Pre-Law Advising

Preparing for Pre-Law

How does one begin to prepare for a life in law?  Preparing as an undergraduate can mean different things for different students.  Unlike other professional school programs, there are no formal pre-requisite courses that all applicants must take.  There is no preferred or required major, or cookie-cutter course of study that will best prepare you for success in law school or as a practicing attorney.  As such, there is no formal pre-law track at Vanderbilt.  The American Bar Association does not endorse, nor does Vanderbilt endorse, formal pre-law curricular requirements for admission to accredited Law Schools.

Instead, Law Schools and Vanderbilt University encourage you to explore your options, analyze the alternatives, and then choose the path (academic and extra-curricular) that is best for you and your skill set. The law touches every aspect of our lives in common.  The more diverse (academically and otherwise) the bench and bar, the better the law will be (and become!)

Nevertheless, there are things that undergraduate students can do now, regardless of major or time-line, to identify experiences and build skills that are valued in both law students and attorneys.  Specifically, the best attorneys work every day to develop and prioritize:

  • clear and persuasive communication skills, both in writing and in oral argument;
  • strong analytical reading and writing skills;
  • pragmatic and purposeful problem-solving;
  • coalition building and developing community leadership.

The information provided via links on this site can be a prudent starting point for thoughtful law school preparation.  Indeed, taking the time to click on each of these links (and the links embedded therein) will answer the majority of your general questions about preparing for law school as an undergraduate student.

However, these are only starting points, guideposts and suggestions, *not* a required curriculum.  Law Schools prefer to admit and teach students who bring with them integrity, intentionality, maturity and a truly interdisciplinary, well-rounded  skill set. As such, it is imperative that you understand, the majority of the application process depends on YOU.

YOU should major in a subject you love to read, write and talk about; take courses that best suit you, your skills and your goals.  Doing so will help ensure that you are engaged with the material, which will lead to greater effort, better attendance, connections with instructors.  And these things will lead to better grades and stronger letters of recommendation, which are things Law Schools do consider when reviewing your application.

YOU are in charge of creating experiences in and out of the classroom that will prepare you for a life in law; and of course, YOU are responsible for achieving your best GPA and doing well on Law School entrance exams such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or GRE.

Meet the Pre-Law Advising Team

Dr. Carrie Archie Russell, JD, PhD, Director of Pre-Law Advising

Carrie Russell earned her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law and her PhD from Vanderbilt University. She has served Vanderbilt in the roles of Program Director for the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Pre-major Academic Adviser for the College of Arts and Science and as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Political Science. Carrie currently serves as a Vanderbilt Visions leader, Faculty Adviser to multiple student organizations, Faculty member in the Department of Political Science, and Assistant Dean in the Office of Undergraduate Education for the College of Arts and Science.  Before earning her PhD from Vanderbilt, Carrie worked as a Judicial Clerk for Davidson County Tennessee’s Twentieth Judicial District, and she continues to remain active in the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations.

Madeline Tallo, JD, Pre-Law Advisor and Career Coach

Madeline is the Pre-Law Advisor and Career Coach for the Vandy in Policy, Law, and Social Impact community. Madeline joined the Vanderbilt Career Center in the Fall semester of 2023.  Madeline earned her Bachelor of Arts in History, Political Science, and African and African American Studies from the University of Arkansas and her Juris Doctor from New England Law Boston with a concentration in Public Interest and Small Firm Practice. She has experience in both non-profit civil legal aid and real estate transactions.  Madeline hosts the Pre-Law Clinic throughout the semester and looks forward to helping Vanderbilt students navigate their journeys to Law and Public Service.

The Pre-Law Clinic and Scheduling Individual Appointments

Pre-Law Clinic

Link: Pre-Law Clinic (Virtual) | Handshake (joinhandshake.com)
This will run virtually on Fridays throughout the semester starting August 30th from 10am-Noon. 

Individual Appointments

Students who are registered to take, or have already taken the LSAT or GRE, and are ready to discuss the law school application process, are encouraged to make an appointment with Vanderbilt’s pre-law advisor, Professor Carrie Russell, JD, PhD or Madeline Tallo, JD, for individually tailored assistance.

