APPENDICES
"Preparation for Legal Education"
Prepared by
The Pre-Law Committee
of
The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar
June 1996
Students who are successful in law school, and who become accomplished
attorneys or use their legal education successfully in other areas
of professional life, come to their legal education from widely
differing educational and experiential backgrounds. As undergraduate
students, some have majored in subjects that are traditionally
considered paths to law school such as history, English, political
science, economics or business. Other successful law students,
however, have focused their undergraduate studies in areas as
diverse as art, music theory, computer science, engineering, nursing
or education. Many law students enter law school directly from
their undergraduate studies without having had any substantial
work experience. Others begin their legal education significantly
later in life, and they bring to their law school education the
insights and perspectives gained from those life experiences.
Thus the ABA does not recommend any particular group of undergraduate
majors, or courses, that should be taken by those wishing to prepare
for legal education; developing such a list is neither possible
nor desirable. The law is too multifaceted, and the human mind
too adaptable, to permit such a linear approach to preparing for
law school or the practice of law. Nonetheless, there are important
skills and values, and significant bodies of knowledge, that can
be acquired prior to law school and that will provide a sound
foundation for a sophisticated legal education. This Statement
presents the recommendations of the American Bar Association Section
of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar concerning preparation
for a good law school experience.
Prospective law students should also consult closely with the
prelaw advisor at their undergraduate institution. That individual
may be able to assist current students in selecting courses or
professors that will particularly assist in developing the skills
and knowledge foundation that is emphasized in this statement.
Taking difficult courses from demanding instructors is the best
generic preparation for legal education. The prelaw advisor can
also assist current and former students in choosing law schools
to which to apply that are appropriate in light of a prospective
student's interests and credentials. Finally, prospective law
students should also consult the publications and admissions personnel
of the schools to which they are considering applying for any
specific recommendations that individual schools may have concerning
preparation for law school.
There are numerous skills and values that are essential to success
in law school and to competent lawyering. There also is a large
body of information that law students and attorneys should possess.
The three or four years that a student spends in obtaining a quality
legal education can and do provide much of the information that
a lawyer needs. Good legal education also aids in developing the
many skills and values essential to competent lawyering. Sound
legal education, however, must build upon and further refine skills,
values and knowledge that the student already possesses. Even
though a student may well be able to acquire in law school some
specific fundamental skills and knowledge that the student's pre-law
school experience has not provided, the student who comes to law
school lacking a broad range of basic skills and knowledge will
face an extremely difficult task.
Skills and Values
The core skills and values that are essential for competent lawyering
include analytic and problem solving skills, critical reading
ability, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities,
general research skills, task organization and management skills,
and the values of serving faithfully the interests of others while
also promoting justice. Thus, individuals who wish to prepare
adequately for legal education and for a career in law, or for
other professional service that involves the use of lawyering
skills, should seek education, extra-curricular and life experiences
that will assist them in developing those attributes. Some brief
comments about each of the listed skills and values follow.
Analytic and Problem Solving Skills. Students should seek courses and other experiences that will engage them in critical thinking about important issues, that will engender in them tolerance for uncertainty, and that will give them experience in structuring and evaluating arguments for and against propositions that are susceptible to reasoned debate. Students also should seek courses and other experiences that require them to apply previously developed principles or theories to new situations, and that demand that they develop solutions to new problems. Good legal education teaches students to "think like a lawyer," but the analytic and problem-solving skills required of attorneys are not fundamentally different from those employed by other professionals. The law school experience will develop and refine those crucial skills, but one must enter law school with a reasonably well-developed set of analytic and problem solving abilities.
Critical Reading Abilities. Preparation for legal education should include substantial experience at close reading and critical analysis of complex textural material, for much of what law students and attorneys do involves careful reading and sophisticated comprehension of judicial opinions, statutes, documents, and other written materials. As with the other skills discussed in this Statement, the requisite critical reading abilities may be acquired in a wide range of experiences, including the close reading of complex material in literature, political or economic theory, philosophy or history. The particular nature of the materials examined is not crucial; what is important is that law school not be the first time that a student has been rigorously engaged in the enterprise of carefully reading and understanding, and critically analyzing, complex written material of substantial length. Potential law students should also be aware that the study and practice of law require the ability to read and assimilate large amounts of material, often in a short period of time.
Writing Skills. Those seeking to prepare for legal education
should develop a high degree of skill at written communication.
Language is the most important tool of a lawyer, and lawyers must
learn to express themselves clearly and concisely. Legal education
provides good training in writing, and particularly in the specific
techniques and forms of written expression that are common in
the law. Fundamental writing skills, however, should be acquired
and refined before one enters law school. Those preparing for
legal education should seek as many experiences as possible that
will require rigorous and analytical writing, including preparing
original pieces of substantial length and revising written work
in response to constructive criticism.
