Pre-Law Guide - Preparation for Law School

Undergraduate Courses

A liberal arts education with broad exposure to a variety of disciplines provides the ideal background for law school. Careful consideration should be given to courses that emphasize written and oral analysis, class discussion, and independent research. Since it is important to acquire a broad cultural background in addition to academic skills, you should plan your course selections to include a wide-range survey of literature and some coverage of the other arts.

The few law-related courses offered by several departments at Williams are not necessary for your preparation for law school. Many students try to enroll in them, but the law schools do not urge participation in college-level law courses. Law-related courses may introduce a student to legal literature and language, but these courses should be taken on the assumption that they will be an experience of personal educational value, not that they will impress an admissions committee or give you a real feeling for the study of law.

You should not have too many courses graded with a pass/ fail designation. Because there is no way for a law school to assign a numerical value to a grade of "Pass," it detracts from the impact of your GPA. This is not a pressing problem for most Williams students since pass/fail is normally given only in Winter Study Projects and for an ungraded fifth courses. If you are thinking about study abroad or exchange programs, you should consult the pre-law advisor. Often the experience gained outweighs the negative effect on the non-numerical grade.

Since admissions decisions are determined based upon the first six (or, perhaps seven) undergraduate semesters, you should be serious about your academic performance from the very beginning of your college career. Your GPA and LSAT score are the two most important factors that determine your chances of admission to law school. The personal statement, letters of recommendation and your involvement in the Williams community can enhance your law school application, but little else can substitute for a strong academic record. Above all, avoid transcript irregularities: failed or incomplete courses, too many pass/fail grades, etc., which can be obstacles in the demanding competition for law school acceptance.

Recommendation Writers

You should be aware that law schools want strong positive recommendations from those people who are familiar with your work. You should make a point of getting to know a few faculty members, both in and out of the classroom. Law schools are very definite in stating that recommendations should come from those who can judge your academic ability, i.e., your professors, and you should bear this in mind from the start of your Williams career.

Extracurricular Activities

It is very hard to estimate how much weight a student's extracurricular interests have in the admissions decision. The better law schools, which must choose among many academically fit applicants, often look further into a student's background for evidence of experiences that round out this or her character. Special activities and athletic pursuits, clubs, hobbies, and part-time volunteer work become the supportive, if not determining, factors in the student's admission profile. You will have the opportunity to note your extracurricular efforts on the application forms.

Other Resources in the Area

If you are still undecided about pursuing a legal career, you may wish to investigate some further sources of information outside the College but in the area. Lawyers practicing in Williamstown and Pittsfield; law schools situated in Springfield and Albany; sessions of courts in North Adams and Pittsfield, the Federal Judiciary in Albany, and the State Legislature in Albany all provide abundant opportunities for informative visits and observation.