Approximately 500 members of the 1998-1999 graduating class enrolled in over 80 ABA approved law schools.  University of Florida students earned an average 155 on the 1998 LSAT, five points above the national average.  UF graduates attend some of the most selective law schools in the country; including Yale, Harvard, NYU, Chicago, and Virginia.  Most graduates (290/500) chose Florida, Florida State, Miami, Nova Southeastern, and Stetson.

Advising
Students interested in legal education are encouraged to consult the pre-law web site.   After carefully reviewing the web site, students should attend pre-law group advising sessions and workshops presented by the pre-law advisor.  The pre-law advisor will discuss how to best prepare for law school and explain the various resources available to pre-law students.  In the junior year, students are also invited to make individual appointments with the pre-law advisor to discuss concerns such as selecting law schools, enhancing their law school application, and writing their personal statement. 

Preparation
All pre-law students are encouraged to carefully assess their interest in and motivation for attending law school.  The pre-law timeline, featured on the web site, encourages students to “shadow” attorneys, conduct informational interviews, complete internships, and speak to admissions officers to learn about law schools and the legal profession.  In addition, students are encouraged to pursue a broad, liberal, diverse, and challenging program of study.  Students should register for demanding courses that challenge them to read, write, and think critically. Students should also consider studying overseas, writing an honors thesis, and completing an internship.  These activities will enhance the depth and value of their undergraduate education and may also distinguish them from other top law school applicants.  Also, should the student choose not to attend law school, he or she will be more appealing to graduate programs and employers. 

Selection
Most lawyers practice in the state or region where they attend law school.  Therefore, students are encouraged to go to law school where they want to practice.  Students should also consider the schools academic and professional reputation, scholarship offers, specialized coursework, clinicals, and other opportunities to enhance their knowledge and application of the law.  Students should also visit the law schools and talk to professors and students about the institutional climate, resources, etc.

Application
Juniors and seniors should meet with the pre-law advisor to review their application and identify areas in need of improvement.  Many admissions decisions will be based solely on LSAT and GPA.  Yet, admissions officers often rely upon the personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation to differentiate between candidates with similar scores.  Completing the law school application and writing the personal statement should not be reserved for one weekend in late October.  Applying to law school, if done correctly, is a time consuming process.  Ideally, taking the LSAT, writing a personal statement, and visiting law school should be done in the spring and summer proceeding the senior year.  Students should reserve the fall semester, senior year, for completing applications, conducting research, writing a thesis, and yes, attending the FSU game!

Pre-Law
Hopefully students will view pre-law as a four-year process to explore and develop their talents and interests.  Many pre-law students will choose to attend law school and practice law.  Yet, all students will benefit from attentive advising, demanding coursework, and quality co-curricular experiences whether or not they choose to attend law school.  Those students that choose other graduate programs or full-time employment will not have wasted their efforts but rather uncovered their interest in another field.