Pre-Law Preparation at UHMānoa
(Text compiled from the websites of the U.S. Department of Labor, American Bar Association, Law School Admissions Council, and William S. Richardson School of Law, as well as from the UHM 2006-2007 Catalog.)
J.D. Programs
Coursework
What makes a strong candidate?
The LSAT
The Application Process
Additional Information
Downloadable Brochure
Law in practice is the application of abstract rules, or laws, to concrete situations to resolve actual or potential conflict. Because law impacts virtually every aspect of society, the legal profession is as diverse as humanity itself. Lawyers, or attorneys, may use their degrees in careers other than law, but most choose to practice law in one form or another. Lawyers work in all areas of society, from public practice to private firms, from trials in court to teaching in academia, and from general law to specialty areas such as corporate law, entertainment law, copyright law, criminal law, family law, environmental law, international law, tax law, and so on.
J.D. Programs
In order to practice, lawyers must earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and must pass a regional bar exam.
Becoming a J.D. requires approximately 7 years of education:
- Bachelors Degree (4-5 years)
- Law School (3 years)
Some law schools allow students to attend part time by extending the course of study to four years. A number of schools have also developed combined degree programs – JD/MBA, JD/PhD, JD/MPA, JD/MD, JD/MS – which often extend the course of study beyond three years.
Every ABA-approved school provides sufficient basic training in American law to qualify its graduates to take the bar exam in any state or region.
A legal education is designed to develop your analytic, creative, and logical reasoning skills, as well as your reading, writing, and debating skills. Lawyers must know how to analyze legal issues in light of constantly changing laws and public policy. Within the context of the legal system, they must be able to advocate for individuals and diverse interest groups, represent viewpoints other than their own, and give accurate, intelligent counsel. In particular, lawyers must be able to write clearly, communicate effectively, and negotiate persuasively.
Most U.S. schools rely on a case or casebook method combined with Socratic teaching, in which students research assigned cases and related judicial opinions in preparation for class, when the instructor poses questions to clarify details, highlight underlying theory, and determine how well the students have understood. First-year and second-year curricula usually begin with the fundamentals of legal practice and progress to courses in civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, legal research and writing, property law, torts, professional ethics, and so on. Third-year curricula are often elective courses in areas of interest. Law students often participate in extra-curricular activities, including law reviews (academic journals by students), Moot Court, and Client Competitions.
Schools differ in their emphasis on certain subjects and in their opportunities for independent study or clinical experience. Pre-law students should become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of whichever schools they are considering attending. When researching schools, pre-law students might want to consider schools’ faculty/student ratio, areas of specialization, library facilities, job placement record, and quality of alumni, as well as cost and location.
Law school also prepares students for the state bar exam and provides crucial contacts to the legal community in the area, two reasons it is advantageous to attend a law school in the area where you hope to practice.
Graduates from accredited law schools are eligible to take state bar exams. Although some states have reciprocal agreements that allow lawyers to practice in several states after passing one bar exam, most states require lawyers to pass a bar exam specifically for the state in which they intend to practice. All lawyers must be bar-approved in order to practice.
Coursework
All ABA-approved law schools require a completed baccalaureate degree, but few require specific undergraduate courses. Instead, they look for a variety of courses that will develop the kinds of skills that will be important in practicing law, such as analytic reading, fluent writing, clear ethics, and strong oral communication. Many courses at UHM develop such skills and can be found in departments from every college:
English |
American Studies |
Business |
Philosophy |
Asian Studies |
Environmental Management |
Speech |
Ethnic Studies |
Family Resources |
Theatre |
Hawaiian Studies |
Natural Sciences |
History |
Women's Studies |
Political Science |
Journalism |
Pre-law students should plan on taking more “Writing Intensive” courses than the five required to graduate from UHMānoa, preferably several at the upper division level, and should take full advantage of these courses to hone their writing skills. UHMānoa’s Ethical Issues and Oral Communication focus requirements are especially important in law, and pre-law students should consider taking more than the required one each.
