Many students are accepted by law schools and do well with none or few of the courses herein suggested. We acquire skills and knowledge in a variety of ways, and specific college courses are but one aspect of the learning process. However, if a student desires to increase his or her chances of getting accepted by a law school then the following courses should help. Additionally, “getting in” is only half the battle. These suggested courses should go far in preparing the student for law school type courses. The skills and basic knowledge that these courses provide should eliminate much of the shock usually experienced by the first year law student.

In addition, the relationship between law and government and the emphasis on writing and analytical skills makes the politics major a natural choice. One note of caution. This attempts to explain why various courses are useful. If you decide to enroll in a given course, be sure you are aware of the rationale for taking the course. Approach the course with a goal. If the course is suggested because it will teach you a skill, be sure you try to develop that skill. If the course is recommended because the specific knowledge will benefit you in law school, then study that course and acquire that knowledge. There is nothing magic about having any of the following courses on your college transcript.

I. Getting In

Major emphasis is usually placed on your college grades and your Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. Some private institutions offer courses (usually of a week duration and usually expensive) designed to help you increase your score. You can start early, however, by taking college courses that either directly or indirectly help you in the admissions test.

1. PHL 120, LOGIC. The LSAT contains several sections which place a premium on your ability to think logically. One section, for instance, might ask you to read a case decision. You would then be given several fact situations and would be asked whether or not this case is applicable. Success depends on your ability to extract a principle from the case and apply that principle to different fact situations. In other words, you are asked to demonstrate that you can think logically. Thus, a course in logic can create an extremely valuable skill that you can use when it comes time to take the LSAT.

2. ECN 101, 102, OR SOC 110. These courses will be mentioned again later. Aside from the specific knowledge to be acquired, these courses offer the chance to develop an important test-taking skill: data interpretation. The LSAT often contains a section requiring the interpretation of the charts and graphs. The texts for these courses usually contain a wealth of charts and graphs of all types. If you take one or more of these courses, one of your goals should be to learn to interpret the varied types of graphs and charts so that you will score well in that section of the LSAT.

3. COMPOSITION (ENG281). The LSAT usually has a section to test your skill with the English language. Naturally the ability to write clear, concise and grammatically correct language is an essential skill. English composition courses will help you on the LSAT. Beyond these courses it is suggested that you do as much writing as possible while in college. If a paper is offered as a course option, write one. If papers are not mentioned, approach your professor and ask to write one. This will help you get into law school by increasing your composition skills (and hopefully your LSAT score). If research papers are involved, you will be developing another skill- researching- which is essential to every law student and practicing lawyer.

4. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (POL 403), LAW AND SOCIETY (POL 210), CIVIL LIBERTIES (POL 404), (ADJ202). All of these courses should help you to score well on the LSAT. First, the LSAT contains a surprising number of legal terms. Knowing the meaning of these terms helps avoid needless confusion which will only “rattle” your nerves during the test. Additionally these courses teach you to extract principles from cases. Since this is usually a major part of the LSAT this skill cannot be under-emphasized. Taking some or all of these courses is highly recommended.

One other skill that is worth mentioning is testtaking. To lessen the shock of the LSAT, take the practice exams. Not only LSAT type exams but any of the multiple choice type exams that are available. For instance, there are practice tests for the LSAT Graduate Record Examination., etc. These practice tests will familiarize you with test format, reading of instructions, etc. Write to the LSAT testing service in Princeton, New Jersey, and request a copy of their LSAT practice test. The test contains correct answers and a lengthy glossary of legal terms likely to appear in the LSAT test you take.

5. ETHICS (PHL260). This course is an introduction to philosophical ethics. Basic ethical concepts and theories are studied, as are patterns of moral deliberation and judgment. The American Bar Association notes that “each member of the legal profession should be dedicated both to 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.” Taking an ethics course(s) should assist you in laying the foundation for meeting these goals.

II. Staying In

Once you are accepted your real work begins. Law school is unlike other professional schools in that there is no required undergraduate background. The law student who has completed the following courses (or who has acquired knowledge and skill that form the rationale for suggesting the courses) will still find law school new and different, but not impossible.

1. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (POL 115), OR SURVEY OF AMERICAN HISTORY (HIS110) OR POL 313, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (POL 314), POLITICAL PARTIES (POL 316), CONGRESS AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS (POL 421), THE AMERICAN JUDICIARY (POL 423). Any law student who does not understand the nature of the American system will often find him/herself needlessly confused. Law school presupposes that the law student knows such things as how a bill becomes a law. Law schools presume that their students are familiar with the election process and with the basic concepts of federalism that often serve as a basis for judicial decisions. Much needless confusion can be eliminated by acquiring this knowledge in advance of your attendance at a law school.

2. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (POL 403), CIVIL LIBERTIES (POL 404), LOGIC (PHL 120). The first two courses offer not only the essential skills (mentioned above in Part I) but specific knowledge. Constitutional law will be a part of your law school curriculum. It will include and expand upon material you learned in the above courses. If you learn some of it now much of what you will study in a law school constitutional law course will be familiar. More important, these courses introduce you to the “case method.” Law school is unique in its system of instruction. Law courses do not teach you abstract legal principles. Rather you are required to read decisions in actual cases and from these decisions you must abstract the law. Law school examinations also utilize this technique. (Most law school exams consist of a factual situation with which you are asked to resolve based on cases you have studied in class). This “abstracting” is a difficult task for many law students. If you begin to acquire the skill now, you will have a head start. Once again, the importance of a course in logic is emphasized. What judges imply or leave unsaid is often the basis for new decisions and is the key to success in law for the student and the legal practitioner.

3. SOCIOLOGY (SOC 110). A great number of court decisions find their basis in sociological argument as well as “pure law.” This has been especially true in the area of racial discrimination and in the increasing number of “poor people” cases.

4. ECONOMICS (ECN 101. 102). Legislation under the interstate commerce clause often involves economic theories. Law school courses dealing with the Sherman Anti-Trust Act require an understanding of the operation and effect on monopolies. You can wait and pick it up on your own once you start law school, or you can learn it now.

5. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (ACC 101). Most law students take courses in corporations, partnerships, and income tax. Because of the increasing technicalities of these courses, a course in accounting is recommended. Additionally, many lawyers deal with accountants and businessmen in their practice of law. An accounting course will help you converse knowledgeably with accountants. Finally, if you plan on practicing on your own, you will handle most of your law office accounts yourself. An accounting course will help you set up your day to day accounting system.

6. PUBLIC SPEAKING. You might consider taking electives in public speaking or joining a “mock trial.” A debating club, drama club, etc., would be useful. The future law student should become accustomed to standing before and addressing an audience since this is an integral part of the practice of law. Debating would especially be useful as it gives you practice in “thinking on your feet,” a skill essential to the trial lawyer. Participating in “Mock Trials” would be beneficial

III. “Extras”

1. DEVIANT BEHAVIOR (SOC 317)
2. SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY (SOC 214)
3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (POL 211)
4. FOREIGN LANGUAGE SKILLS.

In Summary