Pre-Law at Marshall
There is no pre-law major at Marshall. The American Bar Association does not recommend a particular major, and there is no specific major that law schools prefer. You should choose a major that that will help you develop the skills you need to be a successful law student and legal practitioner. Any major that enables you to develop skills in analytical thinking and communication, especially writing, is a good pre-law major.
Regardless of your area of concentration, you should choose electives that facilitate critical understanding of economic, political, and social institutions. Since a lawyer must be able to communicate effectively, you should emphasize oral and written communication skills — for example, by taking courses that require you to write, construct persuasive arguments, and develop your speaking skills.
Prospective law school applicants should:
- consult as soon as possible, preferably during the first semester, with the Pre-law Advisor – Patricia Proctor – for further information and advice;
- check out www.lsac.org, the webpage of the Law School Admissions Council, which administers the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and coordinates the law school application process for most law schools;
- during your junior year of college (or the year prior to the year you wish to begin law school), register for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT); a good time to take the test is in the summer after your junior year, but the test is also administered in several other months of the year. It is critical to focus on a plan of study; you MUST prepare to take this exam in advance;
- during your senior year of college, apply for law school admission. While most law schools also require that students register with the Law School Credentials Assembly Service (LSCAS) and complete the process on-line, you should check the individual application requirements and timelines of each school to which you wish to apply.
Important Links
Law School
- Law School Admissions Council – http://www.lsac.org/
- National Association of Law Placement (legal careers) http://www.nalp.org/
- “Is Law School Right for You?” (Baylor Law): https://www.baylor.edu/law/doc.php/298054.pdf
- Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors http://www.napla.org/
- Pre-law Hieros Gamos (law school list) – http://www.hg.org/schools.html
- American Bar Association – http://www.americanbar.org/
- Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools – https://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx
- Top Law Schools – http://www.top-law-schools.com/
- Admissions Dean – http://www.admissionsdean.com
Rankings
- Index to Law School Rankings (ILRG) – http://www.ilrg.com/rankings.html
- US News Top Law Schools – http://www.grad-schools.usnews.com
- Leiter Law School Rankings – http://www.leiterlawschool.com
Legal Resources
- Legal Information Institute (Cornell University) http://www.law.cornell.edu/index.html
- Findlaw – http://www.findlaw.com
- U.S. Federal Courts – http://www.uscourts.gov/
- Jurist – http://jurist.law.pitt.edu
- Internet Legal Resource Guide – http://www.ilrg.com
- Above the Law – http://abovethelaw.com
- Wall Street Journal Law Blog – http://www.blogs.wsj.com/law
LSAT Preparation Materials and Commercial Courses
- Jay Cutts: Steps to the LSAT – http://www.cuttsreviews.com
- Law School First Stop: Guide to the LSAT – https://www.gograd.org/lsat_guidebook/
- Peterson’s LSAT Guide – www.petersons.com/testprep/lsat/
- Kaplan – http://www.kaptest.com/lsat
- Princeton Review – http://www.princetonreview.com
- PowerScore – https://www.powerscore.com/
- Blueprint – www.blueprint.com
- TestMasters – www.testmasters.net
- Kahn Academy – www.khanacademy.org/prep/lsat
Additional LSAT Preparation Materials
Free LSAT Prep materials are available at lsat.org/lsat/prep
In addition, other affordable materials may be purchased through LSAC.org
You may also wish to check out the highly affordable “Steps to the LSAT” program: http://www.cuttsreviews.com/stepstolsat/
The following materials may also be useful:http://www.cuttsreviews.com/stepstolsat/
- Barron’s How to Prepare for the LSAT (Jerry Bobrow, Ph.D.)
- Examkracker’s LSAT Complete Study Package (David Lynch)
- Kaplan’s LSAT Premier
- The Powerscore Logic Games Bible
- LSAT for Dummies (Amy Hackney Blackwell)
- LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible (David M. Killoran)
- LSAT Logic Games Bible (David M. Killoran)
- Master the LSAT (Prep Course Series) (Jeff Kolby)
Marshall University Prelaw Club
The Marshall University Prelaw Club is open to all students who are interested in learning more about law school and the legal profession. It provides an environment in which students who share a common interest in law and justice issues, and are contemplating a legal career, can come together to interact with each other and with legal professionals.