Oral Communication and Listening Abilities. The ability
to speak clearly and persuasively is another skill that is essential
to success in law school and the practice of law. Lawyers also
must have excellent listening skills if they are to understand
their clients and others with whom they must interact daily. As
with writing skills, legal education provides excellent opportunities
for refining oral communication skills, and particularly for practicing
the forms and techniques of oral expression that are most common
in the practice of law. Before coming to law school, however,
individuals should seek to develop their basic speaking and listening
skills, such as by engaging in debate, making formal presentations
in class, or speaking before groups in school, the community,
or the workplace.
General Research Skills. Although there are many research
sources and techniques that are specific to the law, an individual
need not have developed any familiarity with these specific skills
or materials before entering law school. However, the individual
who comes to law school without ever having undertaken a project
that requires significant library research and the analysis of
large amounts of information obtained from that research will
be at a severe disadvantage. Those wishing to prepare for a legal
education should select courses and seek experiences that will
require them to plan a research strategy, to undertake substantial
library research, and to analyze, organize and present a reasonably
large amount of material. A basic ability to use a personal computer
is also increasingly important for law students, both for word
processing and for computerized legal research.
Task Organization and Management Skills. The study
and practice of law require the ability to organize large amounts
of information, to identify objectives, and to create a structure
for applying that information in an efficient way in order to
achieve desired results. Many law school courses, for example,
are graded primarily on the basis of one examination at the end
of the course, and many projects in the practice of law require
the compilation of large amounts of information from a wide variety
of sources, frequently over relatively brief periods of time.
Thus, those entering law school must be prepared to organize and
assimilate large amounts of information in an effective and efficient
manner. Some of the requisite experience can be obtained through
undertaking school projects that require substantial research
and writing, or through the preparation of major reports for an
employer, a school or a civic organization.
The Values of Serving Others and Promoting Justice. Each
member of the legal profession should be dedicated both the objectives
of serving others honestly, competently and responsibly, and to
the goals of improving fairness and the quality of justice in
the legal system. Those thinking of entering this legal profession
would be well-served by having some significant experience, before
coming to law school, in which they devoted substantial effort
toward assisting others. Participation in public service projects
or similar efforts at achieving objectives established for common
purposes can be particularly helpful.
Knowledge
In addition to these fundamental skills and values, there are
some basic areas of knowledge that are important to a sophisticated
legal education and to the development of a competent attorney.
As law becomes more pervasive in our society, an increasingly
broad range of knowledge and information from other disciplines
becomes relevant to lawyering and to any full understanding of
the legal system. Some of that knowledge, particularly that most
directly relevant to particular areas of the law, can be acquired
in law school or when necessary for a particular project.
There are, however, generic types of knowledge that one should
possess in order to have a full appreciation of the legal system
in general, to understand how disputes might be resolved, to understand
and apply various legal principles and standards, and to appreciate
the context in which a legal problem or dispute arises. Some of
the types of knowledge that are most useful, and that would most
pervasively affect one's ability to derive the maximum benefit
from legal education include the following:
A broad understanding of history, particularly American history, and the various factors (social, political, economic and cultural) that have influenced the development of the pluralistic society that presently exists in the United States;
A fundamental understanding of political thought and theory, and
of the contemporary American political system;
A basic understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice;
A grounding in economics, particularly elementary micro-economic
theory, and an understanding of the interaction between economic
theory and public policy;
Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding
of basic precalculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial
data;
A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction;
and
An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United
State, of international institutions and issues, and of the increasing
interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.
As law has become more and more woven into the fabric of our society,
and as that society is increasingly influenced by disparate national
and global forces, a broad knowledge base is essential for success
in law school and for competence in the legal profession. Knowledge
of specific areas of law can and will be acquired during a good
legal education, but students must come to law school with much
fundamental knowledge upon which legal education can build. Thus,
those considering law school should focus their substantive preparation
on acquiring the broad knowledge and perspectives outlined above.
Conclusion
The skills, values and knowledge discussed in this Statement may be acquired in a wide variety of ways. One may take undergraduate, graduate, or even high school courses that can assist an individual in acquiring much more of the requisite information, skills and perspectives. One may also gain much of this essential background through self-learning (another essential lawyering skill), by reading, in the workplace, or through various other life experiences. Moreover, it is not essential that everyone come to law school having fully developed all of the skills, values and knowledge listed in this Statement. Some of that foundation can be acquired during the initial years of law school. However, one who begins law school having already acquired most of the skills, values and knowledge listed in this Statement will have a significant advantage and will be well-prepared to benefit fully from a sophisticated and challenging legal education.
