Pre-Law Advising

Welcome to Pitzer College’s Pre-Law Advising. Whether you are considering a career in law, preparing for the LSAT or applying to law school, we are here to help.

Getting Started 

As a student of the liberal arts attending Pitzer College and the greater Claremont Colleges, you receive excellent academic preparation to pursue a career in law. Students often ask if there is a certain major that law schools look more favorably upon during the admission process. The American Bar Association and its 203 accredited and approved law schools do not require nor recommend any particular undergraduate major for those preparing for law school.  

An important determinant for law school is your grade point average. It is best to select a major with courses of interest that you find intellectually stimulating. Through your undergraduate course work, focus on the following core skills recommended by the American Bar Association: 

  • Analytic and Problem-Solving
  • Critical Reading
  • Writing and Editing
  • Oral Communication and Listening Abilities
  • Research

For more information visit the American Bar Association’s Pre-Law: Preparing for Law School page

Refer to the Pre-law FAQs Handout

Appointments

Meet with our pre-law advisor, Ro W. Lee, Esq. For quick questions he can be emailed at [email protected].  

Schedule an Appointment

Preparing for Law School

Explore 

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Resources 

  • Diversity in Law School: Why it Matters, Discover Law (LSAC) 
  • LatinoJustice (Formerly PRLDEF) Latino Justice works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. 
  • Undocumented/DACA Law School Resources
  • LGBTQ+ Bar/Lavender Law and Annual Conference 
  • National Black Pre-Law Conference  
  • CLEO Pre-Law Programs
    • Road To Law School (RTLS) seminar aims to provide Freshman an overview of the key components of the law school application process. 
    • Sophomore Super Saturdays pre-law seminars are designed for Sophomore college students. Juniors may be admitted on a space available basis. The seminars aim to help students further develop logical reasoning, reading comprehension and writing skills – the skills needed to become a competitive law school applicant. 
    • Juniors Jumpstart LSAT seminars aim to help participants understand the importance of systematic and timely preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). 
    • Pre-Law Summer Institute and other CLEO programs can be found on this page. 

Pre-Law Student Fellowships 

  • Munger, Tolles & Olson Law Fellows Program in Los Angeles, CA – The MTO Fellows Program is a ten-month initiative aimed at preparing 25-40 aspiring diverse students for admission to and success in law school. The program seeks applicants from all backgrounds and strives to increase the diversity of the legal profession. All MTO Fellows will participate in the LSAT Preparation Course, monthly Saturday workshops (in downtown Los Angeles) and The Fellows Network, a strong network of law students, practicing attorneys and MTO alumni for on-site gatherings and other events.
  • UCLA Law Fellows Program – Legal Scholars Programs – These programs are usually in conjunction with a law school (ex. UCLA Fellows Program), a city (ex. the City of Temecula) or a company (ex. Facebook) to support pre-law and the first year of law students.
  • Legal Education Access Pipeline, a 9-month fellowship program – LEAP 

Applying to Law School 

We encourage students to apply early! Even with “rolling admissions,” law schools fill up quickly. Financial aid is often prioritized to those who apply early and can run out before the end of the application season. If you want a seat secured at a particular law school and the best possible financial assistance package, apply early! 

LSAT  

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an integral part of law school admission that tests the skills necessary for success in the first year of law school. To learn more about the LSAT format, dates and fees visit LSAC.  

Test Prep Resources: 

Essays 

Virtually every law school will ask you to submit a personal statement as part of your application. Following your LSAT score and GPA, the personal statement is the most important component of the application process.

Personal Statement 

Diversity Statements in Applications 

How to Choose a Law School?

Selecting the right law schools to apply to involves research and introspection. While a school’s reputation can be important, it’s easy to rely solely on their rankings. We recommended that you gather information about both law schools and yourself to arrive at your own criteria and help you make an informed decision.

Gathering Information

  • Attend
    • Pre-Law Workshops,
    • Panel Discussions.
    • LSAC sponsored Law School Forum in Los Angeles or other metropolitan cities in the fall to speak with law school representatives about the application process, the LSAT, financial aid, diversity and the legal profession.
  • Use LSAC Law School Links, to research law schools and program specifics
  • Conduct informational interviews by calling or visiting law schools. Most all schools will have a representative who is currently in law school or who just graduated to talk with all potential law school applicants.
  • Network with other Pre-Law students and legal professionals by attending events hosted by Pre-Law organizations such as the Los Angeles Bar Association, For People of Color, Inc. and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO).

Factors to consider.

  • Divide your chosen schools into 3 categories: Dream schools vs. Target schools vs. Safety Schools
  • Financial Considerations
  • Location – Where would you like to start your practice? Is weather a factor for you? Do you need to be near your family?
  • Campus facilities (housing, library, classrooms)
  • Faculty (legal training, areas of interest, accessibility, diversity)
  • Academic programs (clinical opportunities, joint degree offerings, study abroad options)

Comparing Schools

Check out Standard 509 Reports, plus Employment Outcomes and Bar Passage Outcomes

  • The American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education, has up to date reports on all ABA approved schools. The reports include data about tuition and fees, living expenses, GPA and LSAT scores, and grants and scholarships which can help you compare law schools before applying.
  • Review the California State Bar Association website. A very interesting site with bar pass rates for ABA and non-ABA accredited schools in and out of the State.

Paying for Law School

*Timeline and Choosing a Law School, et.al, UC Berkley, 2019