Social Science Division

Pre-Law Information

Introduction

Many of the students who major in one of the social sciences--economics, political science, psychology, or sociology--use their social science major as a base for gaining admission to law school and pursuing a legal career. Since preparing for legal studies and gaining admission to a top-level law school does not require undergraduates to pursue a rigid, highly structured course of study, many students are left with questions about how best to prepare for legal studies. This handbook is designed to answer those questions. It seeks to give some guidance in choosing your major and planning your undergraduate education in such a way as to maximize your preparation for achieving success in law school and, later, in the legal profession.

The handbook is divided into four sections. First it considers why a social science major is an excellent preparation for law school and what factors you ought to weigh in selecting which social science discipline to major in. Next, it considers how to select the law schools to which to apply. Then it considers the criteria law schools use to make their admission decisions. Finally, it suggests a model course of study for each of the social science disciplines.

Curt Portzel, J.D. is the Social Science Division's pre-law advisor. His office is located in the Thornton Administration Center (TAC) 309, and his telephone number is (310) 506-4893. Please feel free to contact him for help and advice beyond what is contained in this handbook. You should also, of course, see your own academic advisor for help in planning your major program of study and obtaining advice on your academic progress and plans for the future.

Selecting a Major

There is no one major that is best for all students planning for a legal career. Law schools are willing to accept persons with liberal arts degrees with almost any major. Having said this, there are good reasons why the social science disciplines make especially strong preparation for gaining admission to law school, for doing well in legal studies, and, eventually, for doing well in a legal career. The social sciences, by their very nature, study human beings, their nature, and their institutions. Law and legal institutions are, of course, human institutions that constantly deal with human beings in all of their strengths and weaknesses. Thus, gaining an in-depth understanding of human beings and their social structures and social behavior is an excellent way to prepare for legal studies. In addition, all of the social sciences place a strong emphasis on reading widely, analyzing and evaluating what one has read, thinking clearly and logically, and expressing one's self clearly, both verbally and in writing. These are all skills crucial to gaining admission to law school, doing well in legal studies, and practicing in the legal profession.

But this leaves the question of which social science discipline—economics, political science, psychology, or sociology—is the best one for you to major in. There is no one right answer to this question. What may be right for one person will not be right for the next. There is--first of all and most importantly--the question of your own interests, likes, and abilities. A good general rule to follow is to major in the field in which you are the most interested and in which you enjoy studying the most. All of us have different interests and aptitudes. The person who does well in and loves one subject area, may dislike and not excel in some other area. You will learn more and mature and develop more quickly and fully, if you are working in an area where you have aptitudes and strong interests. As you learn more and mature and develop more fully you will be better equipped to gain admission to the law school of your choice and to do well in your legal studies.

Those students who have already identified a field of law in which they have special interests can use those interests to help guide their choice of a major. Also, each of the social sciences has certain special characteristics that are relevant to legal studies. Following are the four social science disciplines, followed by a discussion of the fields of law especially relevant to each of them and their special characteristics relevant to preparation for legal studies:

Economics - Those who are especially interested in pursuing corporate law, tax law, patents and copyrights, and other such fields dealing with business and economics, may want to consider economics as a major. Economics has a further benefit in that many of the analyses in which economists engage having a strong mathematical aspect to them. These quantitative skills tend to sharpen one's reasoning and analytical skills, which are helpful in doing well on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and in legal studies.

Political Science - Political science has an immediate and direct relevance to the legal field, since laws are written by governmental institutions and the courts that enforce laws are part of the government. There are political science courses that deal directly with constitutional law and the judicial process. Also, many persons pursue legal studies in preparation for careers in government service of one type or another: as elected officials, as aides to elected officials, as judges or other judicial officials, or as one of the myriad of administrative officials on the state, local, or national level. Those students with career interests along these lines, may find political science an especially relevant major. It is the most common major for students planning to attend law school.

Psychology - Those who are especially interested in criminal or family law and dispute resolution might want to consider a psychology major. Psychology seeks to develop an understanding of human behavior and motivations, as well as insights into troubled or dysfunctional human relationships. In addition, psychology helps individuals to bridge cultural, economic, and social differences. A heightened sensitivity to these issues can assist an attorney in dealing with clients, as well as other attorneys, experts, and adversaries from all walks of life.

