Pre-Law

Law school can open up many opportunities for motivated and hard-working individuals to make a difference in their communities and their world. If you feel that law school might be in your future, you should speak with your professors, your advisor, and practicing attorneys, all of whom can help you decide whether this is the career path for you.

If this appeals to you, then the first step is getting into law school. Law schools do not require a particular undergraduate curriculum; rather, they want students to have an undergraduate experience that challenges them to work hard to develop the skills necessary to succeed in law school. Since the majority of an attorney’s job involves research and writing, students are encouraged to choose challenging coursework that develops these abilities. Because these abilities are more important than any “law specific” coursework, you should take classes that help you to develop your critical thinking, reading, speaking, research, and writings skills – all skills that you need to succeed in law school and as an attorney.

What should you major in? There is no “pre-law major”; students from many academic backgrounds successfully pursue law school. University of Jamestown students have been successful in law school coming from many different majors, among which are Accounting, Business Administration, Communication, Criminal Justice, English, History, Political Science, Psychology, and Religion/Philosophy.

This list, however, should not be considered comprehensive. First and foremost, it is important to choose a major about which you are passionate. You should choose a major that offers career options other than law school in the event that your desires change.  

Below is a list of University of Jamestown courses that may help prepare you for the challenges of law school. This list is not comprehensive, and course offerings may vary. In addition to individual courses, minors and certificates that include several of these courses are listed to assist students who wish to have these credentials reflected on their transcripts.