Stay Connected

To stay up to date on pre-law programming, internship opportunities and other helpful, time sensitive announcements, please sign up for the Pre-Law listserv. To subscribe to the list-serv, send an email from your vanderbilt.edu address with PRELAW in subject line to listserv@list.vanderbilt.edu.

You can also join the Vanderbilt Pre-Law LinkedIn group (exclusive to current Vanderbilt undergraduate students and recent graduates/current law students and young associates).  Use this site to communicate with each other, network, pay it forward and connect with alumni.

Resources & Suggested Readings

Pre-Law Guide for Undergraduates: Yearly Breakdown

  • First and Second Years
    • Law Schools do not have a "preferred major" - they prefer candidates who do well in their chosen area of scholarship.  If you love Math and do well in Math classes, consider majoring in Math!  If you love Anthropology, major in Anthropology!  Find a subject that appeals to you and your intellectual curiosity and trust that if you love the material, you will read the material willingly, write about it meaningfully and develop relationships with faculty that (ideally!) lead to letters of reference.   Law Schools want you to, and assume you will, make deliberate curricular decisions that will best help you achieve your professional goals.
    • Aim for a GPA of at least 3.5 (cumulative). The median GPA for Vanderbilt law school applicants is a 3.65. Your GPA is much harder to change as time goes on (it can be hard to play catchup if you have a lot of ground to cover) — so make every attempt to start strong!
    • The law is primarily a written medium.  Excellent writing skills are vitally important. You’ll be best prepared for law school if you enroll in undergraduate courses that develop your abilities to read comprehensively, write clearly and think critically.
    • Fulfill most of your AXLE requirements as a First- and Second-year student.  Use this time to explore the liberal arts and then target areas of study that are truly interesting and meaningful to you.  Remember that you will be a stronger student in the courses you truly care about (and thereby get better grades), so explore in the beginning and then hone in by the second semester of your sophomore year.
    • Consider adding an additional major to diversify your academic program, but only if you truly love two areas of study.  It is better to be proficient and academically strong in one major, than to be spread too thin and mediocre in two. Visit the Directors of Undergraduate Studies for the departments you are considering to learn about the major's requirements.
    • Join clubs/organizations that relate to the content area of law that you are interested in. You can also join organizations specifically related to pre-law to be connected with and supported by students going through the LSAT and law school admissions process in general. Some such organizations include Phi Alpha Delta (pre-law fraternity), the National Black Law Student Association (NBLSA), and the Vanderbilt Pre-Law Society.
    • Your post-graduation plans—whether that means law school, grad school, or full-time work—will be greatly impacted by the activities you engage in outside the classroom. Jobs, internships, community service, student organizations and leadership experience not only prepare you for the future but are an invaluable investment in yourself! Get involved in a student group, working on campus, studying abroad— take advantage of what Vanderbilt has to offer!  Law Schools value community service and leadership experience, so get involved now to better situate yourself to be an upperclassmen leader!
    • Law schools expect you to produce letters of recommendation, vouching for your academic aptitude and overall motivation. This means you need to be talking to your professors now! Visit office hours, even if it’s just to introduce yourself. Get to know your professors— the earlier you start, the easier it will be to come up with people willing to write glowing letters of recommendation when you need them!
  • Junior Year
    • This is an important year for anyone planning on attending law school. Since many students submit their law school applications in the fall of their senior year (suggested deadline of December 1), your junior year grades may be the last ones recorded on your application transcript.  Therefore, study, study, study this year to maximize your GPA.  
    • When you decide to apply to Law School, you will need letters of recommendation for your applications— it is imperative that two of these letters come from a faculty member. If no one immediately comes to mind, start talking to your professors today! Send emails, visit office hours— develop a relationship that will allow them to write a thoughtful letter that clearly indicates how well they know you and your classroom performance.
    • LSAT time!! The LSAT is now offered in digital format or in person.  If you are planning on starting law school in the fall after graduation, the traditional time to take the LSAT is in June or July between your Junior and Senior year.  If you need to retake the test, you will still have plenty of time to get your application materials prepared for the admissions cycle. 
      • Test prep agencies can clarify the components of the tests and provide you with strategies for test taking.  Vanderbilt does not endorse one test prep agency over another. 
      • The most important thing you can do to prepare for the LSAT is take practice tests, under timed conditions, repeatedly. You need to practice as if you are under the same time constraints as the test day.  Test prep agencies can facilitate this practice, or you can do it on your own.  But you must take at least three practice tests under timed and simulated test-taking conditions before you take the actual test!
      • If you are able, visit the classroom where you will be taking the test beforehand.  Get a feel for what the room feels like; sit down in different sections of the room.  Take a practice test with you and spend at least 30 minutes working through the test (if you are able take a full test under timed conditions in the room!)
      • Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.  Nothing can be gained by staying up late and cramming at this point. 
      • Eat a good breakfast.  You do not want to be distracted by your hunger. 
      • Wear layered clothing – you never know if it will be freezing or burning up in the test-taking venue.  Plan accordingly. 
      • Arrive with plenty of time to spare. Expect the unexpected.  
      • Remember your admission ticket and your identification card. 
  • Senior Year: Time to Apply