Sociology - Sociology can be an especially helpful major to those interested in a wide variety of legal fields that deal with social institutions. As with psychology, it can be especially helpful for those interested in some aspect of criminal or family law or dispute resolution. It can also be helpful for those interested in civil rights law, welfare law, or estate planning and probate. As is true with psychology, sociology helps individuals to bridge cultural, economic, and social differences, which, in turn, can assist an attorney in dealing with clients, other attorneys, experts, and adversaries from all walks of life.

Selecting a Law School

The first question one faces in regard to applying to law school is where one should apply. There are three factors to take into consideration: the reputation or prestige of the various law schools, their location, and where you can realistically hope to gain admission. There is a clear "pecking order" among law schools, with some being nationally known schools of very high prestige and others being seen as mediocre at best. Various published guides to law schools give a good sense of the relative rank of the various schools. Only you can determine the importance of the level of prestige of the law school you attend. If you desire a career with a major, nationally known law firm, you should make every effort to gain admission to a highly prestigious school of law, although the top graduates of other law schools are also likely to have a chance with such firms. If you desire a legal career in a smaller law firm or in a small town, the prestige level of the law school you attend becomes less important. Remember that competition for legal jobs after graduation from law school is becoming more intense and--all things being equal--the more prestigious the law school you attend, the more career options you will have.

The state in which the law school you attend is located not that important. This is especially true of the most prestigious law school, since they attract students from around the country and have a curriculum that is national in orientation. This also tends to be true of less prestigious law schools that are accredited by the American Bar Association. Law schools that are state accredited often are more oriented towards the law of the state in which they are located. Thus if you attend a state accredited law school and then seek to practice law in another state, you could experience some difficulties. Again, published national guides of law schools, as well as information put out in the admissions packets of individual schools, are good sources of information on the character and orientation of the various schools. Visits to the law schools to which you are thinking of applying can also be very helpful.

In judging the law schools to which you are likely to gain admission, the published guides to law schools can again be very helpful. Such guides typically give the average LSAT scores and GPAs of previous years' classes. You should plan to apply to more than one law school. If time and money allow, it is advisable to apply to six to eight schools. At a minimum, you should plan to apply to three or four schools. In applying to law schools, you should apply to several at about the level at which you realistically hope to be admitted, one or two above where you think you probably will be admitted, and one or two below where you think you will be admitted. That way in case you have underestimated the level of the school you are likely to get into, you may be successful and be admitted to a school at a higher level than you had hoped; or if you have overestimated the level you are likely to get into, you will at least have one or two alternative schools from which to choose.

Gaining Admission to Law School

Law school admission offices typically take four factors into account in making their admission decisions: your score on the LSAT, your grade point average, letters of recommendations, and the quality of your application. The LSAT is by far the most important of the four factors. It is a standardized test periodically given nation-wide. The long term trend of most law schools has been to give added weight to the LSAT since it provides a uniform yard stick to make comparisons (and rankings) among their applicants. GPAs can be inflated, letters of recommendation can exaggerate, and application forms can even be ghost written by others; but scores on the LSAT have at least the appearance of objectivity and reliability (whether in actual fact they do continues to be debated). The best preparation for scoring well on the LSAT is to work hard at your studies over your entire college career. There is no way to cram for it. It largely seeks to measure one's reading and analytical skills. An ability to read quickly and with good comprehension and to reason logically are important skills to learn. These are best learned by sharpening them through careful work in all of your courses. Some have suggested that taking a couple extra math or statistics courses can help sharpen one's reasoning skills. Philosophy 290 (Logic) is another course that many believe helps to improve one's analytic skills, and thereby improves one's performance on the LSAT.

One step that is clearly helpful is to purchase a copy of several available guides to preparing for the LSAT. These guides all include copies of previously administered LSATs. By taking several practice tests within the tests' time limits, one can be better prepared to take the actual test. There are also several commercial services available that—for often rather high fees—offer a series of classes and accompanying exercises that seek to prepare one for the LSAT. Opinion differs on whether, or to what extent, they are able to raise a person's score on the LSAT. If you have the money and time, taking one of these preparation courses is probably wise, but if time and finances are short, you will not disadvantage yourself to any great extent by not taking one. All experts agree that the habits of thinking and the skills one develops over the four years of college education are much more important.

