If you are interesting in becoming a lawyer, choose undergraduate coursework that will give you an advantage in law school. Although some colleges offer a specific pre-law bachelor's degree program, it is not necessary to take legal courses as an undergraduate. Instead, choose your courses by considering the skills lawyers use in their daily practice, such as writing, research, critical analysis, public speaking and diplomacy.
Students hoping to become lawyers should thus take courses in writing, English, philosophy and communications, as well as political science and other social science courses that focus on the structure of the government and court systems. Prospective lawyers may also find it useful to study psychology, sociology and other fields that deal with human behavior and social interaction.
To best prepare for law school admissions, undergraduates should also participate in extracurricular activities that will help them in their career. Common extracurricular activities for prospective lawyers include debate, mock trial, student government and political advocacy groups.
All law school applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test, which is also known as the LSAT. The LSAT tests applicants' reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. Prior to taking the test, prospective law school applicants should review sample questions from their college library or the Law School Admission Counsel so they know what to expect on test day. Law school applicants generally take the LSAT at least one year before they plan to begin law school.
In addition to the LSAT, law schools require prospective students to provide two to three letters of recommendation that attest to the applicant's ability to handle high-pressure environments and perform complex analytical tasks. Generally, law school applicants use their college professors as references, but students who have held internships may use their employer as a reference.
Law schools also require applicants to write a personal statement that discusses their interest in practicing law. Students should begin to prepare their essay several months before they submit it and if possible, allow one of their college professors to review and proofread it.