How to become a corporate or civil lawyer?

If I want to become a corporate lawyer, is it a smart idea to major in economics and minor in psychology?

• I've been bouncing back and forth between what type of law I want to spend my life practicing (ip or corporate), I'm a senior in high school applying to colleges right now. I am considering corporate law because I feel it will give me more freedom to add personality to my work rather than conform to a system of the way things MUST be done. I want to have flexibility and a career that will allow me to stand out with the way I do my work. Patent Law also intrigues me b/c I would be exposed to much of the latest ground-breaking technology which always excites me. Any input would be appreciated, particularly from lawyers with the ip or corporate fields.

• Answer:

  I am a lawyer (currently inactive due to other pursuits). If you want to do patent law, it is very advantageous to major in a science or engineering so that you can understand the science and engineering behind the patents. Corporate law is not a field where there is much opportunity to add "personality" to your work. Much of corporate work is done in an office environment and with issues in which there is a way of doing things to which you must conform. The greatest amount of opportunity for "personality" and freedom is probably found in plaintiffs' personal injury work. Business is a good major if you want to do corporate work. In general, history and political science are good pre-law majors as they involve the kind of critical reading and writing which you will be doing in law school.