Pre-Law at Concordia

       

I. Frequently Asked Questions Answered by
Concordia’s Pre-law Guru

Question Who is Concordia’s pre-law advisor?
Answer Professor Max Richardson, Chair, Political Science Department, Old Main 310 (Ph 218-299-3526, email richards@gloria.cord.edu) is Concordia’s primary pre-law advisor. The college also recognizes Professors Vince Arnold (History) and Gregg Muilenburg (Philosophy) as pre-law advisors.

Question Is there a particular major or cluster of courses required by law schools?
Shorter Answer No. Any (rigorous) liberal arts major is acceptable. Law schools are more likely to favor high grade point averages and Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) scores than any particular major or cluster of courses. This said, be warned that law school admissions people need to be convinced that you have pursued a challenging undergraduate curriculum; that you are articulate; and that you are intellectually and emotionally prepared for the rigors of law school.
Longer Answer All of the above, plus the following advice. Many law students find courses in philosophy, economics, and Constitutional law helpful. Finally, law schools are increasingly interested in students who demonstrate a fluency in a foreign language, those who have lived and studied abroad, and those who have strong science backgrounds. (This is because international law and intellectual property are especially "hot" these days.)

Question When should I take the LSAT? Is there a "best way" to prepare for it?
Answer The LSAT is given four times each application "cycle" in June, October, December, and February. The earliest you should consider taking the LSAT is during the June testing period between your junior and senior years. Most people wait until October or December of their senior year. Waiting until February of your senior year is risky because law schools begin making decisions as early as November. My calculus suggests that you maximize your chances with early applications, and the June and October exams are early enough to do that. As far as preparing for the LSAT goes, my advice varies. The first question is "How did you do on the college entrance exams (e.g., the ACT)?" Students who score well on the ACT tend to score well on the LSAT, since both are aptitude tests. Students who don’t do well on aptitude tests will need to work harder than those who "ace" such tests. Everyone should at least take some practice exams, however. Most students purchase prep books (e.g., Barron’s, Princeton Review, etc.), and some take prep courses (e.g., Kaplan, Princeton Review, Prepmaster Review, etc.). I have included website addresses in the "Links" section below.

Question What is a competitive GPA and LSAT score?
Answer That depends on how ambitious you are. If you want to get into a "top-20" law school, competition is fearsome. You’ll need (at least) a 3.7 GPA and a LSAT score at or near the 90th percentile if you wish to be seriously considered. Law school typically combine GPA and LSAT scores, so a 3.9 GPA allows a bit more leeway on the LSAT score, and vice versa. If you are less ambitious, the competition is mutual law schools are trying to fill their first-year classes at the same time you are applying to a number of law schools. A student with a "B" average at the end of the junior year, and who scores in the upper half of LSAT test takers, should be able to get into law school.

Question To how many law schools should I apply?
Answer I like to see students apply to a couple of law schools that are "possible admissions," a couple that are "probable," and at least one that is "highly probable." My calculus suggests that, the greater the number of law schools to which you apply, the greater the liklihood that you will be admitted -- if you follow the above mentioned "mix" of applications. There are books and websites (listed below) that will help you calculate what constitutes a "probable" admission.

Question How do I afford law school?
Answer Unfortunately, few philanthropic institutions are willing to give people money to attend law school. Fortunately (or unfortunately), lending institutions are willing to lend you all the money you’ll need -- more money than you need, in fact. As you decide which schools you would like to attend, keep tuition in mind -- but don’t let a high tuition discourage you completely. A student who gains admission to one of the top ten law schools in the nation should at least consider a larger debt than someone who gains admission to an expensive but unremarkable law school. Keep in mind that, generally speaking, the greater the debt, the fewer the options upon graduation from law school. It’s hard to pay back a large debt when you’re working as a public defender in small town America. But also keep in mind that some pricey law schools (like Yale) have generous tuition forgiveness policies.

Question Does it matter in which region of the country the law school is located?
Answer Yes. Even the top law schools tend to place their grads in their particular geographical region. This is not always the case, but more often than you might think. So when it comes to deciding which law school to attend, think about whether you’d like to live in that part of the country.

Question Are you available for one-on-one consultation?
Answer Yes. The better I can get to know you, the better my advice will be, and the greater the liklihood of a successful admissions experience.

II. Useful Resources

Applicant Support Network
www.iglou.com/asn/asnlaw.html#top

Find Your Law School by USNews
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad98/law_srch.html

Law Student and Pre-Law Student Resources:

Locator Matrix
www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/carct/matrix.html

LSAT prep
www.prepmaster.com

Pre-law Webpages:

U of Richmond
www.urich.edu/~polisci/prelaw.htm