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The purpose of Pre-Law Counseling at Lehigh is to facilitate, for students and alumni, exploration of their interest in a legal career and support them in application to law schools. We encourage students to discuss their interests with faculty, individuals already engaged in the legal field, and the Pre-Professional Counselor to determine if this type of career will suit them and, if so, to assess their situation and prepare for it.
Is there a pre-law major at Lehigh? In keeping with the policy of the Association of American Law Schools, Lehigh does not have a prescribed pre-law curriculum.
What do pre-law students major in at Lehigh? Successful candidates for law school demonstrate skills in critical analysis, logical reasoning, and communication (both written and oral) and have pursued rigorous coursework of significant breadth and depth. These skills may be honed in all majors at Lehigh. Students have gained entrance to law schools from diverse curricula in all three of the undergraduate colleges. What courses are necessary for law school? There are no specific prerequisite courses for law school. Law schools expect undergraduates to pursue challenging courses in disciplines that interest them. Courses that emphasize critical analysis, logical reasoning, and communication provide important preparation for legal study. For interested students, some specifically law-related courses are offered in the College of Arts and Sciences (e.g., Constitutional Law, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Law and Order) and the College of Business and Economics (e.g., Introduction to Law and Legal Environment of Business). What types of opportunities does Lehigh offer pre-law students outside the classroom? In addition to formal academic instruction, Lehigh provides other opportunities for learning about the law and legal careers. The annual Tresolini Lecture series brings nationally recognized speakers to campus for extended interactions with faculty and students. Tresolini lecturers have included present and past U.S. and state Supreme Court justices and renowned legal scholars and practitioners. Lehigh also provides opportunities for gaining academic credit in several off-campus programs that provide practical experience in law and public affairs. Several externships with Lehigh alumni practicing in the law are also offered over semester break through Career Services. What kinds of services does Lehigh offer the pre-law student? From first-year orientation in the fall through the law school application process in the senior year, students are offered both individual counseling and group information sessions to facilitate their career exploration. The Pre-Professional Counselor in Career Services coordinates these pre-law counseling services. Students are encouraged to acquaint themselves with the career exploration and development opportunities offered through Career Services. Who can I contact for more information? Today law encompasses many functions and consequently there is no such thing as a typical lawyer. Lawyers work in various areas of specialization (criminal law, family law, tax law, labor law, environmental law, patent law, to name a few!) and have just as many differences in the type of environment, workload, and client contact in which they are involved. Despite all the variations, being a lawyer does require a particular set of skills which are essential to the profession. Therefore it is important to ask yourself the following:
Informational workshops are scheduled throughout the year on topics such as applying to law school. Representatives from various law schools also visit the campus to meet with students. Check the workshop and event calendar and DreamWeaver, Career Services weekly e-newsletter for dates and times of these events. Freshman Year Attend information meeting during First Year Orientation week. Sophomore Year Continue to get to know your professors and strengthen your relationships with them. Junior Year Attend fall or spring informational meeting. Senior Year Take fall LSAT if you haven't taken the June exam. Attend a law school fair. Each fall pre-law students from the area Lehigh Valley colleges travel to New York City in September for the annual Law School Forum. Over 120 law schools attend this event to meet with law school applicants. Law Schools also sent representatives to our local LVAIC Law School Fair held each fall. For further information call Career Services.
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