Common Advising Questions
Common Advising Questions
We hear lots of questions from students considering legal careers, predominantly from those aiming for law school —What should I major in? When should I take the LSAT? Do I need a legal internship? What GPA do I need? And perhaps the biggest question of all: How do I know if law school is right for me?
There is no single path to law school, but there is plenty you can do to make informed choices and prepare for what comes next. We’ve gathered some of the questions we hear most often from students, along with answers to help you navigate your journey with confidence.
What should I major in?
Major in something that interests you and that you can do well in. There is no required major for law school and no single “best” pre-law major. Law schools welcome students from a wide range of academic backgrounds.
Whatever you choose, look for opportunities to strengthen the skills you will need in law school and the legal profession—especially critical reading, analytical thinking, research, writing, and communication. Your major should help you grow intellectually, challenge you academically, and give you opportunities to succeed.
I’m planning to attend law school. When should I study for the LSAT and plan to take the test?
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an important part of the law school application process and is designed to measure skills that are important for success in law school, including critical reading, reasoning, and analysis. There is no single “right” time to take the LSAT. Your testing timeline should be based on when you plan to apply to law school, how much time you need to prepare, and when you are ready to perform at your best. For many students, that means beginning to think about LSAT preparation during the junior year, but your timeline may look different.
Give yourself plenty of time to learn about the exam, take a diagnostic test, prepare consistently, and take the LSAT when you are ready to perform your best. Don’t choose a test date simply because you think you’re “supposed” to take it at a certain time. Create a study and testing timeline that works for you.
Preparation matters. Before choosing a test date, become familiar with the exam, take a diagnostic test, develop a realistic study plan, and give yourself enough time to prepare consistently.
Your LSAT score is only one part of your law school application, but it plays an critical role in admissions and scholarship decisions because it measures skills considered essential for success in law school and for passing the bar exam. Legal Professions advisors can help you think through when to take the LSAT, how to build a preparation timeline, and how your score fits into your broader law school application strategy.
The score scale for the LSAT is 120 to 180. The average score is 151.
The LSAT is offered multiple times throughout the year, giving students flexibility in choosing a test date that fits their preparation and law school application timeline. Registration deadlines occur well before each test administration, so students should plan ahead. Before registering, consider how much preparation time you need, when you hope to submit law school applications, and whether you want to leave yourself time to retake the exam if necessary.
View the latest information on upcoming test dates and registration deadlines.
Do I need a legal internship?
No, you do not need a legal internship to apply successfully to law school!
Internships in law offices, courts, government agencies, nonprofits, or other legal settings can be valuable because they allow you to see the legal profession firsthand and determine whether this work interests you. But law schools also value meaningful experiences in research, employment, service, leadership, study abroad, and other fields.
Focus less on whether an experience has the word “law” attached to it and more on what you learned, how you contributed, and how the experience helped you grow.
What GPA do I need to apply to law school?
There is no single GPA required for law school and related careers. Admissions standards vary considerably among law schools, and GPA is considered alongside other parts of your application.
That said, your undergraduate academic record matters. Law schools want evidence that you can succeed in a rigorous academic environment, so your goal should be to build the strongest academic record you can while taking courses that genuinely challenge and develop you.
Rather than focusing on a magic GPA number, focus on doing well consistently, developing strong academic skills, and researching the admissions profiles of individual law schools as you begin thinking about where to apply.
How do I know if law school is right for me? Should I consider another type to legal career?
Start by asking a slightly different question: What do I want to do, and does becoming a lawyer help me get there?
Law school is a significant commitment of time, energy, and money. Before applying, spend time learning what lawyers actually do—not just what legal careers look like on television. Take law-related courses, attend programs featuring legal topics and legal practitioners, talk with attorneys and law students, explore different areas of practice, and seek experiences that expose you to law and the legal system.
You don’t have to know exactly what kind of lawyer you want to become. You should, however, have thoughtful reasons for pursuing a legal education. If you realize that you don’t want to become a lawyer but still want a career involving legal issues, then consider becoming a paralegal or legal assistant, court clerk or court reporter, compliance officer, legal operations manager, lobbyist, or legal/policy consultant.
And, it is completely okay to be unsure. Figuring out whether law school is right for you is part of the process and one of the reasons you should reach out to a Legal Professions advisor.