Pre-Law Advising Program

We’ve outlined the recommended steps you need to take each year to prepare for law school and position yourself for long-term success.

Freshman and Sophomore Year

• Start by connecting with the Pre-Law Advising program to discuss your goals and academic plans. Our advisors will help you create a plan that aligns with your interests and puts you on the path to law school.
• Focus on strengthening your critical reading, writing and logical reasoning skills by taking courses that challenge you intellectually. Prioritize maintaining a strong GPA, but don’t fill your schedule with easy classes. Your goal is to develop discipline, academic rigor and an analytical mindset that distinguish you as a competitive law school applicant.

Junior Year

• Start researching law schools and building the list of institutions to which you plan on applying. As you consider law school, we recommend reviewing their admission statistics, ranking, specialties, size, location and costs — all of which can significantly impact your law school experience and future career path.
• Decide which faculty members you plan to ask for letters of recommendation. Since law schools value letters of recommendation from those who know your work well, it’s best to choose professors who have mentored you, supervised your research or played an integral role in your student experience.
• Begin preparing for the LSAT by familiarizing yourself with the test’s structure and question types. Explore a range of study resources, including LSAT prep books, sample exams and preparation courses.
• Review the Law School Admission Council’s (LSAC) registration details, exam fees, deadlines and testing locations to start planning for the logistics of taking the LSAT. We recommend taking the LSAT during the summer between your junior and senior year.

Senior Year

First Semester

• Finalize the list of law schools to which you plan on applying and keep track of their deadlines. Be sure to review each law school’s requirements, fees and dates, and create a simple tracker to record submissions, confirmations and any follow-up.
• Request letters of recommendation four to six weeks in advance. Along with a personalized request, it’s important to also provide the faculty members with a packet that includes:
  • Your LSAT score(s) (if available)
  • Your most recent transcript
  • A current résumé (include academic honors, community service, projects and organizations)
  • Your list of schools and why each is a fit (brief notes help recommenders tailor letters)
• Complete applications and financial aid materials. To ensure you have accurate records of all your application documents, we recommend saving or photocopying everything you submit, along with any confirmation emails you receive.
• If you’re not satisfied with your LSAT score or feel it doesn’t reflect your practice performance or goals, consider retaking it. You still have time to register for another test date.
• Draft your personal statement. If you’re applying to numerous law schools, ensure you follow each school’s prompt and formatting exactly and tailor your personal statement accordingly. This is a great opportunity to ask your pre-law advisor to review your personal statement for clarity, voice and mechanics.
• Register with the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and submit official transcripts from every college where you’ve taken courses. This allows CAS to consolidate your academic records for the schools to which you plan to apply.
• Monitor your application statuses in LSAC. Verify when materials are received and complete. There may be instances where a letter or transcript is missing, in which case, we recommend that you send a polite reminder.
• Aim to send all applications and financial aid materials by early December to maximize consideration for admission and scholarship opportunities.

Second Semester

• Once your applications are submitted, send personalized thank-you letters to those who provided letters of recommendation on your behalf.
• Patiently await admissions decisions. You may receive notifications of acceptance, wait-listing or rejection. These can range from a few weeks to as long as six months.
• Once accepted, most schools require a tuition deposit to reserve your seat. Be mindful of the deposit amounts and deadlines.
• If you have decided to attend another institution, please be courteous and notify the other schools promptly, withdrawing any outstanding applications.
• Inform your pre-law advisor of your results and your decision.
• After graduating, send your final academic transcript to the law school of your choice.
• Send an email to the Alumni Office informing them of your choice of law school. The university is proud of you and would like to keep a record of distinguished graduates.

What should I major in as a pre-law student?

At the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, there is no specific pre-law major. Since the legal field is diverse and interconnects with a broad range of other sectors, we recommend you major in a subject that ignites your interests and passions.

While many pre-law students earn bachelor’s degrees in political science or criminal justice, majoring in disciplines like philosophy, English, accounting and others offers specialized expertise and essential skills, such as critical thinking, reading comprehension, written communication and research.

Additionally, law schools accept students from nearly all majors; however, they base admission on academic merit, so it is in your best interest to pursue a major in which you can excel and achieve a high grade point average (GPA).

Are extracurricular activities important to get into law school?

Yes, extracurricular activities can strengthen your law school application, but they’re not the deciding factor. They demonstrate your leadership abilities, commitment to community service and level of engagement. However, your undergraduate academic performance and a strong LSAT score ultimately make the biggest impact in the admissions process.

What GPA and LSAT score do I need to gain admission to law school?

Admission requirements vary by law school, but strong academic performance and competitive LSAT scores are key to securing admission. We recommend that you aim for excellence in both areas — maintaining the highest GPA you can and preparing thoroughly for the LSAT to earn as high a score as possible.

What is the LSAT?

The LSAT is an examination administered by the LSAC, intended to provide law schools in the United States and Canada with “a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing applicants.”

The LSAT has two distinct parts. The first part has four 35-minute sections of multiple-choice questions, which include:

• Reading Comprehension (RC)
• Logical Reasoning (x2) (LR)
• Analytical Reasoning
• One Unscored Section
  • No one knows which is the unscored section. If you count more than one RC or Analytical Reasoning section, one of those is the unscored section. Likewise, if you count three logical reasoning sections, one of them is the unscored section. No matter what, do your best on each section, even if one of them may be the experimental/unscored section.

The second section is the argumentative writing portion. During this 50-minute section, you receive a writing prompt, presenting a debatable topic and provide several pieces of decision-making criteria. You’ll then write a cohesive argumentative essay that evaluates the arguments, addresses multiple perspectives and supports your position with clear reasoning.

While not scored, your writing section showcases your ability to apply logical reasoning, the clarity and organization of your argument and the quality of writing mechanics and language usage.

How long does it take to study for the LSAT?

When studying for the LSAT, it’s best to get an early start. Most students begin preparing for the LSAT a few months before the exam. Humanities courses can strengthen your reading comprehension skills, while regular practice with logic games and out-of-class reading can help you improve speed and accuracy.

Some students choose to study over a longer period if they prefer a more gradual approach. Ultimately, the quality of your preparation matters far more than the quantity. We recommend focusing on consistent, intentional study that builds your skills and confidence.

When do I take the LSAT?

The LSAC offers the LSAT all throughout the year. For more information, review upcoming LSAT exam dates and registration deadlines.