Law
Read our Law
guide to learn how to prepare and apply to these fields. Stay informed about upcoming programs, fairs, experiential opportunities and more by joining our monthly Pre-Law Listserv.
Explore the Profession
Discover whether a law career matches your interests, skills and abilities and meets your lifestyle expectations:
- Explore the “Being a Lawyer” section of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website
- Investigate various Legal Fields and Specialties
- Learn about Becoming a Lawyer and Bar Associations
- Stay current on issues in law through the American Bar Association (ABA) website
- Discover the Law and how legal issues affect your daily life through UCSD’s Student Legal Services (SLS)
- Find legal job market and salary info through the National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
- Visit our library to read the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools (online), the Book of Law School Lists (online), NALP Official Guide to Legal Specialties, How to Get Into the Top Law Schools and more
Get Experience & Prepare
Confirm your interest in law, prepare academically and develop the necessary skills and experience:
- Identify Necessary Skills for Law and think about activities and classes you can take to develop them
- Talk To, shadow or volunteer with a lawyer. Find lawyers through your network of family and friends and Professional Associations
- Get legal experience and exposure through UCSD’s Community Law Project
- Consider taking classes within the Law & Society minor
- UCDC Program, or the Peace Corps
- Find Internships, Jobs, or other Experiential Learning opportunities
- Participate in UCDC or the Academic Internship Program to gain transferrable skills
- Join a pre-law Student Organization
- Develop communication and leadership skills through Express to Success
- Gain leadership experience through Student Government or your College
- Learn how to Maximize Your Experience
Apply to Schools
You typically apply to law school in the fall one year before you want to start the program. You will need to identify programs that match your interests and complete an application. Some steps take time so plan ahead!
- Schools & Programs –
- Find Law Schools – consider competitiveness, curriculum, cost and other Selection Factors
- Compare your stats to average GPA and LSAT scores for UCSD Law School Admits
- Gauge your likelihood of admission with the ABA Official Guide or Law School Locator
- Attend the UCSD Law School Fair and LSAC Forums to talk to school representatives
- Explore Public Interest programs and search for other schools’ specialties with the Book of Lists
- Check our Rankings page for general or field-specific rankings of programs
- Find Law Schools
- Workshops – Watch our Calendar for preparation and application how-to sessions
- Applications – Carefully prepare and submit applications to individual schools before the deadline
- LSAT – Prepare, Practice, and take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
- Applications - Carefully prepare and submit:
- LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS) that compiles your transcripts, letters, and LSAT scores
- School-specific applications through LSAC (includes essays, resume, etc.)
- LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- Letters/Evaluations – Get to Know Writers and Collect Letters for LSAC’s Letters & Evaluation Service
- Application Essay – Write your Personal Statement and get a Critique
- Resume & Addenda – Prepare these Law School Supplements
- Financial Aid & Fellowships – Learn how to Pay For School
For additional help with your professional & graduate school preparation and application come into the Career Services Center or contact your Professional & Graduate School Advisors.