University Resources for Students Interested in Pre-Law
Ross Undergraduate Academic Advising has created this Pre-Law advising page, compiling resources from LSA Pre-Law Advising and other departments across campus, for BBA students interested in learning more about Pre-Law at the University of Michigan. If you have any questions about law school or other grad programs please feel free to schedule a one-on-one academic advising appointment with a Ross academic advisor via iMpact. More information will be added here throughout the academic year, so please bookmark and check back!
Please note that there is no pre-law major at U-M nor any specific curriculum that you need to take to be eligible for applying to law school. It is, however, recommended to pursue a challenging curriculum that includes critical thinking, logical reasoning and effective writing.
Important Update: The LSAT format is changing as of August 2024. The analytical reasoning (games) section will be removed. Additional information can be found through links below:
https://www.lsac.org/lsat/lsat-changes-coming-august-2024
https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/law-admissions-lowdown/articles/what-to-know-about-the-end-of-lsat-logic-games
https://www.lsac.org/blog/what-to-expect-starting-with-august-2024-lsat
LSA Resources
The Newnan Academic Advising Center in LSA (located at 435 S State St) offers Pre-Law Advising to students and alumni of all schools and colleges (Ross, Engineering, Ford, Kinesiology, etc.) at UM who are considering and applying to law school.
Newnan recommends watching their Pre-Law 101 recording prior to setting an appointment to get an overview of how to prepare for a pre-law career path and access available resources. Their website is designed to take students through the entire law school process, from the beginning to explore, prepare, apply and steps to take after the application.
They also offer a webinars on:
Pre-Law Personal Statement as you get further into the application process.
Financing Your Legal Education Webinar SAA Academic Opportunities and Support (AOS)
Students can schedule a one-on-one with a Pre-Law advisor and/or attend their Pre-Law drop-in hours (Virtual Pre-Law Drop-in advising is for all students of any class standing, regardless of school/college affiliation and Pre-Law drop-ins are available at certain times of the semester focusing on specific themes.) As an example, there are drop-in hours devoted to LSAT Retaking, Admission Waitlists, Decisions, and Next Steps.
University Career Center
University Career Center: (Located at 3200 SAB, 515 E. Jefferson) offers Pre-Law Resources to current undergraduate students at UM for all issues pertaining to your exploration of the legal profession and preparation beyond the classroom.
Some of the resources include:
- Timely info about pre-law opportunities and events through the Law Career Track: Join via your Handshake account and read the Law Track Guide to get you started
- Ideas and resources for local co-curricular engagement
- Jobs/internship postings nationwide via your Handshake account
- Connections with law schools’ admissions representatives through one-on-one consultations, mock law classes, programs and the annual Law Day
- More connections with UM alumni in law school and beyond via UCAN, the University Career Alumni Network
- One-on one appointments*
*Individualized assistance with class choice, LSAT preparation, application timing and mechanics, personal statement and other essays’ reviews, etc. may be available through the academic advisors and career professionals within your School, College, Department or Program.
More Resources You Might Find Helpful!
Law School Admission Council (LSAC) LSAC is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to advance law and justice by promoting access, equity, and fairness in law school admission and supporting the learning journey from pre-law through practice. LSAC provides products and services that support candidates and schools throughout the law school admission process, and innovative solutions to expand and diversify the range of pre-law students, enhance student outcomes in law school, and support legal professionals throughout their careers.
Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is an online service provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). CAS serves as the single place where you will send references, transcripts, and other application materials. It is loosely comparable to the Common Application that you may have completed when applying to undergraduate institutions. Most law schools require that you use the CAS to apply (additional UM information here).
Law School Transparency (LST) Make strategic choices about where to apply and attend law school using the most comprehensive source of law school data.
National Association for Law Placement (NALP) NALP is an association of over 3000 legal career professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools in North America and beyond.
American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary professional association in the world. With more than 400,000 members, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.
The ABA offers pre-law resources for students considering a career in law. The ABA also supports the view that there is no specific curriculum required for admission to law schools:
The ABA does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, nursing or education. Whatever major you select, you are encouraged to pursue an area of study that interests and challenges you, while taking advantage of opportunities to develop your research and writing skills. Taking a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors is excellent preparation for legal education. A sound legal education will build upon and further refine the skills, values, and knowledge that you already possess.
