Pre-Law Advising
What Should I Major in to be Considered "Pre-Law"?
Pre-law is not a major but generally means that a person is interested in attending law school and is taking steps to prepare themselves for the legal profession. While there are no specific majors or course requirements, law schools are looking for applicants with a rigorous, well-rounded education, and there are important skills and knowledge that you should acquire prior to attending law school. These will provide a solid foundation for your legal education. Experience in leadership, community service and other extracurricular activities is also highly desired.
What Is a J.D.?
A J.D. degree stands for "Juris Doctor" degree, which is the professional degree required to become a licensed attorney in the United States. The J.D. degree typically takes three years to complete, and it involves a rigorous course of study in a variety of legal subjects, including contracts, torts, criminal law, property law, civil procedure and constitutional law. Students in a J.D. program also typically have opportunities to gain practical legal experience through internships or clinics.
Upon completing a J.D. program, graduates must pass a bar exam in order to be licensed to practice law in their state. The J.D. degree is widely recognized as a rigorous and prestigious degree, and it can lead to a variety of careers in the legal profession, including practicing law, working in government or public interest organizations or pursuing academic and/or research positions.
Law School Requires a Diverse Set of Skills
Students must be able to analyze complex legal concepts and cases, evaluate arguments and evidence, and communicate their arguments clearly and persuasively in written and oral form. Attention to detail and ethical principles are also critical to ensure the accuracy and integrity of legal work.
- Critical thinking: Law school requires students to analyze complex legal concepts and cases, evaluate arguments and evidence, and make logical deductions and inferences.
- Analytical skills: Law students must be able to identify and evaluate legal issues, research relevant laws and cases, and apply legal principles to solve problems.
- Writing skills: Law school involves a lot of writing, including case briefs, legal memos and legal briefs. Students must be able to communicate their arguments clearly and persuasively.
- Reading comprehension: Law school involves reading a lot of dense, technical legal material, such as cases, statutes and regulations. Students must be able to read and understand this material thoroughly.
- Time management: Law students must balance multiple assignments, classes and extracurricular activities, so good time management skills are essential.
- Oral communication: Law students must be able to articulate their arguments and ideas clearly and persuasively, both in class discussions and in oral presentations.
- Interpersonal skills: Lawyers often work in teams, so law students must be able to collaborate effectively with others, communicate clearly and resolve conflicts.
- Attention to detail: Law school requires students to pay close attention to details, such as legal terminology, case law and procedural rules.
- Emotional intelligence: Law students must be able to navigate the emotional demands of legal practice, such as dealing with difficult clients or opposing counsel.
- Ethics: Law students must understand and adhere to ethical principles in legal practice, such as client confidentiality, conflicts of interest and professional responsibility.