Pre-Law: Getting Ready for Law School

Attend a pre-law information session.

Pick up a schedule at the Gateway Center front counter (MGH 171) or visit the Information Sessions page.

Meet with pre-law adviser Peg Cheng or Chanira Reang Sperry.

Call the Gateway Center at (206) 543-2550 and request an appointment with either Peg or Chanira.

Get on the pre-law info list.

You'll receive notices on law-related classes, resources, workshops, clubs, free practice LSAT tests and more. To subscribe, click here.

Explore majors that interest you.

There are NO preferred majors for law school. This bears repeating.

There are NO preferred majors for law school.

Meet with an adviser for help on exploring majors. Law schools are looking for bright, motivated and accomplished students, so your course work should reflect an inquiring mind: select courses that challenge you, sharpen your analytical reasoning and improve your writing skills. In planning your course work and activities, remember that the study and practice of law requires skill at problem-solving, sound judgment and clear written and oral communication.

Pay attention to your grading options.

Ideally, all graduate programs would like every class graded, but most students end up with a withdrawal or two before they graduate. The resulting "W" notation is not prejudicial to your grade point, and LSDAS (the Law School Data Assembly Service) excludes them from conversion. But watch out for grading options that result in NS or NC: at the UW, they protect your grade point; but LSDAS converts them to "0.0".

Take writing courses (classes coded with a W) and any courses that involve a lot of reading, writing and research.

Beyond the required English composition and W courses, take all the writing you can to improve your writing skills. Law is mostly reading, writing and research, and much of a lawyer's, as well as a law student's, time is spent in a library. Do you like writing papers? If long hours of reading, writing and research don't appeal to you, law is probably not the right profession.

Attend a pre-law club meeting.

It's a great way to learn about different kinds of law from guest speakers (attorneys, law students, professors, etc.), learn about various pre-law resources (LSAT prep, how to write a personal statement, resumes, etc.) and meet other pre-law students. The pre-law club on campus is Phi Alpha Delta (PAD). Prospective members are encouraged to attend a meeting or two to decide if they'd like to join. To get on the PAD email list, contact lawyer2b@u.washington.edu.

Plan for letters of recommendation: visit your professors during his/her office hours.

Develop relationships early and often! These are the people that will be writing you letters of recommendation for law school. If you're in school when applying, your strongest letters will likely come from faculty, although if you have a developed relationship with a supervisor at a long-standing job, that could make an effective second letter. Most students don't take the time to know their professors, but it's one of the best things to do. Aside from enriching your studies, getting to know a faculty member can result in a letter that goes beyond the general to one that makes a striking impression on admissions committees. Two letters are usually sufficient, although some schools do want three. Most letters of recommendation are completed through the LSAC.

Take Communications 220: Intro to Public Speaking.

This is a great class! It's especially helpful if you fear public speaking. Also, try to get speaking experience from clubs, leadership positions or jobs.

Take Philosophy 115: Practical Reasoning.

Students say it's good prep for the LSAT. Be forewarned that there may be a lot of math-oriented work in this class.

Try a legal internship.

There are many places that hire interns, including:

See below for a list of websites that list legal internships.