    If possible, it is best to apply to a variety of law schools, evenly spread through three categories:

    • Safety schools (average LSAT is 2-3 points below your score, and average GPA is 0.2 below your GPA)
    • Target schools (average LSAT is your score, and average GPA is your GPA)
    • Reach schools (average LSAT is 2-3 points above your score, and average GPA is 0.2 above your GPA)

    Remember that median numbers are just that, medians. 50% of the entering class scores above and 50% scores below these numbers.  Don’t let the numbers completely dissuade you from applying to a school you have always dreamed of attending.  Be realistic with yourself about where you want to attend and where you think you have the best shot of being at the top of your class. Outside of the top three Law Schools, most students should make their application and acceptance decisions based on a multi-variate analysis. If you are seeking further guidance on how to determine the best school for you, please attend a pre-law workshop (register through Handshake), the Pre-Law Clinic, or schedule an appointment with Madeline Tallo, JD at the Career Center.

Suggested Undergraduate Courses

Vanderbilt very strongly recommends any course that will strengthen your analytical reading, reasoning, and writing skills. Consider exploring new classes offered through the Minor in Legal Studies; specific courses that highlight the "thinking like a lawyer skill set" are:

  • Philosophy 1003, General Logic
  • Philosophy 3003, Formal Logic and its Applications: Students who take these Logic courses anecdotally earn higher scores on the Logic Games and Logical Reasoning sections of the LSAT examination.
  • PSCI 1100, Introduction to American Government and/or PSCI 1103 Justice: These courses provide fundamental information needed for understanding American Judicial Institutions and the Philosophical underpinnings of the "Justice System" writ large.
  • PSCI 2265, Constitutional Law: Powers and Structure of Government (offered every other Fall semester):  The Constitutional Law course covers the same material one learns in the Constitutional Law course required at most law schools.  This is an excellent introduction to Law School Methodology.  
  • PSCI 3260, Introduction to American Law (offered every other Spring and every Maymester on campus): The American Law course is colloquially referred to as 1L boot camp and should be taken if possible.  This course introduces students to Law School Methods as well as the substantive material learned the first year of law school.  Students also meet Nashville Lawyers and Judges who are experts in these practice areas. 

Internships and Professional Experience

Getting an internship or job within a legal setting will expose you to the field. It can also provide you with networking opportunities and hopefully a strong letter of reference.  But finding these opportunities as an undergraduate can be daunting.  In general, Law Firms do not hire undergraduate interns (preferring to hire law students instead.) Seeking an internship with a non-profit law firm, County Clerk's Offices, Legal Aid societies, the Public Defender, and District Attorney’s offices, as well as organizations whose focus aligns with the area of law that you intend to pursue, can be worthwhile and fruitful endeavors.

Tips For Success

Many students who acquire legal internships at law firms do so by networking. For assistance with networking for legal internships please reach out to Pre-Law Advisor and Career Coach Madeline Tallo, JD at the Career Center.

Note that Law School Admissions teams do not expect every law school applicant to secure a law-related or even law-adjacent internship.  Everyone involved in pre-law advising and admissions wants YOU to make decisions that are in your best-interest. No one will second guess your choices about how you spend your life's time if you are able to articulate why the different paths you follow maximize what makes you feel fulfilled, excited to participate and eager to learn more.  Choose your own adventure! To quote Paul Coehlo, author of The Alchemist, “To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation.”

