10 Tips for Pre-Law Students
- 1. Assess yourself and your fit for law school
- What are your motivations for attending law school?
- How much time—and research—did you invest before deciding to pursue a law degree?
- What are your career plans after you graduate from law school? For data and information about legal employment within the U.S. check out the National Association for Law Placement
- Need assistance with this tip? Feel free to schedule an appointment on Handshake with the Division of Career Pathways' pre-law advisor
- 2. Familiarize yourself with the application process and the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) website
- Review the Applying to Law School Quick Tip, which provides a general timeline of when to complete application related tasks and an application checklist
- www.lsac.org is the site used to register to take the LSAT exam and to formally apply to law schools, using LSAC's online Credential Assembly Service
- LSAC's site also offers the ability to look up American Bar Association approved schools
- 3. Attend law school events
- Division of Career Pathways workshops like Applying to Law School, Resume Basics, and How to Get an Internship are offered throughout the academic year. Log in to Handshake to register for upcoming workshops
- The Division of Career Pathways Law School Fair occurs annually during the fall quarter and connects UCI students with law school admissions representatives from around the U.S.
- Register through LSAC's website for a Law School Forum, a free event that allows attendees to speak with representatives from U.S. and Canadian law schools
- 4. Conduct research and informational interviews with legal professionals
- In order to conduct informational interviews, tap into your personal network (ask relatives, friends, roommates, etc.) to see if you can get connected with any lawyers; have conversations about what their job and law school is really like
- Utilize LinkedIn (a professional networking site) to try and connect with current legal professionals to interview, including UCI alumni
- Also check out professional legal blogs like Blueprint and Law Dragon Campus which both post regularly about tackling the LSAT exam, tips regarding the admissions process, trends within the legal field, as well as the latest news about law schools around the country
- 5. Gain first-hand experience before applying to law school
- Getting an internship or job within a legal setting will expose you to the field. What kinds of work do you observe the lawyers within that organization performing? What skills are essential?
- Find opportunities through Handshake, the Division of Career Pathways' internship/job search platform
- Consider applying to other Division of Career Pathways affiliated programs to gain internship experience - UCDC and the Job Shadow Program may offer legal-related opportunities
- 6. Research available resources, and figure out how you’re going to pay for law school
- Pre-Law Outreach Program is offered by UCI's School of Law and is geared towards prospective law students who hail from disadvantaged backgrounds; selected participants receive assistance with navigating the law school application process
- Council on Legal Education Opportunity offers programs for minority, low income students
- Public Legal has links to various resources for aspiring law students and current legal professionals
- Look over sample personal statements like those posted by the University of Chicago's Law School
- Financial Aid Finder is a scholarship search site
- U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- 7. Contact and visit local law schools
- Ask your local law schools about what kinds of financial aid and scholarships are available
- Some schools like UCI's School of Law offer prospective students the opportunity to sit in on a law school class and receive a tour
- 8. Meet with the Division of Career Pathways
- Contact us or log onto Handshake to schedule an appointment
- During an appointment you can get assistance with learning about the overall application process and timeline, in addition to what materials are required for a complete application
- Discuss whether or not earning a law degree aligns with your future career goals
- Receive brainstorming tips regarding the personal statement
- 9. Prepare academically and develop relationships with faculty
- No particular major is required in order to apply to law school. Rather, maintain a strong GPA and select a major, or elective courses, that help you develop your critical thinking and reading, writing, editing and research skills. Refer to ABA's pre-law section for additional advice
- Go to office hours and get to know faculty members while you're at UCI because law school applications require letters of recommendation from faculty that can speak to your academic strengths
- Your professors may also be able to provide feedback about your personal statement
- 10. Consider joining UCI student groups
- Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity)
- Pre-Law Society