Law
A lawyer (JD) is a licensed professional who advises and represents others in legal matters. A lawyer has a responsibility to uphold the rule of law while also protecting their client’s rights, which requires a proficient understanding of the law and strong communication skills. With many lawyers spend more office in an office than in a courtroom, the practice of law involves investigating facts, writing and preparing legal documents, settling disputes, and researching legal developments.
To become a lawyer, an applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, prior to matriculation to law school.
The standard law school curriculum at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school takes about three years to complete. The traditional law school curriculum is taught via Case Method, where students read, brief, and analyze court cases then participate in classroom discussions surrounding those cases. Law school professors will regularly facilitate discussions through the Socratic Method, where students are called upon at random to help define broad ideas while also exposing the complexities and ambiguities behind them and compel them to consider arguments for and against different viewpoints on a topic. In general, seven foundational classes are taught during the first year of law school including Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Torts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Legal Research & Writing, and Property Law.
A bachelor’s degree, or its equivalent, is required prior to matriculation by ABA accredited law schools. Although no particular major is required for admission, most aspiring lawyers will earn bachelor’s degrees which will allow them to demonstrate strong undergraduate academic performance and prepare them for the rigors of law school. Some of the more popular undergraduate majors for admissions into law schools include, but are not limited to Political Science, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, History, English, Business, Economics, Criminal Justice, Science, Math, and Arts & Humanities.
Law schools do not have common prerequisite requirements. The American Bar Association highlights the following core skills that lend themselves to success as a lawyer:
- Problem solving.
- Critical reading.
- Writing and editing.
- Oral communication and listening.
- Research.
- Organization and management.
- Public service and promotion of justice.
- Relationship-building and collaboration.
A combination of college-coursework and extracurricular activities can better help candidates explore areas of interest and cultivate critical school essential to law school success.
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a not-for-profit organization which provides services and products that support candidates through the law school admission process. Candidates are required to create an account with the LSAC. Because each law school has specific application requirements and deadlines, creation of the LSAC account can help with step-by-step organization of applications to selected schools. The My Calendar option provided, for example, allows for the coordination and monitoring of important application deadlines.
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required to be taken no later than December for admission the following fall. However, taking the test earlier, perhaps in summer or early fall for admission the following year, is advisable. The LSAT, known as the standard admissions test for law school, assesses critical skills needed for success in law school. The LSAT administration is comprised of four sections:
- Reading Comprehension.
- Analytical Reasoning.
- Logical Reasoning.
- An unscored section which can be any of the three above.
The LSAT Writing component is administered separately online using a proctoring software downloaded to a personal computer. The LSAT Writing portion can be taken as early as eight (8) days prior to the LSAT administration date for which registered. The writing prompt will present a decision problem which requires candidates to choose between positions and defend the choice. With no right or wrong position, the writing sample is designed to allow for the demonstration of persuasive writing skills.
Some schools will accept the GRE, a specialized test which is constructed specifically for use by graduate and professional programs for admissions purposes and measures the general academic ability necessary for graduate or professional education. The GRE is comprised of three test sections:
- Verbal Reasoning.
- Quantitative Reasoning.
- Analytical Writing.
Law school admissions committees will typically take into consideration the following factors:
- Undergraduate Grade Point Average/undergraduate preparation.
- Standardized Test (LSAT or GRE).
- Personal Statement.
- The personal statement demonstrates writing ability and allows candidates to share information related to background, interests, and experiences.
- Letters of Recommendation.
- Most schools require a minimum of two letters.
- Resume.
- The resume allows candidates to detail vocational, avocational, extracurricular, or community activities, graduate degrees or credits earned, honors and awards, service in the Armed Forces, employment experience with major areas of responsibility, publications, and/or other like experiences.
Some law schools will allow for optional statements to be submitted which speak to the candidate’s undergraduate performance, standardized test performance, or provide additional insight into their unique potential to succeed in law school. Interview requirements vary from school to school.
First Year
- Research & determine if a career in law is for you.
- Connect with the Office for Pre-Professional Development.
- Meet with a pre-law advisor.
- Develop study skills and strategies.
- Maintain a competitive GPA.
- Get to know your professors so you can develop a potential pool of references.
- Research pre-law or other similar student organizations; consider joining one.
- Talk to lawyers about the careers.
Second Year
- Maintain competitive GPA.
- Develop relationships with faculty for letters of recommendation.
- Continue to build your resume; continue extracurricular involvement, work, volunteer, seek clinical and shadowing opportunities.
- Begin planning and preparation for the LSAT.
- Research law schools and entrance requirements.
- Consider applying for the UTRGV Law School Preparatory Institute (LSPI).
Third Year
- Continue to research law schools and review application processes for law schools of interest.
- Maintain a competitive GPA.
- Meet with law school representatives.
- Research law schools to which you are interested in applying.
- Continue to build your resume; work, volunteer, join campus organizations and build toward leadership positions.
- Seek legal-related internship and/or shadowing experiences.
- Begin researching commercial preparation courses; begin studying for the LSAT or GRE.
- Register for and take the LSAT or GRE (During the summer or fall after third year).
- Create a budget for law school admissions processes.
Fourth Year
- Complete degree requirements.
- Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) (summer prior).
- Prepare your personal statement (summer prior).
- Prepare your resume (summer prior).
- Request letters of recommendation from faculty and other individuals.
- Request official transcripts of all college work attempted (summer prior).
- Retake the LSAT or GRE, if necessary.
- Prepare and submit applications through the CAS (summer prior to or during early fall fourth year).
- Apply for financial aid and scholarships for which you may be eligible.
- Send updated transcripts to CAS when fall grades are released.
- Prepare for admissions interviews, if applicable.
- Obtain a good interviewing outfit.
- Wait for admissions decisions.
- Visit law schools to which you’ve been admitted.
- Accept an offer and notify other schools of decision in a timely manner.