Milestones
Fall
- Complete first advising meeting with Pre-Law Advisor
- Review Pathway Process with Pre-Law Student Mentor
- Attend first group meeting with other sophomore Pre-Law students
- Attend pre-law internship informational meeting
Spring
- Visit a law school campus, including attending a law school class
- Meet with Student Mentor to review summer internship planning
- Meet with Pre-Law Advisor to review internship planning
- Attend end of semester sophomore group meeting
Summer
- Participate in a law-related internship (optional)
Key Pre-Law Questions During Sophomore Year
Why do I want a legal career?
To Change the World
While a legal education may expose you to the different institutions which influence society, law school is not a specialized program. Law school will teach you the basic analytical thinking and case method needed to be an American lawyer. However, most law schools offer clinical programs and co-ops targeted at a specific field in law.
Economic Success
Although a legal education can lead to a lucrative career, financial success depends upon the field of law pursued and the location of a lawyer’s practice. If your goal is earning a lot of money quickly, then you may want to consider other career options besides law.
Political Career
Understanding the law and government structure will aid in understanding the legislative process of lawmaking. However, a legal education is not necessary for a successful political career.
What course of study (major) should I pursue at Berea?
No particular academic major guarantees success in applying to law school, and students from the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences all find success in studying law. Instead, an undergraduate student should explore their interests as they pursue their coursework at Berea. On the other hand, lawyers are expected to have a strong background in analytical thinking which enables them to think, write and speak clearly. At Berea College, the general education curriculum emphasizes these tasks in the GSTR sequence and the required perspectives regardless of a student’s major. Within a particular major, a pre-law student should look for opportunities to increase their analytical reading and writing capabilities. In particular, successful law school students will need a solid background in American history, U.S. political structures, and economic and social justice issues generally.
What are the career prospects in the legal field?
A legal education can be applied in many fields such as government, business, education, immigration, entertainment, health care, technology and more. Below are some of the many fields you can enter as a lawyer:
- Admiralty law (The Maritime Law Association of the United States)
- U.S. Bankruptcy law (National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys)
- Corporate law (Association of Corporate Counsel)
- Civil rights law (Civil Rights Trial Lawyers Association)
- Criminal law (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
- Tax law (National Association of Tax Professionals)
- Entertainment law (International Association of Entertainment Lawyers)
- Environmental law (National Association of Environmental Law Societies)
- Family law (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers)
- Health law (American Health Lawyers Association)
- Immigration law (American Immigration Lawyers Association)
- Intellectual Property law (American Intellectual Property Law Association)
- International law (International Law Association)
- Labor law (National Employment Lawyers Association)
- Military law (Judge Advocates Association)
- Personal injury law (National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers)
- Real Estate law (Association of Real Estate Licence Law Officials)
What kinds of internships provide opportunities to explore a legal career?
If you would like exposure to the legal field you wish to pursue, an internship is a great way to gain experience. This not only helps you get an idea of what the work constitutes of but it would also allow you to build professional relationships which may prove useful. In order to explore this opportunity, please make an appointment and visit the Office of Internships and Career Development Office.
Are extracurricular activities important?
Although the LSAT and GPA are the most important factors, having extracurricular activities outside of classes and labor can be significant components of your application. Your extracurricular involvement gives the admissions team an opportunity to consider your interests and what you may contribute to their campus. If you would like information on the different clubs available on campus, please look into B-linked.