Pre-Law Information Session

1. Pre-Law Information Session Dr. Jack E. Call, prelaw advisor Office phone: 831-5391 jcall@radford.edu

2. What is RU Doing to Help Students Interested in Law School? • Creation of pre-law web page • http://www.radford.edu/content/chbs/home/prelaw.html • Placement of pre-law information booklet online • Rejuvenation of Phi Alpha Delta • Mock trial course – Spring 2013

3. Should I (Can I) become a LAWYER?

4. Becoming a Lawyer for the Right Reasons –10 Questions Pre-Law Students Should Ask Themselves • Why do I want to go to law school? • Why do I want to be a lawyer? • Do I know what lawyers do every day? • What quality of life do I want during law school? • What quality of life do I want after law school? • Should I go to an expensive or an inexpensive law school? • How will I pay back my student loans? • Can I handle the pressure? • What could I do before going to law school? • If I couldn’t go to law school, what would I do instead?

5. Lawyers Education requirements

6. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school

7. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions

8. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions • Some part-time schools (Neubauer says about a third of accredited schools)

9. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions • Some part-time schools (Neubauer says about a third of accredited schools) • “Reading” for the law

10. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions • Some part-time schools (Neubauer says about a third of accredited schools) • “Reading” for the law – • Virginia is one of the few states that still utilizes this method • See http://www.vbbe.state.va.us/reader/readerrules.html for the program rules

11. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions • Some part-time schools (Neubauer says about a third of accredited schools) • “Reading” for the law – Virginia is one of the few states that still utilizes this method • See http://www.vbbe.state.va.us/reader/readerrules.html for the program rules • According to an ABA chart (2010), the following states permit “reading for the law”: California, Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming

12. Lawyers • Education requirements • 4 years undergraduate school plus 3 years full-time law school • Exceptions • Some part-time schools (Neubauer says about a third of accredited schools) • “Reading” for the law – Virginia is one of the few states that still utilizes this method • According to an ABA chart (2010), the following states permit “reading for the law”: California, Maine, New York, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming • www.abanet.org

13. Accredited vs. Unaccredited law schools ABA-accredited: graduates can take bar in any state

14. Accredited vs. Unaccredited law schools ABA-accredited: graduates can take bar in any state Unaccredited: graduates can take bar only in state where school is located

15. Virginia law schools University of Virginia College of William and Mary Washington and Lee University University of Richmond George Mason University (1979) Regent University (1986) Appalachian School of Law (Grundy)(1997) Liberty University (Lynchburg)(2004) – now fully accredited

16. Tuition at Virginia Law Schools(2010/2011)

17. Bar exam • Multi-state bar exam (all but 2 states – Washington and Louisiana – use it) • First administered in 1972 • Source: Bar Admissions Requirements, 2009, published by National Conference of Bar Examiners and ABA Section of Legal Education

18. Bar exam Multi-state bar exam (all but 2 states use it) Bar review courses

19. Bar exam • Multi-state bar exam • Bar review courses • Percentage that passed the Virginia bar exam in: • 1990: 71% • 1995: 67% • 2000: 65% • 2004: 64% • 2008: 73% • 2009: 69% • 2010: 70% • http://www.ncbex.org/- provides national statistics

20. Variation in School Prestige Law School Rankings U.S. News: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings/page+2

21. Do I Have the Right Qualities and Skills to be a Lawyer? Writing ability Ability to synthesize complicated information Reading comprehension – legal materials Ability to reason by example

22. Would I Like Doing What Lawyers Do?

23. Would I Like Doing What Lawyers Do? Lawyers do a lot of different things – things that appeal to people with different interests and different skills

24. Comparison of 1974 & 2001(Where graduating students went to work)

32. What Do I Have to Do to Get Into Law School?

33. Admission Standards LSAT score and undergraduate GPA — the two most important factors

34. Percentage of Students Scoring Within Designated LSAT Scores(2011-12 Testing Year)

36. Thoughts From Law School Admissions Officers (2010) • They do look at personal statements • Include SAT/ACT information in the right case! • Give each school what that school wants. Do NOT write a generic personal statement and use it for all schools • It may not address some questions that a particular school wants addressed • Take great care in how an email or phone call is crafted • Taking time off before applying to law school is often perceived positively

37. Thoughts From Law School Admissions Officers (2010) • Explain difference in two LSAT scores, but avoid “whiny” explanations • (“the girl next to me was wearing an obnoxious perfume”) • No harm in contacting the admissions office (especially email), but present yourself well! • Graduate school will not negate a poor undergraduate record • Addendums are useful to fill in “holes” but should not be long

38. Thoughts From Law School Admissions Officers (2010) • High GPA, low LSAT score, well-rounded student – apply early. • Admissions officers tend to be a bit more generous early on • Three of the four admissions panelists make the admissions decisions without law school faculty input • Take demanding electives • Take upper level electives • Double majoring does not help, although occasionally an interesting pairing (e.g., physics and music) catches their eye

39. Admission Standards LSAT score and undergraduate GPA — the two most important factors Ranking of criteria for admissions by law school admissions deans (2002 – 62% response rate – article in JCJE)

40. Admission Standards • Ranking of criteria for admissions by law school admissions deans (2002 – 62% response rate) • LSAT Score • GPA • College attended • Undergrad major • Personal written statement • Work experience • Letters of recommendation • Past community involvement

41. Law School Admissions Grids • College of William and Mary • University of Virginia • Appalachian School of Law • Liberty University School of Law • LSAC.org Homepage

42. Coursework Are there certain courses I should take to enhance my ability to get into law school (as opposed to enhancing my ability to do well in law school)?

43. Coursework • Are there certain courses I should take to enhance my ability to get into law school? • The LSAT includes 3 types of questions • Reading Comprehension • Analytical Reasoning • Logical Reasoning

44. Coursework • Are there certain courses I should take to enhance my ability to get into law school? • The LSAT includes 3 types of questions • Reading Comprehension • Analytical Reasoning • Logical Reasoning • What courses develop those skills?

45. Coursework • Are there certain courses I should take to enhance my ability to get into law school? • The LSAT includes 3 types of questions • Reading Comprehension • Analytical Reasoning • Logical Reasoning • What courses develop those skills? • It depends on who you ask and who is teaching the course

46. Coursework • Are there certain courses I should take to enhance my ability to get into law school? • Dr. Gill (p. 14): • “Virtually any course that requires you to read extensively, to think logically, critically, and analytically, and to share your thoughts and ideas in both written and spoken English, will help you in this regard.”

47. What is Law School Like?

48. Nature of Legal Education One L

49. Nature of Legal Education The Paper Chase

50. Nature of Legal Education One L & The Paper Chase Case method