What is a criminal justice major? And how long is law school?

Adam: What is a criminal justice major? And how long is law school?
1) What is a criminal justice major? Exactly what do you study and what careers are for that major?

2) How long is law school? And what major would you take at a 4 year undergrad school if you are planning to go to law school?

Thank you.

Answers and Views:

Answer by DEE W
That is a major for someone wanting to go into law enforcement. Cops,parole officers etc. Law school is three years after college.

Answer by ownpool
I spent several years practicing defense law and over twenty as a prosecuting attorney.

A criminal justice major is often a combination of what used to be called criminology, some legal studies classes, and some classes which analyze both society and its members to determine the causes of crime and how people who are convicted of crimes can be rehabilitated. It is seldom directed towards the goals of pre-law students. It often leads to a career as a probation or parole officer. It is not regarded by law school admission deans as a particularly rigorous major and although its majors can be admitted to law school, having taken the major will not be an advantage in the admissions process. Most of law school, often over 90%, is about civil law, not criminal law.

Law school takes three years full time and four years part time. I majored in history and consider it the best pre-law major as it teaches the same critical reading, thinking, and writing skills which are used in law school and practice.

I took enough political science classes to have concluded that political science is not nearly so good for preparation for law school as is history.