Pre-Law

Career Outlook
The law is a respected profession which arose out of the basic need for an orderly society and a body of rules and procedures to govern human relationships. Lawyers engage in a variety of activities and can be found in various work settings. A lawyer’s primary function is to provide legal assistance in peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Language is the lawyer's working tool. A lawyer must be able to convey meaning clearly and effectively. In oral and written advocacy, he or she must be capable of communicating ideas convincingly and concisely. The lawyer must be able to grasp the meaning of factual statements, legal reasoning, argument, and to comprehend the technical materials that constitute the body of the law.

Approximately two-thirds of lawyers in the United States are in private practice. Other attorneys are employed in national, state, or local government. Lawyers also work on legal staffs in politics, journalism, and banking. Intense competition for jobs in the legal profession cause increasing numbers of attorneys to accept positions in the business and financial communities. In such positions legal training is certainly an asset, though not a requirement.

If you are considering a career in law or a law-related field, you should consult the Law Professions Advisor, Kathleen Maier, early in your undergraduate career to discuss available options in your choice of and preparation for a future profession.

What Matters in Preparing for Law School

• Your reasonable GPA and LSAT scores will boost your application into the 'read personal statements' stack of applictions.
• Practice and prepare for the LSAT but don't sit for it for practice, all scores are reported. Some schools average the scores, some look at the highest score, and some look at the most recent score.

What Doesn't Matter

• Your major. Law school admissions committees request that prospective law students study broadly, thereby obtaining exposure to a variety of areas which will inform the student's writing, reasoning, and analytical abilities. This includes economics, philosophy, literature, business-oriented courses, the arts, math, engineering, political science, sociology, and other disciplines.
• A bad freshman year. You are not unusual. Accept responsibility for your behavior. Be honest but brief explaining freshman excess in your personal statement. Point out a dramatic or steady rise in grades.