“There is no single path that will prepare you for a legal education. However, there are core skills and values that will provide you with a solid foundation; these have been summarized in the American Bar Association’s Statement on Pre-Law Preparation. No particular undergraduate education is recommended; students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. If you are an undergraduate, a Pre-Law advisor at your school can help you plan a course of study that will help you achieve your goal.” – from LSAC’s Preparing for Law School webpage
GPA and LSAT
According to most law schools right now, GPA and LSAT score are the two most important factors in your law school application. While the law school admissions committees will review all aspects of your law school application, the GPA and LSAT are the factors will likely be reviewed first and they can either “open the door” or “close the door” on your admissions chances. Multiple sites exist for Pre-Law students to learn about a law schools GPA and LSAT averages, but the resources that we most strongly recommend to view GPA and LSAT averages are:
GPA and LSAT Averages of Law Schools
- LSAC’s UGPA/LSAT Score Search – enter your Undergraduate GPA and LSAT score and see your chances of admission at different law schools
- LSAC’s Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools – search by Undergraduate GPA, LSAT, state, region, keyword, etc. and also includes links to all law schools’ websites
- ABA’s Standard 509 Reports – These reports provide the most current and comprehensive data from the American Bar Association (ABA) including LSAT score and GPA ranges for each law school in addition to other admissions data; tuition and fees, living costs, and financial aid; conditional scholarships; enrollment data, including academic, transfer, and other attrition; numbers of full‐time and part‐time faculty, professional librarians, and administrators; class sizes for first‐year and upper‐class courses; number of seminar, clinical and co‐curricular offerings; employment outcomes; and bar passage data.
- NAPLA’s Law School Locator (pdf) – This printer friendly tool can help you assess the LSAT and GPA expectations of different law schools.
Majors for Law School Preparation
There is no “one” major for law school nor any specific set of courses need to prepare for law school. In other words, you can be any major! Law schools want you to choose a major that you will enjoy. The top five majors for law school applicants from UCF last year were (in alphabetical order):
- Criminal Justice
- History
- Legal Studies
- Political Science (all tracks)
- Psychology
Instead of focusing on “major”, Pre-Law students should focus on developing “skill sets” while in college that will be of great benefit to them in law school and as a lawyer. These skill sets include:
- Reading and Listening
- Analyzing
- Synthesizing
- Advocating
- Counseling
- Writing and Speaking
- Negotiating
For more information about skill sets, read the LSAC’s Lawyers and Their Skills.
Becoming a Lawyer and Resources for Legal Professionals
- LSAC (Law School Admissions Council) – LSAC helps prospective law students with easing the law school admission process. Pre-Law students will register for the LSAT and apply to law schools from the LSAC website.
- ABA (American Bar Association) – Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to supporting the legal profession with practical resources for legal professionals while improving the administration of justice, accrediting law schools, establishing model ethical codes, and more. Membership is open to lawyers, law students, and others interested in the law and the legal profession.
- NALP (National Association for Law Placement – NALP is the premier resource for information on legal employment and recruiting. Analysis of data sources such as the Employment Report and Salary Survey, the Associate Salary Survey, the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, and others allows NALP to provide comprehensive information on a variety of topics.