If you have a particular area of interest, your coursework should reflect that interest, either in your major or in your electives, as in the following examples:
Business Law: |
Accounting Information Technology Management Management and Industrial Relation |
Family Law: |
Family Resources Sociology Psychology |
Patent Law: |
Physics Information and Computer Science Chemistry Math |
Environmental Law: |
Natural Resources and Environmental Management Biology Microbiology Global Environmental Science |
Additional requirements may include courses such as psychology, speech, English, history, physiology, microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry.
What makes a strong candidate?
While law schools are interested in enrolling students who excel academically, they are also interested in students who demonstrate potential for contributing to the community and the profession of law.
Lawyers must be able to read and comprehend vast amounts of information within limited amounts of time, critically assess information from multiple perspectives, and form arguments and judgments based in reason and logic. Lawyers must also be able to communicate effectively with clients, judges, juries, the community, and other lawyers.
Legal decisions deeply impact people’s lives and well being. Pre-law students should continually evaluate themselves, work to improve their weaknesses, and strive to develop judgment, dependability, conscientious habits, and a solid ethical foundation.
Criteria for admission to law school often include:
- Successful completion of a rigorous undergraduate academic program
- high grade point average (GPA)
- evidence of courses requiring extensive reading, writing, public speaking, research, and logic/critical thinking
- a pattern of improving grades
- graduate course work (optional)
- High LSAT score
- Experience with the law profession
- volunteer, paid, or extracurricular
- evidence of public service and of a commitment to helping others
- evidence of commitment to the legal field
- evidence of personal initiative, maturity, leadership, and integrity
- Personal statement
- motivation
- lessons learned
- evidence of having overcome difficulties
- Letters of recommendation
- academic ability, personal character, future potential
- recommenders should know you well; the more details, the better
- State of residency (for public schools)
The LSAT
All ABA-approved law schools require the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The test take a half-day (4-5 hours) and is administered four times a year: February, June, October, and December. Pre-law students should plan on taking the LSAT in June or October, a full year before entering law school (for example, test in June 2007 to enter Fall 2008). The test is administered in paper-based format and tests reading, writing, and logic. Scores range from 120 to 180, with 180 being highest; a score of 160 is considered competitive. Score reports take about 3-4 weeks and will be sent to you via e-mail. You can register online at www.lsac.org with a valid credit card.
The Application Process
The first step in applying is to create an account at the Law School Admissions Council website, www.lsac.org, which you will need to do when you register for the LSAT.
Almost all ABA-approved law schools require that applicants also register for the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). You can register through the mail or online at the LSAC website. Register at least two months before your schools’ earliest application deadline. You will need to complete application information and submit transcripts, LSAT scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement to LSDAS, which will send a data summary to the law schools you designate.
Each law school has its own application form, all of which are also available at the LSAC website. You can submit the individual schools’ applications by mail or electronically by following the instructions on the website. If you have questions, you can contact LSAC via telephone or email.
Note: Individual schools have different deadlines and procedures, especially regarding letters of recommendation and personal statements. It is your responsibility to follow all instructions and to meet all deadlines, so read all of the application instructions carefully!
Additional Information
UHMānoa’s Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center (PAC) has reference books on law schools and law careers, lists of volunteer opportunities, academic planning worksheets, and one-on-one advising by peers who can help you prepare for and apply to law schools.
| UHM's Manoa Pre-Law Association (MPLA) | www2.hawaii.edu/~mpla mpla@hawaii.edu |
| American Bar Association (ABA) | www.abanet.org |
| Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) | www.lsac.org |
| The Law Engine | www.thelawengine.com |
| Jurist: The Legal Education Network | http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/lawschoolnews |
| Find Law for Students | http://stu.findlaw.com/schools |
| Discover Law | www.discoverlaw.org |
| ABA-Approved Law Schools, a publication of the Law School Admission Council and the ABA | available in PAC |
| Law School Admission Reference Manual, published annually by the Law School Admission Council | available in PAC |