A final question in regard to the LSAT is when is the best time to take it. Most students take it in the fall of their senior year, which is the best time for most persons. Some take it during the summer between their junior and senior years, figuring they will be more rested and better able to concentrate at that time than in the midst of an academic semester. Others put the test off until the beginning of the second semester of their senior year, seeking to get as many of their studies under their belt as possible before taking the test. Most students would be well advised to take it earlier than that, since most law schools begin to make admission decisions in January. But there is no one right answer for everyone. Much depends on individual inclinations and circumstances.

In regard to grade point averages, the chief point to stress is that GPAs—even very high ones—are being discounted by many law schools. There has been so much grade inflation at many colleges and universities that even GPAs of 3.70 and above are often viewed with a certain amount of skepticism. Scores on the LSAT are more heavily weighed. Thus taking "easy" courses in an attempt to increase one's GPA may actually be counterproductive, if doing so means one is learning less and developing less well the reading and analytical skills essential to doing well on the LSAT. In addition, your transcript will be included in your application, and the rigor of the courses you selected may be weighed by the law schools in their evaluation of your GPA.

The key to having several strong letters of recommendation is to make certain that several professors get to know you well. A strong letter of recommendation is one that is not couched in general terms, but refers specifically to you and can mention attributes specific to you. For professors to write such letters they need to know you personally. This can best be achieved by taking two or three courses with at least two professors, and perhaps doing an independent study with one of them. One of the advantages of a Pepperdine education is that professors can get to know you personally. You can maximize this advantage by developing a close working relationship with a couple of professors. Also, be sure to give the professors you ask to write letters of recommendation plenty of time to do so. Coming in with a request for a letter of recommendation a few days before the deadline, almost assures the letter will be a pro forma, not a personal letter. You should also give a copy of supporting materials to the professors writing letters of recommendation, such as your résumé and a statement of your goals in pursuing legal studies.

Finally, be sure to fill out your applications for admission carefully and fully. This is no time to save time or cut corners! If a personal statement or another essay is required, spend time with this. It should be brief (well within the space limits given), well organized, and logical in its flow of ideas. Quadruple check for spelling and grammatical errors! All forms should be typed and professional in appearance.

Examples of Pre-Law Courses of Study

There is no prescribed course of study or sequence of courses that constitutes the one correct sequence or course of study. It may, however, be helpful to set down models of pre-law courses of study for each of the social science disciplines. Following are examples or models of courses of study that can provide guidance for students interested in preparing for legal studies. Remember, however, these are not rigid sequences that all should follow. You should deviate from these models to meet your own individual interests and needs. What follows may serve as a starting point in planning your pre-law studies. They should be viewed as no more than that. Your academic advisor, the Social Science Division's pre-law advisor (Curt Portzel, J.D.), and other professors can help you design the course of study best suited to your interests, abilities, and career goals.

Economics

Year 1, Fall

First-Year Seminar
ENG 101 – English Composition I
Modern Language I
ECON 210 – Intro to Microeconomics

Year 1, Spring

ENG 102 – English Composition II
REL 101 – History and Religion of Israel
Modern Language II
ECON 211 – Intro to Macroeconomics
MATH 214 – Calculus for Business and Economics

Year 2, Fall

HUM 111 – Western Heritage I
POSC 104 – American People and Politics
Modern Language III
ECON 310 – Intro to Statistics and Econometrics

Year 2, Spring

HUM 212 – Western Heritage II
REL 102 – History and Religion of Early Christianity
Laboratory Science
ECON 430 – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

Year 3, Fall

HUM 313 – Western Heritage III
ECON 431 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
REL 301 – Religion and Culture
SPE 180 – Public Speaking and Rhetorical Analysis
SOC 200 – Intro to Sociology
or
PSYC 200 – Intro to Psychology

Year 3, Spring

Non-Western Heritage
ECON 500 level course
AC 224 – Financial Accounting
PHIL 290 – Logic

Year 4, Fall

POSC 533 – Constitutional Law
POSC 311 – Foundations of Political Theory
ECON 500 level course
ECON 500 level course

Year 4, Spring

ECON 500 level course
ECON 500 level course or other elective Upper division elective (4 units)
Upper division elective (4 units)

Political Science

Year 1, Fall

First-Year Seminar
ENG 101 – English Composition I
Modern Language I
POSC 104 – American People and Politics

