One doesn't need any specific background to go to law school in the US. People go with STEM backgrounds all the time. I would say to strongly consider going if

One doesn't need any specific background to go to law school in the US. People go with STEM backgrounds all the time. I would say to strongly consider going if these social causes are sufficiently specific (sounds like they are) AND if you really care about them enough to be able to put up with any BS in the actual act of lawyering to pursue such litigation. If you're in tech, I can say with like 80-90% confidence that the actual experience of working in the law is going to feel like bullshit. But, if lawyering is a means to an end for you, then I think it can be worth it. > Going to law school seemed to me a good option for understanding how to effect change through the legal system. Do you know anyone working at a policy-focused legal non-profit? Paradigmatic example would be the ACLU, immigration-focused non-profits, or environmental orgs. I would ask them for a better take on whether effecting such change is even possible. If you're willing to share what your particular social causes are, I can perhaps give better advice, but ultimately the kinds of changes you want to see are probably better pursued through lobbying and other such advocacy as opposed to actually lawyering. FWIW, during law school, I interned at the ACLU and one of the bigger environmental orgs (and also at the Manhattan DA's office and for a state appellate judge in CA, but those aren't really applicable here).