Selecting a Law School

Consider enrolling where you have the best chance of rising to the top of your 1L class. Outside of the top five law schools (and remember that the ranking is somewhat arbitrary), your class rank is typically more important than the rank of your institution. While there are multiple variables to be considered, you need to visit your potential law schools and ask yourself where you think you would thrive academically and professionally.

The Pre-Law Advising team is happy to discuss your proposed list; share with you the median scores for recent Vanderbilt graduates who have been accepted into law schools; and brainstorm with you, weighing pros and cons, to find your best course of action.

  • What to Assess in a Law School

    There are a number of elements to consider when assessing potential law schools. Some popular criteria include:

    • The Curriculum: Does the coursework align with your interests? What course are required and what types of electives are offered?
    • Law School Clinics: What opportunities are there to gain hands-on legal experience during your law education?
    • Dual-Degree Programs: If you are interested in complementing your JD with another degree, does your school of interest offer such a program?
    • Prestige/Rank of School: While it should not be the most important factor, you should take into consideration how future employers will view the school name on your diploma.
    • Faculty: What is the faculty to student ratio? What are their faculty known for? What have they conducted research on, and does it align with your interests?
    • Diversity of Student Body, Employment Outcomes Data, Bar Passage Rates: Is your school committed to diversity of thought and identity? Where are students going upon graduation and what percentage of graduates are passing the bar exam? All of this information and more can be found by searching your school of interest on the ABA's Standard 509 Required Disclosures page.
    • Financial Impact: Tuition, summer stipends, fellowships, merit-based scholarships, school-specific scholarships, as well as loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) should all be taken into account. For students interested in Public Interest Law, many schools have a program to assist you with your student loans until you qualify for federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). To see a list of schools that offer LRAPs and learn more about how you can manage your student debt, check out this guide by Equal Justice Works.
      • While almost every school will consider you for merit-based scholarships upon applying, you can also receive scholarships outside your academic institution. Check out AccessLex's Law School Scholarship Databank for more information.
    • Location: While many school degrees can enable you to work across the country (and sometimes even internationally), you will be building your network and gaining experience in a specific region of the country which increases your prospects within that given location.
    • Likelihood of Acceptance: Applications cost money. While we encourage students to shoot for their dream school, we also recognize that the number of schools you apply to is impacted by your budget and so we encourage students to determine what schools are realisitic based on their LSAT, GPA, and other application materials. That being said, even if you do not demonstrate financial need, you can ask your law school of interest's admissions teams if they issue merit-based application fee waivers to help alleviate this financial burden.
  • How to Assess Law Schools

Application Components

Your law school application should tell a narrative that reinforces why law school is the reasonable next step for you. Think about each component of your application like a different chapter. Are they telling a consistent story? Is the logical conclusion of that story a career in law?

Below you will find the most common elements of a law school application. Note that this is general information and there can be differences in terms of quantity, additional addenda, and more, based on your specific law school of interest’s requirements. Always be sure to review your law school of interest’s specific page to determine what you should submit.

More info on law school application components can be found on LSAC’s website: LSAC Application Components.

  • LSAT/GRE Score

    Some schools are now accepting the GRE as well as the LSAT. Law School Admissions offices are claiming that they do not value one more than the other, but it should be noted that a greater percentage of law schools accept the LSAT. Be sure to review your intended school’s website to determine if they have a preference.

    You can register for the LSAT through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and for the GRE through ETS.

    Keep in mind:

    • Your test score is good for 5 years.
    • Deadlines for tests are typically around a month before the test date.
    • The LSAT is a test you must study for. While we cannot recommend specific test-preparation or tutoring services, we do recommend that you research these resources to determine which study method best suits you.
    • Try to devote at least 60 hours of study time to practice tests and drills before you take the test.  Break this down in whatever time-allotments work best for you, but this formula (10 hours/week for 6 weeks, where the LSAT is receiving your utmost academic attention) is generally a good place to start. As stated on the LSAC web-page, Research shows that taking more full practice tests [under timed/test day simulation conditions] is the most effective way to prepare for the LSAT.
    • Accommodations: LSAC & ETS will make accommodations for students with disabilities. To learn how to request accommodations for your LSAT/GRE, review these pages:
  • GPA

    Your GPA is an indicator of your dedication to academics and will be taken into consideration in your application. Ensure that the GPA on your resume is the same as listed on your academic transcript, and remember YOU CANNOT ROUND YOUR GPA!

