¶¶Òõ̽̽

¶¶Òõ̽̽, along with most colleges and universities in the United States, does not have a pre-law major. However, it is important to understand the that law schools are seeking and strive to acquire them before attending law school. 

The American Bar Association does not recommend any specific group of courses to prepare for legal education. The skills that law schools are looking for include analytical and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, task organization and management skills, and the values of serving others and promoting justice.

In addition to these fundamental skills and values, there are some basic areas of knowledge helpful to a legal education. These include:

• A broad understanding of history, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of society
• A fundamental understanding of political thought and the contemporary American political system
• Basic mathematical and financial skills
• A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction
• An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of nations and communities in our world.
• Finally, many of our students have found it helpful to take classes in logic and philosophy.

There is no one right time to go law school; that varies from person to person. Law schools are interested in people who take time off to gain related experience as well as students who choose to continue immediately after their undergraduate work. Taking time to gain relevant experience may enhance your application and make you more marketable to law schools and to employers after law school. Lawyers with specialized skills and expertise are competitive candidates for positions in both the public and private sectors.

We recommend a process of self-assessment whereby the candidate gathers information about those factors that are critical to their needs, priorities, and goals. Considerations may include: reputation of school, location, class offerings and atmosphere, cultural and racial/ethnic diversity, chances of admission, cost, and employment prospects following graduation.

The following links may be useful in your decision-making process:

• (law schools by specialty programs)

We suggest submitting applications by late November the year before you plan to attend law school. Law schools usually have an application deadline in the spring, but use a rolling admissions process and begin evaluating applications for admittance and scholarships in the fall.

There are four primary components of your application: LSAT score, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and transcripts. 

Your first steps should be to set up accounts with , which you will use to register for the LSAT, and an account with (CAS), which you will use to apply to law schools. 

​LSAT

• Register for the in the summer or fall of the application year.
• The LSAT score is the most critical piece of your application so give it the time and energy necessary. Give yourself a minimum of 2-3 months to prepare for the test. It can help to think of the preparation as the equivalent of a college course.
• Applicants have found success with both self-study and test prep courses. Evaluate yourself as a learner and decide what you need to be successful. 
• Select a test date early enough give you a fall back date option if necessary. If you are unable to take the LSAT on the date selected or don’t get a score consistent with your expected performance, you will want the option to retest in the same application cycle.

Letters of Recommendation

• After you enter your recommenders’ names and information into your LSAC CAS account, it will generate specific recommendation letter requests for those individuals.
• Request letters of recommendation in the spring or early fall of the application year.

Personal Statement

• Writing a compelling personal statement is essential. It gives the admissions representatives a sense of your motivations and strengths as well as the experiences and perspectives you would bring to a law school cohort.
• Begin by reflecting on why you want to attend law school, the experiences that have shaped your path to the law, and the strengths that you believe you would bring to law school and a career in law.
• Give yourself enough time to work through at least three drafts of your statement. The ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Writing Center (for current students) and pre-law advisors are able to give you feedback.

Transcripts

• After you enter your institutions into your LSAC CAS account, it will generate a specific transcript request form for that institution. This form must accompany the transcript to LSAC – make sure that any institutions sending a transcript send the form as well. (Some institutions do electronic transcript submissions.)
• Request your official transcripts from the ¶¶Òõ̽̽ Registrar after you finish the last full semester before you submit your application. For example, if you are a junior planning to go straight through to law school, then you will be applying the in fall of your senior year and you can request your transcripts as soon as you complete the spring semester of your junior year.
• Be sure to also obtain transcripts from other institutions you have attended: community college courses, summer courses, transfer institutions, study abroad, and college courses taken while still in high school.

A strong application with great grades and a high LSAT score is most applicants’ best opportunity to garner financial support. Law schools are interested in supporting candidates who have grades and test scores above their medians. See the to identify schools where you will be a strong candidate.

Here are more financial aid resources:

• Financial aid offices at law schools of interest

When do I need to ask for letters of recommendation?

• Law schools will ask you to submit letters of recommendation as part of your application process.
• Be sure to give your recommendation writers ample time (at least a month) to write your letter. Keep in mind that you are probably not the only person asking your recommendation writer to write a letter, so ask early.

Who should I ask to write letters of recommendation? 

• Your recommenders should be a mix of people who have known you well in different contexts: a professor, employer, or someone who knew you in your capacity as a volunteer with a local organization. Law schools are generally clear about what kind of recommendation you should submit (e.g. two academic letters).
• People who write your letters of recommendation should be willing to say very positive things about your skills and strengths. Be sure to ask your recommenders if they are comfortable writing you a positive letter of recommendation. Typically, three letters of recommendation are sufficient.

How should I ask for letters of recommendation?

• If at all possible, you should make your request in person. Doing this will allow your recommender to ask clarifying questions and for you to make yet another personal connection with your recommender.
• It is always a good idea to stay in regular contact with your recommenders. You never know when you will need to call on them again. 

How can I help my recommenders?

• Provide your resume and a description of the programs to which you are applying.
• For professors, give them copies or summaries of some of your best work from their class (especially if it has been a little while since you were in their class).
• Share the that law schools are seeking.

Should I follow up with my recommenders?

Yes! You should definitely send your recommenders a thank you note—a written card is always nice and tends to be appreciated more than an email. Be sure to stay in touch with your recommenders; they will be eager to know the outcomes of your applications as well.