Someone sugjested I study philosophy because I want to be a lawyer. Exactly what type of philosophy should I study?
Answer:
As several others here have said, study what interests you. I have been told innumerable times by innumerable professors and legal professionals that a curriculum that fosters the development of your writing, public speaking, and ability to create and counter arguments is the best one to follow. If you decide to study philosophy, your school will likely have a "Pre-law" track in the major; however, nearly every philosophy class will build the skills that I mentioned. As a philosophy major, I will tell you the ways in which philosophy has helped me with each of those skills; you can take from it what you will.
Even in your very first introductory philosophy class (ethics, logic, etc.), you will read. And read, and read. Some of the material will be clear, accessible, and fascinating (mostly modern philosophers like Kripke, Frankfurt, Foote, and Davidson). On the other end of the spectrum, you will find texts from early modern philosophers like Hume and Kant; medieval philosophers like Aquinas, Scotus, and Ockam; and ancients like Aristotle and Plotinus. The texts from those philosophers is tedious, confusing, long-winded, and sometimes just downright poorly written (Kant). While all of the philosophers possess exceptional intellects, their brilliance can get muddled by their lack of clarity and unconventional use of language.
That may seem unrelated to your writing, but try to follow: the philosophizing of the clearly written modern philosophers deals largely with the exact same ideas that the more arduous texts of the philosophical elders wrestled with. When you write your philosophy papers for class, your professors will want to see that you understand what you have read, and that means you must express in your own CLEAR words the arguments put forth by philosophers potentially dating back thousands of years. And, when you move on to philosophizing of your own, your argument will be compelling only to the extent that your audience understands what you are driving at. Put tersely, philosophy has taught me to strive for clarity above all else. If you one day find yourself in a courtroom, or writing a legal document, a clear course of argument will be exceedingly compelling and comforting to your audience.
(Modern) philosophy is conducted as discourse. That is, a philosopher presents the fruits of his philosophizing to his philosophical peers where it is reviewed, dissected, scrutinized, praised or lambasted. In a courtroom, you will similarly present an argument (perhaps to spare your client's life) to a group of peers. The more ironclad your argument, the more clear, simple, and logical your reasoning, the more support you will garner with those peers. While a philosophy undergrad, you will spent the majority of your time making and perfecting your ability to bulletproof arguments, often against the most unforgiving of audiences: tenured philosophy professors.
Your fellow philosophy majors will be a tremendous resource in your college education. It is immeasurably beneficial (and fun) to talk about philosophical ideas with your fellow budding philosophers. Not only will you learn the value of being able to express yourself clearly on the spot, your fellow students will often surprise you with just the insight you needed to understand a philosophical problem that had troubled you.
So, if your philosophy education ends up anything like mine, I would say it would prepare you at least as well as more traditional "pre-law" curriculae would for a legal career. Bear in mind, however, that the LSAT has no idea what your major is; you could major in physical education and get a 180 if the brainpower is present. Likewise, a law school will hands-down prefer a physics major with a 3.7 GPA and a 175 LSAT to a political science or philosophy major with a 3.0 and a 162 LSAT. Study what captivates you. If you love studying French, by all means study French. If you decide that a legal profession is for you, then law school will supply you with what you need, regardless of undergraduate work.
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