Choice of Major
As an undergraduate student considering a career
in law you must keep in mind that pre-law is not a “major.” You
will choose a major from any of the undergraduate degree options that are
offered at the University of Houston. There is no prescribed or preferred
major for students who want to become lawyers. Instead, there are certain
skills and types of knowledge that will train you best for law school. These
include: analytical reasoning, critical thinking, close-reading, written and
oral communication, understanding of the structures of society and government,
research, organizational and management skills. The best undergraduate preparation
for law school will involve choosing a major that relates best to your own
interests and abilities and that helps develop the kinds of skills necessary
for success in the law. Choose whatever major is right for you and in addition,
include elective courses that will enhance specific skills and knowledge.
It is also important to seek out challenging and rigorous courses and instructors;
these are the classroom experiences that will benefit you most in the long
run. USD advisors will be happy to discuss choice of major with you; they
may also refer you to other campus resources available to help you make the
right decision.
Grades
Your academic performance is a crucial element
in the law school admission decision. The law schools will include every grade
earned as part of your overall undergraduate grade point average. Take advantage
of all the academic support services available at the University of Houston
to enhance your academic performance. Consult with academic advisors every
semester as you plan your course selection; make careful, mature decisions
about the number of hours you work and the number of credit hours you attempt
each semester. Make every grade count toward your goal of entering law school
and becoming a successful lawyer.
LSAT
Another critical element in the admission decision
will be your score on the Law
School Admissions Test (LSAT).
This exam consists of four 35-minute multiple-choice sections and one 30-minute
writing sample. The sections cover reading comprehension, analytical and logical
reasoning skills. Plan carefully your LSAT preparation; never take the LSAT
unprepared or “just to see what it’s like.” Students
should prepare for 2-4 months for the LSAT, which is offered four times a
year. Students should take the exam in June in order to apply in September
of their senior year or at least in October. December is the latest a student
may take the exam to apply for the upcoming Fall semester of Law School.
Most law schools will average LSAT scores if you
take it more than once. Many schools do not look favorably on multiple LSAT
scores. Ideally, you should plan to take the LSAT in June of your junior year
so that you will receive your scores before sending off your law school applications.
This will give you time to assess your scores and your overall readiness to
apply.
Other Preparatory Actions
Extracurricular activities are an important factor
in your pre-law preparation. The law schools will look for evidence of community
service, leadership experience, work experience, internships, study abroad,
etc. Seek out opportunities for growth in these areas; consult instructors,
advisors and others who can help you identify such opportunities during your
undergraduate career.
As an undergraduate student at the University
of Houston you will have an opportunity to interact with outstanding
faculty in many different disciplines. Make an effort to establish relationships
with your professors that you can continue to build on from semester to semester.
Let your professors know of your academic and career goals; they can be invaluable
sources of information, internship opportunities, guidance and mentoring.
You will also be asking for letters of evaluation when you begin the law school
application process. The best, most persuasive letters of evaluation are written
by people who know you well and have observed your growth and progress toward
your goals.
Preparing Admissions Applications
Law school admissions is a complicated process
that demands careful planning and organization. One of the first steps involves
registering with the Law School Data Assembly Service
(LSDAS)--see below under Law School
Admission Council for link to LSDAS. All ABA-approved law schools
require that applicants use the LSDAS as a centralized method of receiving
applicants’ academic transcripts, LSAT scores and writing samples, and
letters of evaluation. The LSDAS also calculates your overall grade point
average; thus it is crucial that you have official transcripts from every
school you have attended sent directly to them. You will monitor your LSDAS
file carefully as you continue the application process.
You will apply directly to each law school you
have selected. As part of this process you will submit a personal statement
and a law school resume. You may also wish to submit additional information
in the form of addenda to the application. These addenda would be used to
address specific issues such as trends in your academic performance or prior
minor legal problems. Remember that honesty, attention to detail, and consistency
are key elements in the application process.
Important information for students
considering pre-law:
American Bar Association (ABA): http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prep.html
Law School Admission Council (for LSDAS, LSACD, etc): http://www.lsac.org
National Association of Law Placement:
http://nalp.org
Boston College Range Finder: http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/carct/matrix.html
CLASS faculty pre-law advisor:
http://www.uh.edu/academics/catalog/las/las_degree_pols.html
