| 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 |
