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Academic AdvisingPre-Law Advising ProgramPre-Law Home | Pre-Law Society | Pre-law listserve | Announcements/Events
Schedule a pre-law advising appointment
Before your first appointment, complete the pre-law advising Student Questionnaire. Print the two-page form and bring it with you to your first appointment.
Few law schools list specific undergraduate courses as pre-requisites for admission. Academic excellence, not a specific curriculum, is the principle prerequisite for the law. Therefore, the student considering law school can major in virtually any department within the university. It is more critical that students choose a major in which they can excel. Choosing a major that reflects the student’s passions and natural talents often enhances academic performance.
A student who is “undeclared” about an academic major initially, but who has indicated a pre-law advising track, will clarify his or her academic interests through regular conversations with his or her academic advisor. The student will declare a major in one of the regular four-year degree programs offered within the university. If a student has a specific interest, such as environmental law, the student should strongly consider selecting an academic major in that area. Students interested in law school may decide to complete the philosophy of law minor. This minor program is described under the Department of Philosophy. Undeclared students are welcome to meet with a pre-law advisor to discuss choice of major, understanding that there is no pre-law major, and thus no “right” or “wrong” choices.
Pre-law advisors maintain continual contact with law school admissions offices and will assist any interested student with questions about curriculum, financial assistance, application procedures, the law school admission test (LSAT), and the Law School Admissions Council (www.lsac.org).
Advising InformationLaw-related course work at VCU Courses at VCU that include analysis of law or the legal system
Law-related course work at VCU While law schools do not require specific courses, pre-law students can gain exposure to legal studies by taking a variety of courses.
Applicants who can convincingly demonstrate that they have challenged their thinking, reasoning and writing skills usually impress admission committees. In their undergraduate education, students should develop verbal comprehension and expression, critical understanding of human institutions and values with which the law deals and creative thinking. The Law School Admissions Council has outlined six core skills that are critical to a student’s success in law school. These core skills, which every student should review, can be found at http://www.lsac.org/AboutLawSchool/Preparing-for-Law-School.asp.
Courses that provide opportunities to increase these core skills are valuable regardless of subject matter. English, logic, and political science courses fall within this category. Logic courses, in particular, may help prepare you for the Law School Admission Test. Courses that involve reading cases and statutes and understanding citations will give you an idea of what to expect in law school. Finally, any courses that sharpen your analytical skills can also be helpful, including those that provide a basic understanding of business, accounting, finance and statistics.
Policy and Law-Related Courses at VCU AFAM/POLI 302 Politics of the Civil Rights Movement CRJS 255 Introduction to Legal Studies CRJS 475 Case Studies in Criminal Procedure
Philosophy of law minor The philosophy of law minor is comprised of 18 Philosophy credits (three 200-level courses and three 300-level courses) and 6 History or Political Science credits. These 24 credits include: PHIL 222; one course from PHIL 211, PHIL 212, or PHIL 213; a 200-level elective; PHIL 320; PHIL 327; PHIL 335; and two of the following: HIST 369/370, POLI 314, POLI 341/342.
Legal internships Legal experience is essential for pre-law students. VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs offers an internship program open to pre-law students who are majoring in criminal justice, public administration, political science, or urban studies. The Career Center also maintains job listings and internship opportunities for students, both paid and unpaid.
Standardized tests (LSAT) The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test required for admission to all ABA-approved law schools, most Canadian law schools and many non-ABA-approved law schools. It provides a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing applicants. The test is administered four times a year at hundreds of locations around the world.
Many law schools require that the LSAT be taken by December for admission the following fall. However, taking the test earlier — in June or October — is often advised. Taking a free, timed, practice LSAT is always a good idea, so that a benchmark score is available to help determine preparedness for the actual test. The key to success on the LSAT is preparation, preparation, preparation. The answer to the question “When should I take the LSAT?” is “when you are prepared.” Self-disciplined applicants may decide to self-study. Others might consider an LSAT preparation course. See the Helpful Links section below for pointers to LSAT prep services. Testing dates and further information can be found on the LSAC Web site
Application information Students apply to law school through a centralized service called the Credential Assembly Service. It provides a means of centralizing and standardizing undergraduate academic records to simplify the U.S. law school admission process
Letters of recommendation How to collect letters of recommendation
The LSAC provides a letter of recommendation collection service. Use of the service is optional unless a school specifically states that it is mandatory. (Students who do not wish to use this service can elect to have their individual letter writers send letters directly into the admissions office of each law school to which they apply.)
The LSAC online account allows applicants to have their recommendation letters sent to law schools based on each school’s requirements or preferences and also to direct letters intended for specific schools. Applicants may submit up to four general letters to be sent to every school to which they apply.
These general letters require applicants to identify recommenders, print out pre-filled recommendation forms generated by the service and provide the forms to the chosen recommenders. Recommenders must complete the form, sign the letter, insert it into his or her envelope and send it directly to LSAC. The service will send general letters to law schools in the order in which they are received (up to the number required or preferred by the law school). More detailed information about the LSAC recommendation service is available online.
Transcript requests Transcripts from all course work completed at VCU and other undergraduate institutions must be sent to LSDAS. LSAC Transcript request forms must be used to request official copies of student transcripts from all schools attended by the applicant. These transcript requests are filed with the Office of Records and Registration. More detailed information about the LSAC transcript service is available online.
Pre-law listserv The pre-law listserv is an electronic mailing list owned and maintained by the coordinator of pre-law advising. The purpose of the list is to publicize all activities that are relevant to the academic advising and application processes to law school. Students who have VCU e-mail addresses and declared a pre-law advising track when applying to VCU are automatically added to the list each semester. Students may also Self-subscribe to the listserv.
Application timeline While pre-law students should always work to enhance their credentials, students are best served by starting the application process 18 months before they plan to start law school. It is recommended that students apply to law school through LSDAS 14 months before they plan to enter a program.
Spring (before applying in the Fall, for following fall enrollment) Attend an on-campus application information session
Take June LSAT or prepare for October LSAT
Take October LSAT, if necessary
Winter (after applying) File financial aid applications (the earlier, the better)
Helpful links Law school test and application information: LSAT information and preparation courses: Legal career information: American Bar Association Career Counselor Public Legal, by the Internet Legal Research Group Selecting law schools:
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Virginia Commonwealth University | University College Hibbs Hall | 900 Park Avenue | P.O. Box 842002 | Richmond, Virginia 23284-2002 Phone: (804) 827-UNIV (8648) | Email: ucollege@vcu.edu Last Revised: 01.02.2012 |
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