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1) Can I major in pre-law at UM-D?
No. If you consider yourself pre-law, it simply means that
you plan to ultimately apply to law school. There is no formal
pre-law program or curriculum. If you plan to complete a degree
at UM-D, you must, at some point, declare a major that is
available in one of the four schools and colleges at UM-D.
2) What is the "best" major for pre-law students?
There is no "best" major for pre-law students.
Lawyers exercise many skills and work in a wide variety of
environments. When choosing your major consider the subjects
you enjoy studying, as well as the skill areas you need to
improve. As a lawyer you will need to be able to express yourself
competently, orally and in writing. You might consider a major
or coursework in areas such as communications, English literature,
speech or creative writing. You will need to enhance your
understanding of human institutions and values. Here you might
look at history, political science, sociology, psychology
or economics. You also want to improve your ability to analyze
situations and solve problems. Consider philosophy, particularly
logic and ethics, mathematics, statistics or science. It should
be clear that pretty much any major, particularly one grounded
in liberal arts, can be a good major for law. And, since a
considerable number of credit hours in your degree can be
devoted to electives, you should have the opportunity to take
coursework in a number of helpful areas.
3) How do I determine if I’m well-suited for law?
Consider first that the field of law is a people business.
As a lawyer you will generally be acting on someone else’s
behalf as you work to protect someone’s interest, solve a
problem, right a wrong, or negotiate a settlement. Ask yourself
if you can empathize with many different kinds of people.
Are you a good listener? Can you communicate effectively?
Can you be objective? Do you like detail work? Think of the
field of law as a dynamic entity. It is constantly changing
and evolving. You will have to study constantly to keep up.
Once you understand the legal issues and implications, you
have to be able to educate and convince others. Can you be
an effective teacher?
4) What is the LSAT?
The LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is a half-day standardized
test required for admission to all law schools approved by
the American Bar Association. The test is administered in
February, June, October and December. It is generally recommended
that you plan to take the test in June after your junior year,
or in September of your senior year. The test consists of
five sections of multiple-choice questions and a writing sample.
The multiple choice questions are designed to evaluate your
skills in reading, comprehension, analytical reasoning and
logical thinking. The writing sample is not scored, but is
sent to the law schools to which you apply. Scores on the
LSAT can range from 120 to 180. You may obtain more information
about the LSAT from the Law School Admission Council (www.lsac.org). Information booklets are
available in CASL Advising, 1039 CB, 313-593-5293.
5) What criteria do law schools use in evaluating applicants?
The most important factors considered by law schools are
your GPA and your LSAT score. Personal statements, letters
of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and work experience
may be considered, but they would carry significantly less
weight. Check out the Boston College Law School Locator (www.bc.edu/offices/careers/gradschool/law/lawlocator).
The Locator lists the median LSAT scores and median GPAs of
first year classes at accredited law schools.
6) Where can I get more information about preparing for
a career in law?
The following Web sites provide lots of information useful
to pre-law and law students, and have links to many other
related sites:
Law School Admission Council
Princeton Review
Internet Legal Resource Guide
American Bar Association
Prelaw Insider
Another great resource is The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools.
This guide is published by the Law School Admission Council and provides up-to-date
information about all LSAC-member law schools.
If you’re looking for pre-law information on campus, be sure to:
- Obtain a copy of the UM-D recent
issues of Prelaw Insider,
available in 1039 CB.
- Consult with UM-D Pre-law advisors:
- Watch for announcements about special lectures, panels
or speakers; or graduate / professional school fairs.
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