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Pre-Law

Robert Burns, Ph.D.
Political Science
(605)688-4909

Gordon Tolle, Ph.D.
Political Science
(605)688-4912

Academic Training
Undergraduate Majors
Recommended Curriculum
Role of Your Advisor
Law Schools
Application Requirements
Typical Timetable
Recommended Course Schedule
Useful Links

Academic Training:

The formal academic training for law includes, with few exceptions, four years as an undergraduate leading to a bachelor's degree and three years in a law school. The attorney must be a well-rounded individual with knowledge in more than law. Understanding the basic psychology of people and the philosophy behind the law as well as using logic, which is necessary to present a case, are important.

Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute web site gives some insight into the coursework taken during law school. Their site also includes the different topics of law arranged by subject. 

Undergraduate Majors:

Pre-law is a non-degree major and there is no specific or structured pre-law curriculum. Students choosing pre-law need to select a degree major in addition to the pre-law program; law schools admit students from all undergraduate majors. The pre-law program at SDSU is intended to help students in choosing elective and core courses in a way that will best prepare the student for the challenges of law school. It is very important to pursue a challenging curriculum as an undergraduate and to develop the skills and habits of an excellent academic student in order to successfully pursue the study of law in an accredited law school. Students should also understand that not all who apply to law schools are accepted. Therefore, it is suggested that the student choose a major that interests them and that could benefit them in the future if they do not go on to law school. Students will be assigned a pre-law faculty advisor as well as an academic advisor in the degree major. Entering pre-law students who have not yet decided on their academic major may enroll in the College of General Studies. If you enroll under this classification, a pre-law advisor will assist in planning a course of study. 

Recommended Curriculum:

Regardless of the major, pre-law students should be involved in an undergraduate program which is intellectually challenging and requires rigorous academic discipline. Law schools welcome and encourage a variety of educational backgrounds among their students. Breadth and intellectual maturity are more important than a particular subject matter. Law schools do recommend that the pre-law curriculum be carefully selected. A reasonable exposure to such subjects as political science, history, literature, English composition, economics, sociology, and philosophy will provide a good background for the full appreciation of the law.
An important skill in law school is writing ability; undergraduate courses that develop this skill should be stressed. Electives such as drama and theater arts, debate, creative writing, and speech can help sharpen those skills needed by a member of the legal profession. Finally, the personal discipline used in the study of science will help prepare the student for the rigors of the law curriculum. Moreover, a basic knowledge of the physical and biological sciences will often help in the cases the lawyer pleads. Many law schools expect the student to have completed at least one accounting course.  

Role of Your Advisor:  

Plan to meet with a pre-law advisor on a regular basis. They can assist in selecting courses, choosing a major, preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), selecting individuals to write recommendation letters, and in the processing of an application (as handled by the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). An advisor can also assist in identifying any weaknesses in a program and in finding ways to strengthen that program. Pre-law advisors are occasionally requested by their advisees to write recommendations to law schools. If you plan to do so, it is important that you enable your advisor to "get to know you".  

Law Schools:

According to the LSAC, there are approximately 180 law schools/colleges located in the United States. These schools and their addresses are listed on the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Homepage.
The most popular choice of law school for SDSU graduates is the University of South Dakota School of Law. The Admissions Standards for USD are located on the Law School's web page.
SDSU students also attended:

Your pre-law advisor has general information on law schools and an extensive file of law school catalogs is available at the Career and Academic Planning Center.  

Application Requirements:

Students can apply to most law schools after obtaining a bachelors degree and taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Acceptance into law school is based primarily on the following five criteria. The most competitive law schools require the highest GPA and LSAT scores.

1. Grade Point Average (GPA): Students should strive to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).

2. LSAT Scores: All law schools require the Law School Admissions Test. It is a nationwide, half-day test of general aptitude for undertaking law studies and for writing ability. Your pre-law advisor will provide LSAT application materials, information and sample tests. LSAT study guides can be purchased and preparation courses are offered in Minneapolis on weekends.

The best time to take the LSAT is in June between your junior and senior year. The next best time is in October of your senior year. The December and February test dates are less desirable because they do not allow for timely application to law schools.

3. Recommendations from Employers and Faculty: Most U.S. law schools require at least two "letters of recommendation". Some require at least one of these letters come from a faculty member at the student's undergraduate school. Other letters typically come from other faculty members (including coaches), past and present employers, and law professionals that the students may have "shadowed". The applicant chooses who will write the recommendations and should include individuals that know them well. Pre-law students should identify these individuals early in their undergraduate training in order to optimize their chances for a strong recommendation. A pre-law advisor can help with this process.

4. Personal Statement: The application provided by the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) contains a section for the student to provide a personal statement. The content of this statement is left to the discretion of the student, but might contain information about extracurricular activities, honors and awards, experience, personal interests, and the reasons for choosing a career in law. Since this statement may be strongly considered for acceptance, special care should be taken.

5. Interview with Law School Faculty: After reviewing all the other criteria, most law schools use the interview as the final cut.

Typical Timetable:

Students should complete their application process by December or January of the senior year in order to receive full consideration. Other materials regarding law school admission standards, curriculum, financial aid, student body, and costs are available through the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).

 

Recommended Course Schedule (for the Above Timetable):

Developing academic skills and becoming versed in ideas are perhaps the best preparation for law school. The skills needed for success are the basic skills of critical thinking, analytical reasoning, speaking, writing, listening and reading. Ideas of great importance are those focusing on ethics, origin of law, American constitutionalism, civil rights, and liberties and jurisprudence. There are many courses in a wide variety of departments and majors that can respond to the pre-law interest of students. A sampling of courses organized by basic pre-law contribution follows:

Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning

  • Math and Physics courses
  • Introduction to Logic
  • Public Law Courses
  • Political philosophy and other philosophy courses
  • Argumentation and Debate (SPCM 222)

Writing

  • Freshman and Advanced Composition (ENGL 101 & ENGL 201)
  • Technical Communications (ENGL 379)
  • Foreign language
  • Courses using essay examinations and/or requiring term papers

Speaking

  • Fundamentals of Speech (SPCM 101)
  • Political philosophy courses
  • Discussion
  • Listening
  • A  variety of lecture-discussion courses

Reading

  • All literature courses (See ENGL prefix courses)
  • Selective social science and humanities courses

Ideas of great importance, ethics and constitutionalism

  • American Government (POLS 100 or POLS 101)
  • Introduction to Sociology (SOC 100)
  • Criminology (SOC 351)
  • Early Political Philosophy; Modern Political Philosophy (POLS 461 & POLS 462)
  • Introduction to Ethics (PHIL 220)
  • Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy (PHIL 215)
  • Intro to Philosophy (PHIL 101)
  • Constitutional Law (POLS 330)
  • Civil Rights and Liberties (POLS 331)
  • English History (HIST 341 & HIST 342)

Other electives recommended by some law schools

  • Business Law (BADM 351)
  • Accounting (ACCT 210)

Useful Links:

 

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