Getting Started with Pre-Law

So, you're a student at Baylor and thinking that Law School may be the next step? This page can help you think through whether a career in law is a good fit for you.

What Does Pre-Law Mean?
Pre-Law is a pre-professional track, not a major. By declaring Pre-Law, it identifies you to your advisors that you are following this track and your advisor will be able to help you make informed decisions about courses that will help prepare you for the LSAT and for Law School. Students who attend law school have degrees in many different majors and come from all walks of life and educational backgrounds. In essence, there are no particular classes or majors required.

Can I Major in PreLaw?Pre-Law at Baylor is not a major but rather a pre-professional track available to all undergraduate students. The American Bar Association (ABA) Preparing for Law School web site does not recommend any particular group of majors for students interested in becoming lawyers. Rather, experts recommend maximizing your education by taking the most rigorous and demanding classes possible. For detailed recommendations on each stage of pre-law preparation, read the Pre-Law Timeline. If you wish to add or delete the pre-law designation on your student record, please contact your primary advisor or an advisor in University Advisement (freshmen) or CASA (sophomore - seniors in Arts & Sciences).

How To Prepare For Law School...
Choosing courses that are rigorous, writing-intensive, and interesting will help prepare you early on, and you must focus on your grades immediately. Law schools look for high GPA's so you must realize early in your college career that your GPA is more important than your activities. Carefully weigh working and extra-curricular activities which might attribute to lowering your GPA.

Benefits Of Doing Well (3.7 GPA Or Higher)...
If your GPA is 3.7 or higher, you will be listed on the Dean's list which will give you access to earlier registration than others in your class. You will be more competitive for interships and eligible for new scholarships when they become available. You may also be selected for prestigious campus service at Baylor University.

2009 Admission Information

Baylor Law School

•GPA: 3.71/3.31 (Median 3.52)
•LSAT: 159/155 (Median 156)
•75th/25th Percentile


Harvard Law School

•GPA: 3.95/3.72 (Median 3.88)
•LSAT: 175/169 (Median 170)
•75th/25th Percentile


University of Texas Law School

•GPA: 3.87/3.54 (Median 3.71)
•LSAT: 168/164 (Median 167)
•75th/25th Percentile

If You Are Doing Poorly...
If your GPA is low, try to recover and spend the rest of your college career bringing it up. The down-side of having a low GPA (2.0 GPA or Lower) is that you will be assigned to "Academic Probation". While on probation and your GPA remains 2.0 or below, you will be "Suspended" from the Pre-Law program. Another down-side is that, while you are on probation or suspension, you will not be able to participate in activities on campus.

Essential Skills And Values For Lawyers...
Some of the essential skills and values that will help prepare you for the legal field are:

•Analyzing and solving problems
•Critical reading
•Writing
•Oral communication and listening
•General research
•Task organization and management
•Serving others and promoting justice

Options To Consider...
Visit with the Honors College to see if the Honors College programs are a good option for you. Attend workshops on preparing for professional school. Do independent research with faculty members. Volunteering at a law firm, for the government or working in a law-related field will help you to see what happens day-to-day in law related fields that you might not otherwise see.

Join Phi Alpha Delta...
Baylor's pre-law fraternity hosts many guest speakers from law schools and private practices across the country. Phi Alpha Delta sponsors practice LSAT exams and provide a community of like-minded students.