An elective in criminal justice will not do that, because the real world and the ideal legal world are *very far* apart.
Yes it will help you. My cousin studied just that, but in college, so you'll be ahead. Check to see if it will qualify towards college credit, so you don't have to retake it in college. :)
Criminal justice classes are actually more relevant to becoming a cop.
hi,
yes, anything that is somewhat related will help you. i work at a law school and some of our students were prelaw, but the bulk come from other backgrounds and majors, such as the below. If you're interested in learning more about the law and the justice system, go for it, and good luck!
Accounting
American Civilization
AnthropologyArt/History
Biology, General
Biology, Specialization
Business Administration
Business Management
Chemistry, General
Communications
Computer Science, General
Construction Engineering
Criminal Justice
Drama-Theatre Arts
Economics
Education, General
Electrical Engineering
English
Finance
Geography
Geology-Earth Science
Government Service
Guidance Counseling
Health Professions-Other
History
Hospital-Health Administration
Humanities
Information Sciences
Journalism
Literature
Marketing
Mathematics
Music
Other
Philosophy
Political Science
Pre-Law
Psychology
Social Work
Social Science
Sociology
Urban Studies-Regional Planning
Will a high school criminal justice class help you if you want to go to law school? Probably no more than the high school english or civics class. But it might help you determine if you like the field.
I went to law school with a couple of guys who were cops in prior lives. They thought they knew everything about criminal law. Of course, that's why there are cops and criminal attorneys - who occasionally get to point out the cops mistakes. It usually was pretty interesting to see them get shot down by the professor.
As a general background course, it might help a little. But almost any college major can prepare someone for law school, much less a high school course. If it's the only elective you like, take it.
I studied criminology as an undergraduate major and am currently in law school. The only thing it really helps in is if your law school requires Criminal Procedure and Criminal Law classes. Other than that, my degree is basically useless. Taking a few classes will probably be even more useless. What really matters is practical experience (internships, etc.). Try doing an internship with your local police department or a local judge.
The major thing that a degree or background in the field can help in is for if you apply for a job in criminal law. That may give you a slight competitive edge, but it's not that big of a deal.
If you really want a subject that will help you in law school, go for philosophy. The LSATs are all about logic, and philosophy can teach you how to think. Also consider advanced writing courses.
Don't worry about high school courses for law school. You don't list it on your applications or anything, so it has no real relevance. The key thing is to pick a major you're interested in and excel in your courses. GPA and LSAT score are the most important factors.
More Related Questions & Answers...