How do I prepare for law school?

Below are a couple of factors to keep in mind when considering legal education.

There is no required major for law school.

Law schools accept majors from all departments. Find a major you enjoy at Linfield and do well at it. Your overall grade point average (GPA) and academic success is a much more important part of your law school application than your major. Law schools are looking for students who excel in intense undergraduate programs, proving that they can be successful in law school.

There is no prerequisite coursework for law school.

Plan on taking courses that are challenging and help you to hone your writing skills and improve your reading comprehension.  You need strong analytical reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and oral presentation to succeed in law school.

Although not required of pre-law students, Linfield does offer various law-related courses that could be helpful when considering legal education. These courses include The Study of Law, Law, Rights, and Justice, Topics in Public Policy, and International Law, Ethics, and Global Governance. These courses provide students a basic overview of legal systems and legal research and analysis.

GPA

Grade Point Average (GPA) is one of the most important factors in applying to law school. Law schools will evaluate your overall cumulative grade point for all completed undergraduate courses (Linfield and transfer courses) in addition to calculating a yearly GPA. All courses will be calculated into your grade point average, not just courses taken within your major.

A high GPA makes for a strong law school application. If, however, your GPA is not high, all is not lost. Law schools look for continued academic success and GPA improvement over time. If your GPA has improved steadily since your first year, that illustrates your ability to work hard and grasp increasingly complex material as you improve as a student.