Pre-Law
Pre-Law is an advising category for students preparing to attend law school. Pre-law is not a major, and, therefore, does not grant students baccalaureate degrees. You can choose any major offered at Nebraska while still studying pre-law. Start your journey towards a law profession with the resources below, and then visit us in the Explore Center.
Pre-Law Program
The legal profession is one that will challenge and enliven the future professional. A lawyer is a professional who has strong oral and written communication skills. Throughout their education and experiences, they have developed excellent analytical and logical thinking skills. Using these skills, a lawyer helps clients navigate a range of legal issues. A student who studies law may find himself or herself working in many different capacities. Some lawyers choose to pursue careers in government, health, or non-profit environments; others use their legal background in politics or business. There are many avenues for the future lawyer to pursue.
The Explore Center works with you to ensure that you are doing what you need to be successful in your goal of attending law school. Through the Explore Center, you can meet with representatives from law schools visiting from around the United States; identify courses that will enhance your reading comprehension, writing, analytical reasoning, and communication skills; take practice LSAT examinations; discuss extra-curricular activities that will prepare you for the legal profession; and receive guidance on your law school applications.
Download this Pre-Law Guide to learn more about how to be a successful Pre-Law student
Beyond Academics
Volunteer
Volunteering in the community is a great way to gain experiences and demonstrates your commitment to helping others.
Shadow
Shadowing law professionals allows you to explore law- related careers and build connections with law professionals. Talk to a Pre-Law advisor for more information.
Research
Research is a great way for you to learn more about your specific areas of interest, engage with faculty members, and develop analytical skill sets. Approach a faculty member about options for research or apply for the UNL UCARE program.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are a great way to connect with others who share your academic, social, or service interests and can provide volunteering and leadership opportunities. UNL offers several Pre-Law organizations.
Work Experience
Gaining practical work or internship experience in any kind of field helps you to develop professional skills, clarify career interests, strengthen self-confidence, build leadership skills, and establish professional contacts. Some examples of law-related work experience include but are not limited to:
- Internships at a law firm or government related non-profit
- Working as a legal runner for a law firm
- Paging at the NE State Capitol
More Opportunities
Take advantage of additional opportunities outside the classroom.
Education Abroad Cornell Prelaw Program & Internship in NYC Duke Law Summer Institute of Law and Policy Lex Scholars by AccessLex University of Houston Law Center – Pre-Law Pipeline Program
Plan Your Path to Law School
Download Our Application Timeline Map
- Meet with a Pre-Law advisor to create a comprehensive academic and co-curricular plan
- Research application requirements
- See school websites for any specific application requirements which may vary by law school
- Meet with a representative of the law program for specific questions and guidance
- Take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
- Administered on various dates throughout the year. See the LSAT website (linked above) for most up-to-date test dates
- Most students take the LSAT in the summer before or fall of their final undergraduate year
- Sign up for an on-campus practice LSAT exam
- Apply through the Credential Assembly Service. CAS is a standardized reporting service that prepares a report of your credentials for distribution to law schools.
- Most law school application deadlines are between February and April.
- Since most law schools use rolling admission, it is best to apply earlier than the deadline.
- Most schools accept between 2-4 letters of recommendation; these letters should come from faculty members and other professionals who can speak to your academic and personal qualities.
- You will also need to write a personal statement, typically between 2-3 pages in length. You can work with an Explore Center advisor to receive feedback and help with writing this statement.
Suggested Academic Preparation
- Bachelor’s degree – required for admission to law school and any UNL major is a great option
- No specific course requirements
- Consider taking courses that will give you a broad base of knowledge and that challenge you to develop excellent written and oral communication skills and logical reasoning skills.
- Take upperlevel courses that require extensive reading, writing, and analysis of texts as these will help you prepare for law school
- Competitive academic record. Law schools will consider:
- GPA
- Difficulty of courses
- Number of classes withdrawn from or taken pass/no pass
Explore this Career
- Take CASC 140: Intro to Law and the Legal Profession
- Interview or shadow members of law professions and/or law school students
- Check out descriptions of law careers
- Law School Admissions Council
- Meet with a PreLaw or Career Advisor in the Explore Center
- Meet with a professional school to learn more about their program
- Research law schools
- AccessLex
- Law School Transparency
Local Professional Schools
- University of Nebraska College of Law (Lincoln, NE)
- Creighton University School of Law (Omaha, NE)
Current students: Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to talk more about your Pre-Law goals.
Are you a non-UNL student looking for information about Pre-Law? Click here