Pre-Law Advising and Academic Planning
If you’re considering law school, we encourage you to connect with the pre-law advisor early in your career at Elmhurst University.
The pre-law advisor will help you explore the field of law and guide you through every step of the law school application process, from researching schools to completing your applications.
Student Timeline
Register as a pre-law student with the advising office as early as possible. Then make an appointment with the pre-law advisor.
At your first appointment, make sure you’re enrolled on the University’s Blackboard website. This is also a good time to talk to your pre-law advisor about:
- Choosing a major and/or minor (generally, law schools have no preference)
- Courses that may help with the LSAT or law school
- Exploring legal internships, mentoring, or shadowing opportunities
- The timeline for law school applications
In your junior year, you should make an appointment with the pre-law advisor to learn more about the various options for law school and legal specialization. She’ll also talk to you about planning for the LSAT, preparing your law school application, requesting recommendation letters and writing personal statements.
As a senior, you should meet with the pre-law advisor early in the fall. She’ll help you proofread your personal statement, track down recommendation letters and finalize a list of law schools to apply to, given your GPA and LSAT score. To maximize your chances, you should complete your applications between the end of October and the middle of November.
You may meet with the pre-law advisor again in the spring for assistance in choosing a school once you find out where you’ve been accepted.
Academic Planning
You don’t have to choose a particular major to go to law school.
In fact, law schools are interested in candidates from a variety of disciplines. However, you’ll need to develop some key skills and learn some relevant concepts, and Elmhurst offers a variety of courses that can help. For example:
- In Introduction to Law, students will learn about civil law doctrines and legal procedures taught by an attorney and alum of Elmhurst University who attended Northwestern University for his JD.
- In Constitutional Law I, Constitutional Law II and Criminal Law, you’ll read and brief Supreme Court cases as well as learn substantive areas of law.
- Our Logic course can help you prepare for specific sections of the LSAT.
- In Mock Trial, you’ll research a fictional legal case and compete to win trials before members of the local legal community.
- Exploring the Legal Profession gives students the chance to meet with legal professionals, observe courtroom action, try out beginning legal research, and explore whether a career in law is a good fit for them.
- Students in the MBA program at Elmhurst can take The Legal and Ethical Framework of Business to learn the fundamental concepts and legal principles applicable to the global business community.
In addition, the University’s Russell G. Weigand Center for Professional Excellence can help you identify opportunities to learn more about the field through volunteering, mentoring and internships.
We encourage you to work closely with the pre-law advisor when choosing courses at Elmhurst.