Support Our ProgramsPre-Law Programs at Miami University
Information for Freshmen
Overview
It is your first year of college. You are exploring new territory, making new friends, becoming an adult. For many of you, this is the first year you have made your own decisions. As a pre-law student, the choices you make are critical because they will impact, positively or negatively, the next six years of your academic career. The three principles that should guide you this year are:
- Self Discovery
- Law is a diverse field, which provides a wide range of career options. In your first year, you should take classes in different areas and participate in activities that interest you. This will help you determine whether law is the right career option for you; it can also help you discover areas of law that you may want to pursue.
- Academic Excellence
- Law school is a rigorous academic program. Therefore, students interested in attending law school must have above average grades. As a first year, you begin with a clean slate — a 4.0 GPA. Develop good time management and study skills early so that you don't have to correct poor academic performance later.
- Professionalism
- "Anything you say and do now can be held against you during the law school admissions process." Student violations of the code of conduct and legal violations, including minor misdemeanors and traffic violations, are fair game for law school applications. Avoid people and situations that could lead you down the wrong path.
Checklist
- Attend Pre-Law breakout session during First Year Institute (FYI).
- Schedule a meeting with your First Year Advisor.
- Take courses that you find interesting.
- Choose courses with a strong emphasis in reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking.
- Consider taking EDL 100: Career Development for College Students.
- Focus on getting the best grades possible in all classes taken.
- Get to know your professors. Actively participate in class, and if you have questions about the material, visit them during their office hours.
- Visit the Career Exploration and Testing Center.
- Attend the Exploring Majors Fair.
- Sign up for the Pre-Law BlackBoard Site.
- Attend the Time Management for Pre-Professionals seminar.
External Web Resources
- Law and Advocacy
(National Student Leadership Conference) - The Law & You (Ohio Bar Association)
- Preparing for Law School (American Bar Association)
- Thinking about Law School (LSAC)