Prospective law students need a broad educational background that provides the critical reading, thinking and writing skills that law schools expect. Students interested in attending law school are encouraged to consider a major that they both enjoy and that will foster these skills. Majors traditionally included, but are not limited to, history, political science, philosophy, English or business at a liberal arts institution. For some types of law (patent and intellectual property law especially), an undergraduate degree in the natural sciences or engineering can also be helpful. At Covenant College, the History, Politics and International Studies Department sponsors the Pre-Law Society, a student organization designed to assist students with law school preparation, evaluation and application.
Admission to law school is determined by the institution to which the application is made. Admission is based upon graduation from an accredited undergraduate college or university, grade point average (GPA), Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores and the personal statement from the applicant. Recommendations are also important, and some extracurricular activities are taken into account in competitive situations.
Although minimum requirements for GPA and LSAT scores vary with individual law schools, realistic expectations for consideration of admission demand that the prospective law student earn a minimum GPA of at least 3.5 and a minimum score on the LSAT in the low to mid 150s. Of course, the higher these scores, the greater one’s choices for law school.
The LSAT can be taken during or just prior to the senior year, though it can be taken later. The test may be taken more than once, but all of an individual’s scores are reported. Pre-law students are encouraged to sign up at the Law School Admissions Council website (LSAC.org) as soon as they begin to consider going to law school. The LSAC oversees the LSAT and provides multiple helps for researching law schools and preparing for the test, as well as links to other useful websites and recommending reading. Students sign up for taking an LSAT through the LSAT website also.
One especially useful source available through LSAC.org is the Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs (https://www.lsac.org/choosing-law-school/find-law-school/jd-programs). This guide is updated regularly and contains links to descriptions of all the American Bar Association approved law schools along with GPA and LSAT profiles of their most recent class admitted. All Pre-Law students are also encouraged to contact Covenant’s Pre-Law Advisor, Dr. Richard Follett, at Richard.Follett@covenant.edu for further information and practical guidance.
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