In partnership with the College of
Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) at the University of Houston, the
University Studies Division offers advising services to students considering
pre-law training. Students may access services either at USD or through the
CLASS Department of Political Science, depending on where the student is in the
process of pre-law preparation.
The University Studies Division’s
professional advising staff is available to meet with students who are
considering pre-law as a focus of their undergraduate education. USD advisors
can assist with such basic considerations as:
The faculty pre-law advisor is Dr.
Robert A. Carp, Professor of Political Science. Dr. Carp offers assistance to students who are at the stage of
choosing specific law schools and completing the application process. These students generally are juniors or
seniors and have taken the LSAT test. Some of the topics Dr. Carp will discuss
with students are:
One of the best first sources of
information for pre-law students is the American
Bar Association (ABA) “Statement on Prelegal Preparation.” This essay presents an overview of the
skills and training that are essential to successful law school preparation and
ultimately to success as a lawyer. You can access this statement at: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prep.html.
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.
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.
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.” 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.
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.
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). 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.
The following links provide
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