Pre-Law Advising and Resources

Contacts for More Information:
Undergraduate Pre-Law Advisor:
Dr. Anthony Grasso (agrasso@camden.rutgers.edu)
Political Science Undergraduate Coordinator:
Dr. Michael Boyle
(mb1987@camden.rutgers.edu)

This page offers direction to undergraduates interested in attending law school. Below, students will find information providing guidance on the following: classes to consider as an undergraduate interested in law; law-related internships; the undergraduate pre-law society; the application process; LSAT sign-up and preparation; and the 3+3 Program at Rutgers Law.

The Undergraduate Experience When Considering Law School

Classes to Consider

There is no “pre-law” major at Rutgers. Students hoping to attend law school often major in fields as Political Science, History, and Philosophy, but successful law school applicants can have majors in any field of study with the College of Arts and Sciences.

However, while there is no required course path for law school, certain undergraduate classes can help students build skills and knowledge valuable for legal studies, including the following.

  1. Basic Skills Courses
    1. 790:106: Introduction to Law and Legal Studies. Provides an overview of the legal system, equipping students with foundational knowledge for the further study of law.
    2. 730:201: Introduction to Logic. Introduces students to symbolic logic, which can be helpful for the LSAT.
  2. Constitutional Law Courses: For students looking for experience reading judicial decisions and legal texts.
    1. 790:381: Judicial Process
    2. 790:401: American Constitutional Development
    3. 790:426: Civil Liberties in Times of Emergencies
    4. 790:442: Human Freedoms and the Constitution
  3. Law, Politics, and Institutions: For students looking to study the law in broader social and political contexts.
    1. 790:414 The Supreme Court as a Political Institution
    2. 790:418: The Politics of Mass Incarceration
    3. 790:387: International Law and International Organizations
  4. The Legal Studies Minor: Rutgers–Camden also offers a legal studies minor. Students interested in law should consider the minor and enrolling in the courses in its curriculum. For more information, please email Dr. Anthony Grasso at agrasso@camden.rutgers.edu and visit https://polisci.camden.rutgers.edu/academic-programs/legal-studies-minor/. 

Internships

While a law-related internship is not necessary for an application to law school, it can provide hands-on experience in the field and strengthen a resume. Students interested in a law internship can contact the Career Center and browse the Center’s internship database Handshake at https://careercenter.camden.rutgers.edu/rutgers-university-camden-internships/.  

The political science department also offers a for-credit internship course, and law-related internships may be eligible to count for credit as part of the course. For more information, please contact Professor Tim Knievel at tknievel@camden.rutgers.edu.  

Pre-Law Society

Rutgers–Camden has an active and growing undergraduate Pre-Law Society. The organization offers information sessions for students interested in law school and a supportive outlet for students considering law school and navigating the application process.  

To sign up or get further information, please contact the organization’s faculty advisor, Dr. Anthony Grasso, at agrasso@camden.rutgers.edu.

Applying to Law School

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Applicants to law school must create an account with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) to manage their applications, letters of recommendation, and LSAT scores. Students can also look through LSAT’s website to find additional resources they may find helpful during the application process. Please visit the LSAC website to create an account and survey their resources at https://www.lsac.org/.

Additionally, LSAC’s LawHub is a platform that students may find helpful in preparing for law school, exploring careers in the law, and preparing for the LSAT through access to various LSAT prep resources. For further information, please visit https://www.lsac.org/lawhub.   

Law School Application Timeline

Applying to law school is a lengthy process that should begin before senior year for students who plan to go straight into law school after receiving their B.A. Of course, everyone’s path to law school is different, and it is not uncommon for students to take a gap year in between their undergraduate and law school careers. If you are unsure which path is right for you, feel free to contact pre-law advisor Dr. Anthony Grasso (agrasso@camden.rutgers.edu) or seek out advice from other faculty members with whom you are familiar. 

Below is a general timeline to guide you through the application stages if you are interested in applying straight into law school. Students taking time in between undergraduate and law school can adjust accordingly to fit their situation. 

  • Junior Year (or Earlier): Start researching law schools and familiarizing yourself with the admissions requirements. This is also a good time to begin preparing for the LSAT, which most students take in the summer after their junior year or early in their senior year. Make sure to track the submissions deadlines for all law schools you are interested in, which will help you plan for the remainder of the application period.
  • Summer Before Senior Year: Take the LSAT if you haven’t already. If you’re satisfied with your score, you can focus on other application components like drafting your personal statement. This is also a good time to request letters of recommendation.
  • Fall of Senior Year: Take the LSAT if you haven’t already. Complete and submit applications by the end of the fall semester, if possible, as many law schools have rolling admissions and review applications as they arrive, meaning that earlier submissions can improve your chances of success.
  • Spring of Senior Year: Take the LSAT if you haven’t already, as many schools have their application deadlines in the early spring semester. Submit applications if you have not already. Prepare for possible interviews (not all schools require them) and monitor your LSAC account for updates on application status.

