{"id":862,"date":"2015-06-26T13:44:55","date_gmt":"2015-06-26T20:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/new-publicpolicy\/?page_id=862"},"modified":"2024-02-05T13:06:40","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T21:06:40","slug":"pre-law","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/pre-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Pre-Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Pre-Law at ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ<\/span><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/files\/2022\/01\/WOUbellamyhall4125-Edit-scaled.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_margin=”||32px|||” custom_padding=”0px||35px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”90%” max_width=”1188px” custom_margin=”|auto|-1px|auto||” custom_padding=”7.3%||3%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”18px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.83)” custom_padding=”2%|3%|2%|4%|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

About WOU Pre-Law:<\/span><\/p>\n

So you\u2019ve decided to look into a career in law after you graduate. We\u2019re <\/span>here to help! ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ seeks to help those who want to <\/span>go to law school, but don\u2019t know where or how to begin. This pre-law <\/span>webpage along with the tabs on the left will help answer any questions <\/span>you may have pertaining to pre-law preparation at WOU. Our pre-law <\/span>advisor, Dr. Earlene Camarillo<\/a>, is also available to answer any other questions <\/span>you may have. Click here<\/a> to join the Prelaw Email List to receive important information and updates that will help you in your journey to law school.<\/span><\/p>\n

A law degree may look daunting, but WOU is here to make sure you\u2019re well<\/span>
prepared for the journey ahead!<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”694.2px” custom_margin=”2px||9px|||” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”79.9%” custom_margin=”-22px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”5px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_text_color=”#db0a29″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-34px|||||” custom_padding=”7px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”]<\/p>\n

Let’s<\/span> start here:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first thing one needs for admission to an accredited law school is a bachelor’s degree<\/strong>. Most law schools value intellectual maturity and a broad educational background, such as is provided by majors in the social sciences, natural sciences or humanities. Although these majors are preferable, majoring in another subject will in no way bar you from gaining admission to a law school. What’s important and desirable is a well-rounded education, along with oral and written communication skills, and well-developed research and analytical skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ offers related majors that can be found in the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Pre-professional Studies page<\/a>.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Consider taking the Legal Studies Minor<\/strong>, which is designed to provide students with knowledge of useful preparation subjects for law school and work in the legal field. For more information about the legal studies minor, visit the<\/span> Legal Studies Minor page<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Students interested in going to law school should consider a few things:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Whatever your major or minor, your grades matter. Admission to law schools is highly competitive. Applicants are usually expected to achieve an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 and perform well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)<\/a>, although strength in one of these areas may compensate for weakness in the other. The higher your GPA and the higher your LSAT scores, the more schools that will admit you and the larger the possibilities for scholarship aid. The LSAT should be taken late in your junior year or early in your senior year.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. While any major or minor is fine for law school, ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ offers a Legal Studies minor designed in response to information received from Western students who have gone on to law school and research into a broad range of pre-law materials. One key aspect of the minor is that it features at least two courses taught by lawyers working in the field. Coursework is also designed to promote a greater understanding and comfort with the expectations and content of law school curriculum. However, remember that law school has a depth of expectation beyond any undergraduate coursework.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The Politics, Policy, and Administration (PPA) Department of Western Oregon organizes a series of pre-law activities throughout the school year. There are also pre-law and LSAT materials available for students. \u00a0Activities include trips to law schools, various forms of LSAT preparations, guest speakers and forums, and social activities. Contact Dr. Earlene Camarillo for information on these.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. To actually practice law you will need to complete a Juris Doctorate (“JD”) degree at an accredited law school and to pass the Bar Exam afterwards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Western students have gone to scores of different law schools in the past few decades. Here are some law schools our students have gone:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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    University of Oregon,
    Willamette University,
    Seattle University,
    University of Washington,
    Lewis and Clark University and,
    Western State College of Law.<\/p>\n

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    Pre-Law at ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ About WOU…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":435,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

