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PRE-LAW AT JMU. Dr. Jessica Adolino, Director Associate Dean School of Public and international affairs Professor of Political science. Pre-Law at JMU. What does it mean to be a declared Pre-Law student at JMU? An ADVISING system What does Pre-Law advising involve?
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PRE-LAW AT JMU Dr. Jessica Adolino, Director Associate Dean School of Public and international affairs Professor of Political science
Pre-Law at JMU • What does it mean to be a declared Pre-Law student at JMU? • An ADVISING system • What does Pre-Law advising involve? • A network of advisors • Advisor choice left up to student
Pre-Law at JMU • 2010-11 JMU Pre-Law Advisors Bill Hawk, Philosophy and Religion Jessica Adolino, Political Science, College of Arts and Letters Elaine Chisek, University Advising, Political Science Joan Frederick, English Art Hamilton, Finance/Business Law David Jeffrey, College of Arts and Letters, English Howard Lubert, Political Science Bob Roberts, Political Science Roger Soenksen, Media Arts and Design Daphyne Thomas, Finance/Business Law
Pre-Law at JMU • Preparing for Law School • What matters most in law school admissions? • LSAT score and GPA • Recommendations, personal statement, extracurricular activities, internships or summer employment in law firms or law-related businesses
Pre-Law at JMU • Selected LSAT scores and GPA’s for matriculated JMU students and alumni, fall 2009
Pre-Law at JMU • Preparing for Law School • Is there a JMU Pre-Law curriculum? • Pre-legal education has no restrictions or requirements • Choose something you like and can do well in
Pre-Law at JMU • Preparing for Law School • Are there particular majors recommended for students considering law school? • NO! • Most common majors of JMU law school applicants in 2009 • Political Science, History, Philosophy, Communications Studies, Finance, Economics, English, Business Management • But also Psychology, Justice Studies, Sociology, Accounting, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, International Affairs, Public Policy and Administration, Computer Science and nearly every other academic major
Pre-Law at JMU • Preparing for Law School • Are there any particular JMU courses recommended for students considering law school? • Communication, including composition, language and speech • Liberal arts, including work in the humanities and social sciences • Critical thinking, logic, mathematics, accounting, and the natural sciences • Economics (micro & macro) and basic accounting • Courses that develop independent research skills • Courses (and other experiences) that require public speaking and presenting of ideas before others
Pre-Law at JMU • Preparing for Law School at JMU • Academic Timeline • First year • Sophomore year • Junior year • Senior year • Pre-Law Opportunities at JMU • Phi Alpha Delta • Judicial visits, attorney speaker series • LSAT practice tests
Pre-Law at JMU • JMM students and alumni accepted at nearly 100 different law schools in 2008-09 • Selected Law schools acceptances, 2008-09 (law schools accepting the greatest number of JMU students and alumni)
Law School Acceptance Rate • In 2008-09, 179 JMU students or alumni applied to law school • 132 were accepted to one or more law schools • 109 registered at a law school • 73 percent acceptance rate
Pre-Law at JMU • Where do JMU grads who become attorneys work? • Federal, state and local government agencies • U.S. and state Attorney General’s offices • Major firms in U.S. major cities, for example: • Washington, D.C.: Williams & Connolly; Skadden; Orrick; Woodley & McGillivary; Shearman & Sterling; Heller Ehrman; Watt, Tudor, Hoffar & Fitzgerald; Hogan & Hartson; Sharp & Associates; Morgan Lewis; Latham & Watkins; Morrison & Foerster; Jones Day; Cleary Gottlieb; Kenyon & Kenyon; Cohn & Marks; Greenberg Trauig; Arent Fox; Ropes & Gray; Seyfarth Shaw; Reed Smith • Richmond, VA: Hunton and Williams; McGuire Woods; Saunders Cary & Pallerson; Williams Mullen; Sands Anderson Marks & Muller; Kutak Rock • New York City: Harris Beach; Morgan Lewis, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossman, O’Melveny & Myers; Cassin Cassin & Joseph • Boston: Riemer & Braunstein; Morrison Mahoney; Robinson & Cole
Pre-Law at JMU JMU Pre-Law website: http://www.jmu.edu/prelaw/ Questions?