Pre-Law

Pre-Law

The College of Arts & Sciences has advisors in our College Advising Office that specialize in assisting students preparing to apply to law school. We highly recommend contacting our advising office to set up an appointment to discuss these career options.

Pre-Law

No special college program is required or recommended by most law schools. Generally, law schools urge a solid four-year program leading to a bachelor's degree. As long as a student receives a quality education featuring critical analysis, logical reasoning, and written and oral communications, a number of majors are acceptable for a pre-law student. Most often chosen are English, business, political science, history, and economics, but such disciplines as philosophy, anthropology, mathematics, sociology and the natural sciences are also suitable majors. Our advisor can help you with these decisions or contact one of the above departments.

Western Michigan University also has an active Pre-law Society. The Society is a student organization that provides a means by which students sharing a common career interest might interact regularly. The Society routinely sponsors discussions with judges and practicing attorneys, trips to law schools in the area, and visits from admissions officials from various law schools.

Program Description: In the broadest sense, law is a central and binding element in American society. It provides a framework by which we are governed as well as reflects the values that evolve to prominence. Through the law, we attempt to resolve conflicts and preserve the basic principles of justice. To be a lawyer is to engage in work with a rich historical tradition and great contemporary significance.

The practice of law in the United States is highly diverse with lawyers representing many different kinds of clients and contending with a broad range of legal problems. Nonetheless, there are several skills basic to effectively representing a client's needs. All attorneys must know how to act as an advocate within the legal process, provide competent counsel on what the law requires, be skilled at both oral and written communication, and know how to negotiate effectively.

Regardless of major, certain kinds of courses are essential during an undergraduate career. Courses, which stress writing, such as English, and business communication courses, are indispensable. Courses which require students to use legal reasoning; such as administrative law, constitutional law, and business law, are highly recommended. Courses which develop an awareness of the structure and processes of government; such as national government, legal environment, and judicial processes, are also valuable. Finally, acquaintance with the structure and development of American business, the American historical experience, economics, and logic is advisable.

There is serious competition for admission to a law school. Admission decisions are based on a variety of factors, but several ought to be stressed. A student's undergraduate record is a good predictor of likely performance in law school. Grades will be carefully examined and substantial weight will be afforded to this factor. Selection of advanced courses will be viewed favorably as will consistency of performance. It is especially important to perform well in the last two years.

The second factor is the LSAT, a standardized test intended to assess mental capabilities, measure reading ability and comprehension, writing and reasoning. The test does not stress particular areas of academic content and no advantage or disadvantage results from majoring in one field rather than another. All law schools require the LSAT and its role in determining admissions cannot be overemphasized. Other factors such as personal accomplishments, graduate or professional schoolwork, and letters of recommendation are often considered, though they are accorded less weight than GPA and LSAT.

Special Opportunities

Supervised internships for pre-law students are frequently arranged. Internship experiences provide an invaluable opportunity for educational growth and enhance a student's undergraduate record substantially. Depending on specific interest and background, students may intern with sponsors from judicial, legislative and executive branches of government at the federal, state and local levels. Private sector internships, often with law firms or business corporations in the area, may be arranged as well. Academic credit may be earned for work done as an intern through the academic departments and prior to the actual internship.

Critical to successfully seeking admission to a law school is a solid performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Practice exams are available from a pre-law advisor, as well as information on the various law schools, and their LSAT score requirements.

Career Options

The legal profession is highly competitive and students finishing law school are not guaranteed financial success. Nonetheless, persons with the confidence and record to compete in the legal market can be assured to a rewarding and satisfying career. Students thinking about a career in law are encouraged to systematically examine what lawyers actually do, the wide variety of activities that comprises the practice of law. It can be expected that the need for legal services will continue to expand and that the services of capable attorneys will continue to be in demand.

In addition to preparing for law school in the ways described above, pre-law students are well advised to cultivate career alternatives to law during their undergraduate careers. It is simply sound planning to have other options in the advent that admission to a law school does not materialize or in case that circumstances require a year or two of gainful employment prior to beginning law school. Developing career alternatives is a form of insurance and should be a primary consideration as students discuss the choice of major and minor areas with advisors.

 

College of Arts & Sciences Advising
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-49009 USA
(269) 387-4366 | (269) 387-3999 Fax
arts-sci-adv-office@wmich.edu