  • Personal Statement

    The personal statement is an opportunity for you to shape your narrative and tell the admissions committee things that they just can’t get from your GPA and LSAT Score. The personal statement reinforces the other elements of your application.

    Picking a Topic

    What should it be about? (these are just example questions to get you brainstorming, not a finite list of topics)

    • What do I want the admissions committee to know about me?/What don’t they know about me from the rest of my application?
    • What makes me unique? What is something that I can offer this law school that they won’t want to miss out on?
    • What problems do I want to solve with my law degree?
    • What experiences have I had and how have they shaped my view of the world?
    • Why do I want to go to law school?/Why do I want to go to law school NOW?
    • Why do I want to go to THIS law school?

    Basic Tips

    • Get it reviewed by multiple people (Vanderbilt University Writing Studio, Vanderbilt University Career Center, classmates, friends, family).
    • Write multiple drafts. Don’t expect to have the perfect personal statement in your first draft.
    • Start early! Months in advance.
    • Create an outline of what you plan to write before you begin writing. Is there a beginning-middle-end? Is it connected to your narrative?
    • Don’t worry about length at the start.
    • Tone: This is a professional document. Don’t tell them more info than they need to know. You can write about any topic professionally, even very sensitive topics, but you should ensure the tone is professional.
    • Show, don’t tell! Don’t tell them you are passionate about immigration law, show them how you’ve demonstrated that passion through community service work, relevant student organizations, research, and internships.
    • Avoid long quotes. They want to hear what YOU have to say, not other people.
    • No poems, pictures, highlighting, or hyperlinks.

    Formatting

    • Generally 2 pages, double-spaced
    • 11-12 Point font, 1-inch margins. Times New Roman font or another professional font.
    • No footnotes
    • No title (Put LSAC ID Number, your name, and Personal Statement in the header)
    • Remember, your school may ask for something different. Always refer to your specific school’s instructions.

    Examples

    • You can view dozens of real personal statement and diversity statement examples here and here.
  • Letters of Recommendation

    How to Create a Good Relationship With Potential Recommenders

    • Be a good student!
    • Attend office hours: Think of course-related questions in advance or bring a friend if something like this makes you nervous. Read an article they wrote and ask them about it. If you have read something related to their field of study, share it with them!
    • Social Events: if your departments hosts social or speaker events, go to them and try to strike up conversation with them.
    • Try to take multiple classes with professors. This simply gives them more information to work with.

    Who To Ask

    • Priority #1: Who would give you the strongest endorsement? The depth of your relationship and the extent of your experiences with your recommender are what matter most.
    • No high school teachers!  Most law schools expect to read two "academic" reference letters, i.e. letters written by your college professors.  And rest assured that when the professor taught you, tenure status or whether the professor taught you an upper-level course in your major or an elective does not matter.  What matters is what they think about your academic performance in their classroom.  Ask professors who you believe will sing your praises the loudest.  Who do you think will speak most glowingly of your academic potential while also praising your qualifications and character?  Think “substance over signature”.
    • If you absolutely CANNOT get two academic letters, or if the law school invites letters from outside sources, think about your coaches, supervisors in professional settings (internships, part-time work) or other zealous advocates who can speak to skill sets outside of academia, e.g. your work-ethic, professionalism, trustworthiness, etc. When asking for these, ask your recommenders to emphasize skills that are translatable to the academic setting.
    • Personal Recommendations (family or friends) are never good.

    When To Ask

    • Early! Give them time. Months in advance

    How To Ask

    • Try to ask in person, one on one: either during in-person office hours, over coffee or over Zoom.  Most professors sincerely appreciate being provided with a folder containing copies of  your resume and/or drafts of your personal statement; especially if these documents will help them understand why you’re going to law school.  Including a cover letter setting out what specific attributes you would hope the letter-writer would highlight and potential timelines you hope to utilize for the purpose of application submission is a thoughtful gesture that will signal your maturity and sincerity.
    • This website contains helpful information that you share with your letter writers as well: Letters of Recommendation.

