Study (majors, minors) what interests you
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- “The American Bar Association does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. Whatever major you select, you are encouraged to pursue an area of study that interests and challenges you, while taking advantage of opportunities to develop your research and writing skills. Taking a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors is excellent preparation for legal education.”
Take courses that involve a lot of reading, writing, research and critical thinking
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- Core skills, Values, Knowledge and Experience that are recommended by the American Bar Association are:
- Problem Solving
- Critical Reading
- Writing and Editing
- Oral Communication and Listening
- Research
- Organization and Management
- Public Service and Promotion of Justice
- Relationship-building and Collaboration
- Background Knowledge
- Exposure to the Law
- Core skills, Values, Knowledge and Experience that are recommended by the American Bar Association are:
Take a law class taught by UW Law School
- A list of these classes can be found here
- Look through UW Law School JD Admissions and find out how you can visit a Law School Class
Consider what Legal Field you want to study/learn more about and take some classes in these disciplines*:
- Business (Corporate Law)– Entrepreneurship, Finance, Management
- Civil Rights Law– Law, Societies and Justice, Ethnic Studies, History, Political Science
- Criminal Law– Psychology, Political Science, Sociology
- Education Law– Education, Higher Education, Early Childhood & Families
- Employment & Labor Law– Law, Societies and Justice, Policy, Political Science, Economics
- Environmental Law– Environmental Science, Biology, Geography, Civil Engineering
- Family & Juvenile Law– Psychology, Sociology, Early Childhood & Families, Social Work
- Health Law– Public Health, Biology, Biochemistry, Health & Human Sciences, Psychology
- Immigration Law– Law, Societies and Justice, History, Ethnic Studies, Diversity, Political Science
- Intellectual Property Law– Computer Science, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, Business
- International Law– International Relations, Languages, Political Science
- Real Estate Law– Business, Management, Communications, Psychology, Economics
- Sport & Entertainment Law– Business, Communications, Management, Sociology
- Tax Law– Economics, Accounting, Finance, Entrepreneurship
*The various disciplines do not indicate what you should major in. Remember, there is no “right” major for Law School. Law School accepts any and all majors. This list suggests classes you could possibly take or explore to learn more about that field.
Take the LSAC Quiz- Which Field of Law is Right for You?
Participate in extra-curricular activities that interest you
- Law schools look for a “well-rounded” student who has participated in activities outside academics. You are encouraged to do volunteer work, community service, philanthropy, and/or an internship during your undergraduate education.
- In order to have a significant impact on the law school, the chosen activity needs to indicate meaningful involvement and not as a resume filler.
- To start, consider joining a student organization, volunteering, and/or service learning (Carlson Center).
- Consider joining: UW Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity or UW Mock Trial.
Assess your values and reflect
- Start asking yourself these questions and what your potential reasons are for wanting to go to law school.
- Look at “Is Law School the Right Path for me?” page for more resources.
Maintain a high GPA
- Your GPA is one of the many important components of your law school application. Make sure you have a well-balanced schedule that allows you to maintain a good GPA.
Attend information sessions, events, and workshops
- UW Career & Internship Center offers many workshops throughout the academic year. Please check our calendar and subscribe to the UW Pre-Law Listserv