Preparing for the Study of Law
Potential applicants to law school should consider their academic, personal and intellectual preparation in order to determine:
- If law school is an appropriate post-graduate alternative
- When one should apply in order to put up the strongest application
Weakness in one or more of these three areas (academic, personal, intellectual) indicates a lack of balance, meaning that a potential problem exists with respect to motivation and/or readiness for post-graduate study. This is most obvious when the candidate chooses to apply to law school by default – meaning there appeared to be no better option (such as employment) available at the time of application. The fundamental role of prelaw advising is to help alumni and students in the College self-evaluate in these three areas, with a goal of determining if, and when to purse a legal education.
Academic Preparation
Solid academic preparation at the undergraduate level is critical for applicants to any post-graduate study program. Academic preparation for law school includes taking relevant coursework, choosing a major, getting to know the faculty, achieving a respectable grade point average, and taking the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).
Read more about academic preparation for law school.
Personal Preparation (making an informed decision)
In this context, personal preparation for law school includes learning about the types of work that lawyers do so that an informed decision may be made about whether law is a suitable match. It includes reading about career options, speaking to alumni, working or volunteering in the law, and being involved in extracurricular activities that reflect personal interests.
Read more about personal preparation for law school.
Intellectual Preparation (research and reflection)
Intellectual preparedness for law school requires that the applicant conduct research and reflect on the appropriateness of law given one’s personal goals. It requires exploitation of various qualitative and quantitative data sources, integrating them with information gleaned from conversations with law students and recruiters, campus visits, and relevant electronic and print sources.