    Pre-Law at ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ<\/h1>\nThe minimum requirement for admission to a recognized law school is a bachelor\u2019s degree. Most law schools value intellectual maturity and a broad educational background, such as is provided by majors in the social sciences, natural sciences or humanities, rather than narrow specialization. Well-developed research, analysis, oral and written communication skills are considered desirable.\n\nFor more information about law schools admissions or pre-law activities at ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ, contact the pre-law advisor, Dr. Mark Henkels<\/em>, at henkelm@wou.edu<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong>\n\nFor more information on pre-law preparation, review the WOU Catalog<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong>\n\nFor more information about the legal studies minor, review the WOU Catalog<\/a>.<\/strong>\n\nThe legal studies program is designed to provide students useful preparation for those going to law school or to work in the legal field.<\/strong>\n

    Students interested in going to law school should consider four things:<\/h2>\n
      \n \t
    1. Law schools do not have formal preferences for specific majors or minors. Law schools choose applicants who demonstrate strong abilities in reading, writing, and critical thinking. Majors such as political science, history, philosophy, and English are the most common background for law students, but Western students in many fields have gone to law school in recent years, including Earth sciences, psychology, communications, and business.<\/li>\n \t
    2. Whatever your major or minor, your grades matter. Admission to law schools is highly competitive. Applicants are usually expected to achieve an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 and perform well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), although strength in one of these areas may compensate for weakness in the other. The higher your GPA and the higher your LSAT scores, the more schools that will admit you and the larger the possibilities for scholarship aid. The LSAT should be taken late in your junior year or early in the senior year.<\/li>\n \t
    3. While any major or minor is fine for law school, ÀÖ²¥ÊÓƵ offers a legal studies minor designed in response to information received from Western students who have gone on to law school and research into a broad range of pre-law materials. One key aspect of the minor is that it features at least two courses taught by lawyers working in the field. Coursework is also designed to promote a greater understanding and comfort with the expectations and content of law school curriculum. However, remember that law school has a depth of expectation beyond any undergraduate coursework.<\/li>\n \t
    4. The Politics, Policy, and Administration (PPA) Department of Western Oregon organizes a series of pre-law activities throughout the school year. There are also pre-law and LSAT materials available for students.  Activities include trips to law schools, various forms of LSAT preparations, guest speakers and forums, and social activities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Here are a list of some of the common law schools and programs that our students have enrolled in:<\/h2>\n

      Willamette University<\/a><\/h3>\nMaster of Legal Studies<\/a>\n\nLL.M. in two concentration areas<\/a>\n\nJ.D.<\/a>\n\nJ.D.\/MBA<\/a>\n

      Lewis and Clark University<\/a><\/h3>\nJoint J.D.\/LL.M. in environmental and natural resource law<\/a>\n\nLL.M. in animal law<\/a>\n\nLL.M. in environmental law and natural resource law<\/a>\n

      University of Oregon<\/a><\/h3>\nLL.M. Master of Law in four concentration tracks<\/a>\n\nPh.D. in Environmental Sciences, Studies and Policy<\/a>\n\nPh.D. in Political Science<\/a>\n\nJ.D. in thirteen concentration tracks<\/a>\n

      Gonzaga University<\/a><\/h3>\nExecutive Two-Year J.D. Program<\/a>\n\n4 Dual Degree Programs<\/a>\n

      Seattle University<\/a><\/h3>\nLL.M. in Innovation and Technology Law<\/a>\n\nLL.M. in Tribal Law<\/a>\n\nMaster of Legal Studies<\/a>\n\nSeattle University offers joint degrees in several areas with a J.D. degree, including J.D.\/MBA, J.D.\/MPA, and MACJ\/J.D.<\/a>\n

      University of Washington<\/a><\/h3>\nPh.D. in Law<\/a>\n\nPh.D. in Public Policy and Management<\/a>\n\nLL.M. in seven concentration tracks<\/a>\n\nJ.D. in eight concentration tracks<\/a>\n\nAccelerated J.D.\/MBA degree<\/a>\n

      Western State College of Law<\/a><\/h3>\nJ.D.<\/a>\n\nIf you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, contact Dr. Mark Henkels at henkelsm@wou.edu<\/a><\/em>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-862","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/435"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/862\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/publicpolicy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}