    How Many To Submit

    • Check the school. Normally at least 2 required with some schools accepting up to 4.
    • Do they indicate anything about how many must be academic? Most schools will require at least 1 if not more should be from academic references.
    • If they only ask for 2 letters and you submit 3 letters and one of them isn’t of the same quality as the other 2, that won’t do you any favors.

    How To Submit

    • Enter recommender’s contact info in LSAC which generates a request for them, and they will submit directly to LSAC.
  • Resume
    • Check out the Career Center’s website for resumes to learn tips and view examples.
    • Want your resume reviewed? Schedule an appointment with the Career Center or attend Career Center Drop-In hours.
  • Optional Essays
    • In addition to your personal statement, many schools will have prompts for optional essays that are either optional or required. You can see what some of these optional essays look like from school to school by viewing this list of application requirements from the top 50 Law Schools created by 7Sage. (Please note that Vanderbilt does not officially endorse any of the available commercial test-preparation agencies).
    • These optional essays are a great way for you to further demonstrate your writing abilities while further emphasizing certain traits or revealing others that don't appear elsewhere on your application.
    • A common optional essay is the "Why This School?" essay. The goal for this essay is to provide further insight into your personality and character through a discussion of program elements that appeal to you (without regurgitating talking points from the school's website).
      • Some possible talking points for the "Why This School?" essay include (but are not limited to) clinics, specific academic concentrations, particular professors, the location of the school, nearby employers, and any anecdotes you've heard from admissions officers, alumni, or current students.
      • To view examples of "Why This School?" essays, click here.
  • Addenda

    Addenda are optional essays used to provide the admissions committee with clarifications about various components of your application. Common addenda include:

    Character & Fitness Statement

    • The Character & Fitness statement is used to disclose any aberrations on your legal or academic record.
    • Read the school’s specific application to determine what is necessary to disclose.
    • Remember that you will be asked to submit a character & fitness for the BAR within your state. It is crucial that the information you disclose in your law school application matches what you will submit for the BAR.
    • Keep it short. Disclose the necessary facts. Take full responsibility for your misconduct.
    • Remember, many people with extensive criminal records have been admitted to law school. Don’t count yourself out.

    General Application Addenda

    • Like the Character & Fitness Statement, other addenda are used to address elements of your application that you’d like to clarify such as extenuating circumstances that impacted your GPA or LSAT score or an explanation for many class withdrawals. This is not the place to complain about unfair professors or a problematic roommate, but it is the place to disclose if you had significant caregiver duties, work responsibilities, severe health issues that impacted your GPA or extracurricular involvement.
    • Addenda can be tricky, and it is hard to offer general ABSOLUTE advice. Meet with a pre-law adviser to discuss whether your circumstances require writing an addendum.
  • Transcripts

    Official transcripts must be ordered through the Vanderbilt Registrar's office. See this page for more information.

  • Application Timeline

    It depends! There is no perfect time to apply. It depends on you, your goals, and when you plan to attend law school. The bottom line is that you should apply when your application is at its strongest. Don’t rush to make it before the end of November if your materials aren’t ready. Law school’s admit students on a rolling basis and will have more slots and more scholarship money earlier in the process.

  • After the Application
    • Do NOT reach out to check on the status of your application. You can check LSAC’s website to see what the status of your application is.
    • Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI): if you have new experiences or changes to your application, it is okay to send out a letter of continued interest to inform the admissions team. This should only be done for schools that you are on the waitlist for. Check out our guide to LOCI as well as this template on how to write a thoughtful letter.
    • Scholarship Reconsideration: Did you know that you can ask schools to reconsider their initial scholarship offer? Check out our guide to scholarship reconsideration here!

The links on the site are intended to answer most frequently asked questions and provide helpful information when exploring a legal career and applying to Law School.  We strongly encourage you to read the information posted here in its entirety BEFORE you attend the Pre-Law Clinic or schedule an appointment with Pre-Law Advisor Madeline Tallo, JD (in the Career Center) or Dean Carrie Russell, JD, PhD.