Questions About Law School

When should I apply to law school?

You should begin the application process as early as possible during your senior year. As most law schools accept on a rolling basis, your best time to send in an application will be in October or November.

What is the LSAT and when do I have to take it?

The Law Schools Admissions Test is a required standardized exam that you must take in order to gain admission to law school, much like you had to take the SAT to gain admission to college. The test does not measure any concrete information, nor does it measure objective knowledge of learned material. Rather, it is designed to test your ability to think critically and analytically. It is usually recommended that you take the test only once, generally during the summer after your junior year or the fall of your senior year.

What kinds of classes should I take if I am applying to law school?

Before answering that question, it is important to note that there is no such thing as a pre-law "curriculum." In other words, law schools do not look for applicants that have taken a particular group of courses before applying. Rather, law schools look for a set of skills in each of their applicants (i.e. the ability to think critically and write well). You should focus on courses that are going to build those skills. The undergraduate Legal Studies department at Washington University offers a list of classes designed to strengthen necessary skills. Another piece of advice is that you should not take classes simply because you think they will look good to a law school admissions officer. Although your coursework should be challenging, it should also be in area that you enjoy, since you are more likely to succeed in your curriculum if you enjoy it.

Questions About a Legal Career

What types of law are available for practice?

There are generally two types of lawyers, transactional and litigational. Transactional lawyers frequently deal with matters concerning corporations, contracts, and research. Litigational lawyers argue before judges and juries. For a helpful list of some of the many different fields of practice, click here.

What is the bar exam and when will I take it?

The bar exam is a three-day test, taken after completing law school, that (if passed) allows one to legally practice law. The exam includes a component that varies from state to state, and anyone wishing to practice in a given state must take and pass its bar exam.

Questions About the Pre-Law Society

What does the Pre-Law Society do?

Our organization serves as a source of information and social contact for students interested in pursuing a legal career. Each semester we provided programming that is intended to make our members more informed and competitive applicants to law school

How can I join?

Please fill out a membership application (which you get find by clicking here) and bring the completed form to the next meeting along with dues of $5 for the semester. For more information, please visit the join section of this site. For information about our next meeting, check our calendar.