Pre-Law: Additional Resources
Here you can find some more resources that may not have been covered elsewhere. If you are still unsure, you can see our handout, “Considering Law?” We also have more information about how to fund your law school experience, what other careers those with law degrees have pursued, our own Pre-Law newsletter, and some acceptance statistics.
For more Pre-Law handouts click here (Handouts)
For all other questions including info about our office click here (Contact us)
Considering Law?
Law schools look at a few factors when reviewing potential law school applicants. Since there is no “Pre-Law major,” study something you are interested in and that you can excel in, but remember that reading and writing are the two most important skills for succeeding in legal education and practice—so take courses that will help you develop these skills. Though your major doesn’t matter, your GPA certainly does! Also, be careful about retaking classes because both grades will be taken into equal account when you apply.
Getting to know professors is essential in the law school application process because quality relationships with professors will likely result in strong letters of recommendation. You can also take advantage of opportunities to serve, study abroad, work, research, publish, or any other activities that interest you to strengthen and diversify your undergraduate experience as well as your law school application.
For detailed information for those considering law click here (Considering Law)
Nontraditional Careers with a Law Degree
Have you ever wondered if there are other careers available to those with J.D. degrees besides that of a traditional lawyer? We do strongly recommend that you go to law school to study law—not for the potential non-traditional career positioning you may have after graduating. That being said, the specific skills learned in law school, including research skills, legal and technical writing, and analytical, multifaceted thinking, can be applied to many other fields.
Students have gone on from law school to work as business consultants, CIA special agents, librarians, hospital risk managers, professors, purchasing consultants, senators, and a host of other exciting careers.
For detailed information regarding nontraditional careers click here (Nontraditional Careers with a Law Degree)
Paying for Law School
We’ve all heard the saying, “you get what you pay for.” Well, law school, like other professional schools, is expensive. There are a few different options available to students to help fund their law school experience.
While setting aside an emergency fund and saving as much as possible is advisable, it is generally not possible for most students to completely pay for their own law school tuition. Typically, law schools offer scholarships based on merit, and some based on need. These scholarships are school-specific, and it is a good idea to look into what scholarships your specific school offers.
Many students also receive loans, either federal student loans, federal PLUS loans, or law school student loans. To find out more specifics about these loans, see the handout linked below. Private student loans are also given out by the National Student Loan Organization. These loans have higher interest rates and should be considered only if you are still unable to meet the difference between the funding you have secured and the cost of your education.
More information can be found on the handout about the actual process of applying for loans, as well as an action plan with a step-by-step guide for securing financial aid.
For detailed information about Pre-Law classes (Paying for Law School)
Statistics
The following PDF files contain information about law schools' median GPA, LSAT scores, starting salaries, etc. This information should be useful for narrowing down which law schools you will apply to. However, it should be seen as a starting point and not as a substitute for personal research on individual schools.
The majority of the PDF files contain stats only for the top 25 most popular schools applied to by BYU students and for the top 25 law schools according to US News World and Report. For information on law schools not found in either of these lists, refer to the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools, which can be found here: http://officialguide.lsac.org.
Law Schools Application Numbers
Newsletter and Facebook
The weekly Pre-Law Newsletter and “liking” BYU Pre-Law on Facebook is the best way to stay updated about news and Pre-Law events that can help you prepare for law school. If you would like to sign up to receive weekly emails, subscribe here!
If you have any feedback or announcements you would like to let us know about, email us at prelaw@byu.edu.
Legal Internships
Sit in on a Law Class
Click here to be directed to a Google Doc sign up.
CourtWatch Program
Click here for a pdf information sheet.