What is the Personal Statement?

Most law schools require applicants to include a personal statement in their application. The personal statement is an opportunity for applicants to highlight their character, values, and reasons for applying to law school while explaining why they are a good fit for the school.

The Rutgers–Camden Career Services Center critiques students’ personal statements and provides many resources, including sample statements, to help guide the writing process. To look through the Center’s resources and have your statement critiqued, please visit the following links:

What is the LSAT?

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a standardized test required by most law schools in the U.S. as part of the admissions process. It assesses skills essential for success in law school and consists of the following main sections:

  1. Logical Reasoning (2 scored sections): Tests your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments.
  2. Reading Comprehension (1 scored section): Measures your ability to read dense, complex materials and understand their structure and purpose.
  3. Argumentative Writing Sample (unscored): While the writing sample is unscored, it is sent to law schools as part of your application for law schools to evaluate.
  4. Experimental Section (unscored): The LSAT includes one additional section of either logical reasoning or reading comprehension that is unscored but is used to test questions for future use in a graded LSAT.

The test is primarily administered online and includes multiple-choice questions with a time limit of 35 minutes per section.

You can sign up for the LSAT on the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) website, where you will need to create an account and register for a test date. Registration deadlines are typically a month or more before each test date and the test is offered several times a year. You will need to pay a registration fee, though fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

LSAT scores range from 120 to 180 and you can expect to receive your score in about 3–4 weeks. Please keep this in mind in relation to the due dates for your applications when scheduling your LSAT. LSAC will send your scores directly to law schools as part of your application, though you will be able to see your score in your LSAC account first.

You can take the LSAT up to five times in a single testing year with a lifetime limit of seven attempts.                

LSAT Prep Course Recommendations

The LSAT is a significant component of law school admissions, so strong preparation can make a substantial difference in your application. If you’re thinking about law school, consider researching LSAT prep resources and planning out a study schedule well in advance of your test date. Below are some recommended resources for LSAT prep courses and materials from reputable outlets.

Rutgers also offers institutional opportunities for LSAT prep for a fee: https://testprep.rutgers.edu/graduate-school-test-prep/lsat-test-preparation

Students should carefully consider the various options for LSAT prep to weigh their relative strengths and determine which best suits their needs.  

Funding Law School

Law school is a significant investment, so it is essential to plan how you will finance your education. Here are some options to consider:

Other Opportunities for Law School Preparation

Several local law schools offer events and opportunities that may be of interest to undergraduates applying to law school. Check out some of the following programs to see if they are offering anything that may be of interest to you.

The 3+3 Program at Rutgers Law

The 3+3 Program enables highly qualified Rutgers students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six years rather than the usual seven. Students participating in this accelerated program complete their first year of law school courses during their fourth undergraduate year, which is paid as undergraduate tuition. The 29 credits of the 1L curriculum count both as electives fulfilling the remaining credits needed for the undergraduate degree and as credits for the first year of law school.

Students interested in the program must apply during their undergraduate junior year and are required to meet the following requirements:

  • Complete all undergraduate general education and major requirements within their first three undergraduate years
  • Compile at least 91 total credits in their first three years (36 must be Rutgers credits)

While Rutgers Law will consider applicants who do not hit the following GPA and LSAT thresholds, meeting these criteria is recommended to ensure your application is competitive:

  • An undergraduate GPA in at least 36 Rutgers credits that meets or exceeds the median GPA of the students entering Rutgers Law the previous year (currently: 3.61)
  • An LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median score of the students entering Rutgers Law the previous year (currently: 158)

Additionally, please note that the median scores change from year-to-year. Up-to-date information is available at https://law.rutgers.edu/admissions/quick-facts.

All 3+3 applications must be completed by March 1 of the student’s third undergraduate year. A complete application must include the student’s resume, LSAT score, CAS report including all university transcripts, a 2-4 page (double-spaced) personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. For further information, please contact Rutgers Law School admissions and visit their website at https://law.rutgers.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/jd-applicants.

For further information about the 3+3 Program — including the application process, requirements, tuition, and curriculum — please contact Rutgers Law School admissions and visit the 3+3 program website at https://law.rutgers.edu/academics/jd-program/3-plus-3-program and contact the undergraduate pre-law advisor Dr. Anthony Grasso (agrasso@camden.rutgers.edu).