LAW SCHOOLS WHERE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ALUMNI WERE ADMITTED
(data taken from 1994-95 LSDAS Action Report)
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A. (If available)
Albany Law School
American University-Washington College of Law 158.3 3.41
Baylor University School of Law
Boston College Law School
Boston University School of Law 161.5 3.35
Brooklyn Law School
California Western School of Law 157.0 3.08
Capital University Law School
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
Case Western Reserve University, School of Law
The Catholic University of America - Columbus School of Law 159.1 3.05
Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology 156.3 3.02
Cleveland State University - Cleveland-Marshall College of Law 151.4 3.23
College of William and Mary
Columbia University School of Law
Cornell University Law School 162.2 3.57
Creighton University School of Law
DePaul University College of Law
Detroit College of Law 155.0 2.89
Dickinson School of Law 156.6 3.23
Drake University Law School
Duke University School of Law 170.3 3.75
Emory University School of Law 161.7 3.48
The Florida State University College of Law 158.0 3.37
Fordham University School of Law 162.1 3.42
Franklin Pierce Law Center
George Mason University School of Law 160.1 3.35
George Washington University 161.4 3.49
Georgetown University Law Center 167.0 3.54
Golden Gate University School of Law 158.4 2.96
Gonzaga University School of Law 151.2 3.11
Hamline University School of Law
Harvard University Law School
Hastings College of Law
Hofstra University School of Law
Howard University School of Law
Indian University School of Law - Bloomington
John Marshall School of Law 149.5 2.85
Lewis and Clark, Northwestern School of Law
Louisiana State University Law Center
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A.(if available)
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University New Orleans School of Law 151.6 3.45
Marquette University Law School
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
Mercer University-Walter F. George School of Law 157.6 3.45
Mississippi College School of Law 151.5 3.19
New England School of Law 152.7 2.89
New York Law School 155.1 3.11
New York University School of Law 167.3 3.72
Northeastern University School of Law 162.0 3.32
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
Nova Southeastern University-Shepard Broad Law Center 153.3 3.00
Ohio Northern University-Claude W. Pettit College of Law
The Ohio State University College of Law
Oklahoma City University School of Law 148.2 3.07
Pace University School of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law 156.8 3.08
Quinnipiac College School of Law 153.1 3.13
Regent University School of Law
Rutgers-The State University-School of Law-Camden
Rutgers University School of Law-Newark
Saint Louis University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law
Samford University-Cumberland Law 155.1 3.09
Seton Hall University School of Law 153.2 3.20
South Texas College of Law 151.1 2.89
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Southern Methodist University School of Law 157.7 3.23
Southwestern University School of Law 155.3 3.12
St. Johns Law School 159.3 2.81
St. Thomas University School of Law 151.8 2.89
Stetson University College of Law 154.6 3.16
Suffolk University Law School
Syracuse University College of Law 158.2 3.36
Temple University School of Law
Texas Southern University-Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
Thomas M. Cooley Law School 147.4 2.84
Touro College-Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center 151.3 2.82
Tulane University Law School 160.3 3.28
University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
University of Arkansas-Little Rock
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A.(if available)
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Missouri-Columbia
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University of Akron
University of Alabama
University of Baltimore
University of Chicago
University of Cincinnati
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton
University of Denver 157.8 3.08
University of Detroit
University of Florida 159.7 3.45
University of Georgia 165.0 3.48
University of Houston
University of Idaho
University of Iowa
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
University of Maine
University of Maryland 161.2 3.36
University of Memphis 156.6 3.05
University of Miami 156.5 3.18
University of Mississippi 157.6 3.41
University of Montana
University of Nebraska
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina 167.9 3.46
University of North Dakota
University of Oklahoma
University of Pennsylvania 167.9 3.76
University of Pittsburgh 159.5 3.28
University of Richmond
University of San Francisco
University of South Carolina 158.8 3.32
University of South Dakota
University of Tennessee
University of Texas School of Law 169.2 3.66
University of Tulsa College of Law
University of Utah College of Law
University of Virginia 166.3 3.65
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A. (If available)
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Valparaiso University School of Law
Vanderbilt University 166.2 3.66
Vermont Law School 157.2 2.87
Villanova University School of Law
Wake Forest University School of Law 163.3 3.67
Washington and Lee University School of Law
Washington University School of Law-Missouri
Wayne State University Law School
Western New England College School of Law 150.9 2.99
Whittier Law School 152.7 2.91
Widener University School of Law 151.1 3.06
Willamette University College of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
Yale Law School
LAW SCHOOLS WHERE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ALUMNI
ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING
(data taken from the 1994-95 LSDAS Action Report)
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A.(if available)
American University-Washington College of Law 157.2 3.37
Baylor University School of Law
Boston College Law School
Boston University School of Law 162.4 3.18
Brooklyn Law School
California Western School of Law
Case Western Reserve University, School of Law
The Catholic University of America - Columbus School of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law - Illinois Institute of Technology
Columbia University School of Law
Cornell University Law School
DePaul University College of Law
Duke University School of Law
Emory University School of Law 161.6 3.51
The Florida State University College of Law 158.8 3.27
Fordham University School of Law
George Washington University 158.4 3.49
Georgetown University Law Center 167.8 3.46
Golden Gate University School of Law 157.7 3.00
Harvard University Law School
Hastings College of Law
Loyola University New Orleans School of Law 149.4 2.97
Marquette University Law School
Mercer University-Walter F. George School of Law
New York Law School
New York University School of Law
Northwestern University School of Law
Nova Southeastern University-Shepard Broad Law Center 151.2 2.92
Oklahoma City University School of Law
Pepperdine University School of Law
Regent University School of Law
Rutgers-The State University-School of Law-Camden
Samford University-Cumberland Law
South Texas College of Law
Southern Illinois University School of Law
Southern Methodist University School of Law
Southwestern University School of Law
St. Johns Law School
St. Thomas University School of Law 151.0 2.67
Mean LSAT Mean G.P.A.(if available)
Stetson University College of Law 154.0 3.03
Suffolk University Law School
Temple University School of Law
Texas Southern University-Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Thomas M. Cooley Law School 146.4 2.81
Touro College-Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
Tulane University Law School
University of California-Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Connecticut
University of Denver
University of Florida 158.0 3.41
University of Georgia
University of Iowa
University of Louisville
University of Maryland
University of Memphis
University of Miami 156.9 3.18
University of Minnesota
University of New Mexico
University of North Carolina
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
University of South Carolina
University of Virginia
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin
Valparaiso University School of Law
Vanderbilt University
Wake Forest University School of Law
Washington University School of Law-Missouri
Wayne State University Law School
Western New England College School of Law
Whittier Law School
Widener University School of Law
William Mitchell College of Law
Useful Electronic Mail Addresses & Web Sites
Pre-Law Resources
Law School Data Assembly Service lsacinfo@lsac.org (For specific information about lesbian, gay and bisexual issues, please contact the LSAC Gay and Lesbian Issues Workgroup at this e- mail address)
Pre-Law Students' Discussion List listproc@lawlib.wuacc.edu
Boston On-Line Locator http://www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/carct/GradSchl.html
Denison University Career Development http://www.denison.edu/cdc (click on Preparation for Legal Professions)
Hiatt Career Development Center http://www.brandeis.edu/hiatt/hiatt_home.html
Law School Data Assembly Service http://www.lsac.org.
Personal Statements http://www.accepted.com.
Selected Reading/Viewing Material
LSDAS Publications
You can order any LSDAS publication by contacting the LSDAS at
(215)968-1001.
Financial Aid for Law Schools: A Preliminary Guide No Charge
So You Want to Be a Lawyer: A Practical Guide $10 (plus postage and handling)
The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools $17 (plus postage and handling)
Thinking About Law School: A Minority Guide No Charge
Supplemental Reading Material
(For additional reading material, check out the bibliography
in The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools from LSDAS)
"Are You at Loose Ends?" Barrister's Magazine, Spring, 1991, p.22.
Essays That Worked for Law Schools, Curry, ed., Fawcett Columbine Publishers.
"Full Disclosure: Do You Really Want to be a Lawyer?" Susan Bell, ed., Peterson's Guide, 1989.
Getting Into Law School Today, Martinson and Waldherr, Prentice Hall.
How to Choose a College: Guide for the Student with a Disability*
Inside the Law Schools, Goldfarb & Adams, eds., Penguin Books.
Slaying the Law School Dragon: How to Survive-and Thrive-in First-Year Law School, Roth, Wiley & Sons, Inc.
*Please contact Higher Education and the
Handicapped at 1-800-54-HEATH
Movies for Rent
"Inherit the Wind"
"Murder in the First"
"The Paper Chase"
"Twelve Angry Men"
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
Movies For Sale
The following videos can be purchased through LSDAS for $40 per
video by contacting:
Ms. Belinda Barksdale
LSAC Box 40
Newtown, PA 18940
(215)968-1249
bbarksdale@lsac.org
"Achieving the Dream"
"Law and Careers"
"Balancing the Scales"
LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION CHECKLIST
Task Deadline Sent
I. Get Applications
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
II. Letters of Recommendation
1.
2.
3.
III. Personal Statement
Reviewed by (optional but encouraged):
1.
2.
3.
IV. LSAT
Date(s) Taken: Score
1.
2.
3.
V. Registered with LSDAS
Date:
Task Deadline Sent
VI. Sent Transcripts to LSDAS
Schools (including dual enrollment):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
VII. Financial Aid
1. FAFSA
2. Law School Forms (if any)
3. Private Loans, Grants, Fellowships
VIII. School Visits
IX. Additional Comments:
Last update: 12/03/96