Year 1, Spring

ENG 102 – English Composition II
REL 101 – History and Religion of Israel
Modern Language II
ECON 200 – Economic Principles
MATH 102 – The Nature of Mathematics

Year 2, Fall

HUM 111 – Western Heritage I
POSC 250 – Introductory Statistics
Modern Language III
SPE 180 – Public Speaking and Rhetorical Analysis

Year 2, Spring

HUM 212 – Western Heritage II
REL 102 – History and Religion of Early Christianity
POSC 344 – International Relations
Laboratory Science

Year 3, Fall

HUM 313 – Western Heritage III
REL 301 – Religion and Culture
POSC 311 – Foundations of Political Theory
MATH 103 – College Algebra
SOC 200 - Intro to Sociology
or
PSYC 200 – Intro to Psychology

Year 3, Spring

Non-Western Heritage
POSC 526 – Jurisprudence and the Judicial Process
POSC upper division course
PHIL 290 – Logic

Year 4, Fall

POSC 533 – Constitutional Law
POSC 353 – Comparative European Politics
Upper division elective (4 units)
Upper division elective (4 units)

Year 4, Spring

POSC 539 – Law and Society
POSC course or upper division elective
Upper division elective (4 units)
Upper division elective (3 or 4 units)

Psychology

Year 1, Fall

First-Year Seminar
ENG 101 – English Composition I
Modern Language I
PSYC 210 – Foundations of Psychology

Year 1, Spring

ENG 102 – English Composition II
REL 101 – History and Religion of Israel
Modern Language II
PSYC 250 – Introductory Statistics
MATH 102 – The Nature of Mathematics

Year 2, Fall

HUM 111 – Western Heritage I
PSYC 310 – Research Methods in Psychology
Modern Language III
SPE 180 – Public Speaking and Rhetorical Analysis

Year 2, Spring

HUM 212 – Western Heritage II
REL 102 – History and Religion of Early Christianity
POSC 104 – American People and Politics
Laboratory Science

Year 3, Fall

HUM 313 – Western Heritage III
ECON 200 – Economic Principles
REL 301 – Religion and Culture
PSYC 315 – Psychological Testing and Assessment

Year 3, Spring

Non-Western Heritage
PHIL 290 – Logic
PSYC 323 – Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 333 – Social Psychology
MATH 103 – College Algebra

Year 4, Fall

POSC 533 – Constitutional Law
or
PSYC upper division course (4 units)
PSYC 341 – Principles of Learning
PSYC upper division course from Applied Practice or Integrative Experience area (3-4 units)
PSYC upper division course (4 units)

Year 4, Spring

POSC 539/SOC 429 – Law and Society
or
PSYC upper division course (4 units)
PSYC 371 – Sensation and Perception
or
PSYC 372 - Physiological Psychology
PSYC upper division course (4 units)
Upper division elective or PSYC upper division course if needed to meet total of 43 PSYC units (4 units)

Sociology

Year 1, Fall

First-Year Seminar
ENG 101 – English Composition I
Modern Language I
SOC 200 – Intro to Sociology

Year 1, Spring

ENG 102 – English Composition II
REL 101 – History and Religion of Israel
Modern Language II
POSC 104 – American People and Politics
MATH 102 – The Nature of Mathematics

Year 2, Fall

HUM 111 – Western Heritage I
SOC 250 – Introductory Statistics
Modern Language III
SPE 180 – Public Speaking and Rhetorical Analysis
SOC 295 – Educational Tutoring: Camp David Gonzales

Year 2, Spring

HUM 212 – Western Heritage II
REL 102 – History and Religion of Early Christianity
SOC 310 – Introduction to Research Methodology
Laboratory Science

Year 3, Fall

HUM 313 – Western Heritage III
MATH 103 – College Algebra
REL 301 – Religion and Culture
SOC 431 – Social Stratification
PSYC 200 – Intro to Psychology

Year 3, Spring

Non-Western Heritage
PHIL 290 – Logic
SOC 429 – Law and Society
ECON 200 – Economic Principles

Year 4, Fall

POSC 533 – Constitutional Law
SOC 391 – Sociological Theory
SOC 421 – Deviant Behavior and Social Control
SOC 424 – Social Psychology

Year 4, Spring

SOC 427 – Sociology of the Family
SOC 497 – Senior Seminar
SOC upper division course
Upper division elective