Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Summer following Junior Year
Senior Year
-As a first year student, your most important task is to make a successful adjustment to the rigors of college and begin building a record of academic achievement.
-Register with a pre-law advisor, so that your name is on Pre-Law Student list and so that you will receive regular mailings of information.
-Meet with one of the members of the Pre-Law Advising Committee to discuss your interests and to learn about pre-law at LC.
-Get to know at least one faculty member well, other than advisor. This faculty member can serve as a resource, offer opportunities for discussion of topics relevant to law and society, and later on, provide recommendations.
-Explore and commit to a major.
-Begin progressive work/service experience (coordinated through SERVE office) related to law interests.
-Commit to at least one college-sponsored activity or organization. Law schools are interested in well-rounded applicants.
-Broaden perspective by attending college-sponsored cultural events.
-Attend Pre-Law Forum.
-Finalize a detailed academic plan for graduation; select courses that provide research, reading/writing, analytical reasoning and quantitative reasoning.
-Continue to build on your record of academic achievement.
-Begin to research different law schools, information housed in the Career Development office.
-Become actively involved in major-specific clubs and organizations.
-Continue progressive work/service experience (coordinated through SERVE office) related to law interests.
-Sign up with Kaplan to receive information about the LSAT.
-Begin LSAT study regimen in the summer following your sophomore year.
-Plan/apply for study abroad/internships to be completed during the summer after sophomore year or any time thereafter.
-Begin to research different careers that you can pursue with a law degree.
-Attend Pre-Law Forum.
-Make arrangements to shadow (observe) a practising lawyer, for example an LC alumnus/a, or lawyer in local/home community.
-Meet with Pre-Law advisor.
-In the spring semester, complete application for graduation.
-Meet with Pre-Law Advisor to discuss achievements and admission standards for law schools.
-Continue to build on your record of academic achievement.
-Continue to research different law schools, information housed in the Career Development office.
-Seek election or appointment to leadership role in honor/leadership societies or organizations.
-Complete at least one internship or internship-like work experience, related to pre-law interests and goals.
-Complete study abroad program.
-Continue LSAT study regimen.
-Pick up LSAT/LSDAS registration packet; take LSAT in June.
-Continue to research different careers that you can pursue with a law degree.
-Attend Pre-Law Forum.
-Prepare resume; obtain two recommendations from faculty/staff/employer.
-Continue to meet with advisor.
-Consider completing an internship to broaden career experience.
-Request law school applications and catalogs.
-Read the LSAT/LSDAS checklist in the LSAT and LSDAS information book.
-Compose a schedule of law school application deadlines.
-Visit different law schools; make an appointment ahead of your trip
-Receive your scores from the June LSAT; obtain advice from Pre-Law Advisor to determine if you should take the test again.
-Register for the LSDAS service.
-Attend regional law school fairs.
-Check degree audit to make sure that you will complete all requirements for graduation on time.
-Make an appointment with the Pre-Law advisor to get helpful advice about the application process.
-Consider completing an internship to broaden career experience.
-Continue leadership roles in honor/leadership societies or organizations.
-Review and revise your resume to reflect interest in specific law career, if known.
-Write your personal statement and take it by the Writing Center for a critique.
-In September, have an official copy of your transcript sent to LSDAS from each of the colleges you attended.
-In September, make arrangements for your faculty recommendations to be mailed to LSDAS.
-Take the September LSAT if you did not take it in June.
-Attend regional law school fairs; dress professionally and bring along several copies of your resume.
-Complete your application files at law schools by mid-November.
-Fill out financial aid applications as soon as possible after January 1.
-Follow up and make certain that each law school to which you are applying has a complete file for you.
-Visit law schools to which you were accepted to help in making your final decision.
-Send LSDAS a final transcript after you have graduated.
-Let your LC pre-law advisor/Advising Center know of your final plans.
*This plan is continually undergoing development. Feel free to send suggestions for additions and changes to Dr. Phil Stump, Chair, Pre-Law Advising Committee: Stump@lynchburg.edu