Law schools accept students from virtually any major, including communications, English, business, economics, rhetoric, dance, music, art, philosophy, accounting, writing, literature and nursing. Undergraduate students considering law school attendance should major in subjects that are both exciting and challenging. Although there are no specified pre-law majors, law schools recommend certain prerequisite courses for undergraduate students. No matter their major, students should take classes in public speaking, mathematics, government and foreign languages in preparation for a career in law.
The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends undergraduate students preparing for law school seek out a pre-law academic adviser who can help students research and apply to law school and expose them to courses and activities that will provide skills and values invaluable to law school. The ABA website reports that undergraduate school students should take classes that sharpen their problem-solving skills, critical reading and writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, task organization and management skills, general research skills, promotion of justice and public service.
Although law schools admit students with degrees in nearly any major, admissions review boards do place an emphasis on a student's undergraduate grades. Bachelor degree students who wish to go to law school are required to maintain a high GPA; doing so will not only help students get accepted but will also provide certain skills and habits necessary for a successful law school tenure and subsequent career in litigation. In order to keep high grades, students will have to learn study, communication and networking skills, as well as time management.
Law schools accredited by the American Bar Association require students to submit scores from the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), administered by the Law School Admission Council. Students must answer multiple-choice questions in logical reasoning, analytical reasoning and reading comprehension, as well as provide a writing sample. The Law School Data Assembly Service sends LSAT scores to the student's school of choice, along with a copy of his official transcripts. Undergraduate students typically sit for the LSAT during their junior year; should they earn scores not to their liking, they have ample time to re-take the exam.
Undergraduate students applying for law school admission are typically required to submit a personal essay and one or more letters of recommendation. A trusted academic or professional acquaintance or mentor, perhaps a current or former employer, professor, adviser or mentor should write letters of recommendation. Students writing a personal essay should make sure to write carefully, edit thoroughly and get feedback from several qualified sources before submitting the finished draft.