What Is Law School?
Law school programs are academic institutions of training for professionals who wish to become practicing lawyers. These programs award graduates with the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.). Most J.D. programs take three years to complete full-time.
Is Law School Right For Me?
Spend time thinking about law school and examine whether your interests, experiences, and skills match up with this specific career path. Here are some questions to consider:
-
What would I like to be doing following law school?
-
Who have I talked to who is currently practicing law?
-
What practical experiences have confirmed my interest in law?
-
What skills have I begun developing that will make me a good lawyer?
For further reading on preparing for law school, please see: Advice I Wish I Heard Before Law School
Researching Law Schools
After considering the choice of pursuing a law degree, the next step is to begin researching schools. There are several places where you can begin researching law programs:
Applying to Law School
To begin the process of applying to law school, create an account with the Law School Admissions Council. The entirety of your law school application will be completed on this system.
Core Elements of the Law School Application
- LSAT score. Find out more about the LSAT at LSAC.org
- Letters of Recommendation. Most law schools expect at least two recommendations, at least one of which is an academic recommendation (i.e., from a college-level instructor who has taught you for at least one course). The other can be academic or professional (for whom you have worked).
Temple Resources: Law School
Temple provides several ways for prospective law students to prepare for law school.
Pre-Law Society. Students can reach out to the Pre-Law Society and faculty advisor Dr. Paul Crowe in preparation for law school. The Pre-Law Society provides opportunities for students of all majors interested in Law to cultivate the skills necessary to be accepted into law school and be successful in the law profession.
Pre-Law Advising. There are also several pre-law advisors housed within the schools and colleges at Temple University. Please consider consulting the designated pre-law advisors for your school or college.