Pre-law programs prepare people for law school. Students take general courses to prepare for law school acceptance. They may also focus on law and legal issues from a social science point of view.

Just a few years ago no one thought scientists could clone a living thing. Then along came Dolly, the cloned sheep. Now people ask, what happens if a human is cloned? Who is the legal guardian? Questions we hadn't thought of yesterday pop up today, and people look to the law to find the answers. Just think: during the time it takes to finish your undergraduate degree, brand new legal issues will arise. This is what makes a career in law exciting. You never know what's around the corner.

In a pre-law program, courses are drawn from many different areas, such as English and political science. In fact, you're unlikely to take a course called "Pre-Law 100." In a pre-law program you take courses in English, history, political science, economics, philosophy, and sociology. Courses in math and science can be helpful too. If your school offers specific law courses, such as business law, or legal ethics, you should take them. However, it's unlikely you'll take specific law courses about contracts or civil procedure while studying for your bachelor's degree.

Many four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in pre-law. These programs typically take four years to complete. Most often you'll receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree.