6 answers
owen
Student
Taunton, Massachusetts
1
Question
Updated
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How do I prepare for Pre-Law in college
I am a sophomore in high school who is interested in perusing a career in law. I am interested in what I can do to make college easier for me. Any response is much appreciated
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6 answers
Kelly Oduro
Law Student, Summer Associate
2
Answers
Washington, Washington
Updated
Kelly’s Answer
Hi Owen. It's great that you're interested in attending law school. As a high school sophomore, the best thing you can do is continue to get great grades throughout high school and pursue a college major that you are passionate about. Like others have mentioned, your college performance is what significantly influences your admission into law school. For now, continue to read, be curious about the world, and figure out what you'd like to do in college. If you're high school offers Mock Trial or a Debate team, I think that those would be great activities to get involved in to start developing your critical thinking and persuasive argument skills. Good luck on your journey to law school!
Saumya Shridhar
Investigations Counsel / Litigator
11
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Saumya’s Answer
Hi Owen! You're already off to a good start if you're thinking ahead. Here's a few skills that may come handy on your journey to a law school and even through the duration of your studies.
1. General knowledge- Reading the papers (and other sources) to keep abreast with local and global news in various areas and especially the areas of your own interest. This habit will always help you stay up to date and ahead of the curve, even as a practicing attorney.
2. Reading and comprehension- Practicing reading long articles on various subjects and attempting comprehension questions based on the same. This will prepare you to be able to grasp a new and unfamiliar topic faster and be able to tackle it more efficiently as a law student and a future attorney.
3. Public speaking- Participating in as many debates, speeches, elocution, presentation opportunities as you can. This will help eliminate fear, if any, of public speaking. If your school does not offer too many of these opportunities, even public facing activities before your family, neighborhood and community can help in this direction.
4. Co-curricular activities- Engaging in activities outside of academics will make you a well-rounded student as well as professional later in life. It'll help you balance your studies/ work along with your other passions (sports / arts etc.).
All the best !
Saumya
1. General knowledge- Reading the papers (and other sources) to keep abreast with local and global news in various areas and especially the areas of your own interest. This habit will always help you stay up to date and ahead of the curve, even as a practicing attorney.
2. Reading and comprehension- Practicing reading long articles on various subjects and attempting comprehension questions based on the same. This will prepare you to be able to grasp a new and unfamiliar topic faster and be able to tackle it more efficiently as a law student and a future attorney.
3. Public speaking- Participating in as many debates, speeches, elocution, presentation opportunities as you can. This will help eliminate fear, if any, of public speaking. If your school does not offer too many of these opportunities, even public facing activities before your family, neighborhood and community can help in this direction.
4. Co-curricular activities- Engaging in activities outside of academics will make you a well-rounded student as well as professional later in life. It'll help you balance your studies/ work along with your other passions (sports / arts etc.).
All the best !
Saumya
Baljit Gill
tutor
30
Answers
Milpitas, California
Updated
Baljit’s Answer
Hello Owen,
It's fantastic that you're getting a head start and have a clear vision of your goals! Your primary task is to strive for excellent grades and go the extra mile, like seeking internships in the legal field, and pursuing other job opportunities, particularly during the summer. Following that, you should aim to earn your Bachelor's degree in a subject that aligns well with the universities you're interested in. Don't hesitate to ask the admissions office for advice! Many students find that Political Science, Pre-law, and English are popular undergraduate subjects that mesh well with most law schools. Don't forget to apply for scholarships as well!
Once you've got your BA, the next step is to prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). There are plenty of helpful resources, like books and classes, that can assist you in your studies. Make sure to dedicate ample time to studying for this crucial exam. Shortly after, you'll need to start exploring the law schools you'd like to attend. Don't limit yourself during the application process, even though the associated costs can seem intimidating. Choose courses that will enhance your knowledge and align with your desired career path.
After being accepted and earning your JD (Juris Doctorate degree), the final step is to take the Bar Exam. If you've performed well in law school, you're likely to do well on the Bar Exam too. Once again, there are classes and books available to aid in your exam preparation. I hope you find this advice helpful!
It's fantastic that you're getting a head start and have a clear vision of your goals! Your primary task is to strive for excellent grades and go the extra mile, like seeking internships in the legal field, and pursuing other job opportunities, particularly during the summer. Following that, you should aim to earn your Bachelor's degree in a subject that aligns well with the universities you're interested in. Don't hesitate to ask the admissions office for advice! Many students find that Political Science, Pre-law, and English are popular undergraduate subjects that mesh well with most law schools. Don't forget to apply for scholarships as well!
Once you've got your BA, the next step is to prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). There are plenty of helpful resources, like books and classes, that can assist you in your studies. Make sure to dedicate ample time to studying for this crucial exam. Shortly after, you'll need to start exploring the law schools you'd like to attend. Don't limit yourself during the application process, even though the associated costs can seem intimidating. Choose courses that will enhance your knowledge and align with your desired career path.
After being accepted and earning your JD (Juris Doctorate degree), the final step is to take the Bar Exam. If you've performed well in law school, you're likely to do well on the Bar Exam too. Once again, there are classes and books available to aid in your exam preparation. I hope you find this advice helpful!
Thank you so much!
owen
Vincent Martin
Attorney/Owner
4
Answers
Bloomington, Minnesota
Updated
Vincent’s Answer
As a high school sophomore, I encourage you to concentrate on boosting your GPA and developing into a versatile student. This can be achieved by engaging in extracurricular activities while maintaining impressive grades. These actions will pave the way for you to enter the undergraduate college you desire. Your performance in college will significantly influence your chances of getting into law school, much more than your high school achievements. Wishing you all the best in your journey!
Marva Levine
Attorney
14
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Marva’s Answer
Practice reading and writing. Sounds basic, right? The more we practice these skills, the better we become. Reading and writing well are fundamental to success in college, in law school, and as a lawyer. Read a book for the fun over the holiday break. Ask the librarian for a book that young people enjoy. And then write a report to yourself - what was the book about, what were the problems that the main characters faced, what facts were important to solving those problems? When you take the pressure off of reading and writing for school, you might find that you really enjoy it, and the more you enjoy something, the more you want to do it and the better you get at it. Soon you will be applying these reading and writing skills in school, and your grades will magically rise. Do you have younger siblings or cousins? Read out loud to them - any book on their level is fine. Read slowly and clearly so that they can understand. It will give you practice in public speaking. Preparing to do well can be fun too. Good luck to you.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
owen
Xiaojie Johan Liu
Consultant
91
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Xiaojie Johan’s Answer
Hello Owen,
You are still a high school sophomore, so I'd focus on boosting your GPA and your test scores in anticipation for study at a competitive university. Also, participate in some activities outside of academics in high school in order to boost your college application. If your school offers Mock Trial or Speech & Debate, I'd sign up for those activities. Also, by going to a more competitive university, you'll have a leg up in the law school applications process, but the undergraduate GPA and the LSAT score also matters for law school applications.
Best of luck!
Best regards,
Johan
You are still a high school sophomore, so I'd focus on boosting your GPA and your test scores in anticipation for study at a competitive university. Also, participate in some activities outside of academics in high school in order to boost your college application. If your school offers Mock Trial or Speech & Debate, I'd sign up for those activities. Also, by going to a more competitive university, you'll have a leg up in the law school applications process, but the undergraduate GPA and the LSAT score also matters for law school applications.
Best of luck!
Best regards,
Johan