I’m Pre-Law: Now What? Catherine Preston, Associate Director College of Arts & Sciences...

I’m Pre-Law: Now What? 

Catherine Preston, Associate Director College of Arts & Sciences Advising

ServicesCoordinator, Pre Law Advising

Core Skills and Values The American Bar Association suggests that you

can acquire these important skills and values and significant bodies of knowledge prior to law school and that they will provide a sound foundation for legal education:– Analytic and problem solving skills– Critical reading– Writing skills– Oral communication and listening abilities– Research skills– Task organization and management skills– Public service and promotion of justice

Is Law School the Right Choice? Self-Evaluation: –Why do you want to go to law school?–What do you want to do with your law

degree?– Do you know what lawyers do every

day?– Is law school the right investment in

an advanced degree?

Preparing as an Undergraduate for Successful Application to Law School

Choice of Major– Academic Rigor– GPA– Honors Programs– Minor– Electives

Leadership development activities – Phi Alpha Delta, National Black Law Students Association

Continued…

Faculty recommendations Pre-law advising http

://www.artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/

Researching law schools

Typical Information Sources–Neutral/Factual/Comparative/

Consumer Information• ABA/LSAC Guide to Law Schools

http://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx• Discover Law http://www.discoverlaw.org/• CLEO http://

www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?nodeid=2

Continue…

–UTK pre-law website: http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/

– PAD or NBLSA– Anecdotal/Opinions• Chat rooms, web sites• Family, Friends, Faculty, Alumni• Ratings and rankings

– Law School Information Sources• Web sites, print materials, forums• Contacts with faculty, staff, students

What is the LSAC?

LSAC Credential Assembly Service–www.lsac.org– Register for CAS and pay fees– Take the LSAT or use valid score– Request all academic transcripts

sent to LSAC– Line up Evaluators or

Recommenders http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/letters-of-recommendation/

What is the LSAT?

http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/law-school-admissions-test-lsat/

Timing Preparation Implications for admission

Factors in the Admissions Process Holistic file review – each school may

differ Commons factors– Academics - LSAT and UGPA, advanced

degrees– Personal statement, writing sample, essay

http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/personal-statement/

– Letters of recommendation– Work experience/military– Service/activities/leadership (Phi Alpha

Delta, National Black Law Student Association)

– Diversity

Your undergraduate GPA and your LSAT score make up the CAKE

The icing and decorations make up everything else

Cost of a Legal Education FAFSA and SAR Scholarships Loans Financial Aid Resources– LSAC.org:

http://www.lsac.org/JD/finance/financial-aid-determining-eligibility.asp

– cleoscholars.com: http://www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=526&parentID=524&nodeID=2

All majors, Catherine Preston, appointments 865-974-4481, caa@utk.edu

Political Science major, Liam Hysjulien, appointments through GradesFirst, lhysjuli@utk.edu

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