Pre-Law Scholars Program Alumni

Graduate School: University of Denver

City: Denver, CO

Degree: Political Science, 2018

"Study for the LSAT seriously. The skills needed on the LSAT can't be learned quickly. They require practice. If I could redo it, I would've started studying six months beforehand. Your LSAT score is the biggest determinative factor in your law school application. Although many schools say they have a holistic application process, the majority of students accepted will have competitive LSAT scores for that particular school. Research the schools you want to attend and pick a target score to practice towards.

Don't be afraid to take a gap year. I knew for most of my life that I wanted to attend law school, so when I didn't get accepted to any "good" law schools during my senior year at Auburn, I was devastated. I took a year off to work in Montgomery and retook the LSAT. During that time, I was able to study more and raised my LSAT score by 6 points. It was a huge learning opportunity and made me more confident in my decision to attend law school.

Get involved in clubs and organizations that will enhance skills you need as an attorney. My experience on the Mock Trial Team was the most valuable thing I did at Auburn."

Graduate School: Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

City: Phoenix, AZ

Degree: Health Services Administration, 2018

"I think the most important thing you can do if you want to go to law school is make good grades and get the highest LSAT score you can. The importance of LSAT and GPA scores cannot be stressed enough. Give it your all. Law school and the legal profession are very competitive arenas, the higher ranked school you can get accepted to the better. But, overall you should pick a school that is best for you and you are happy at. Extracurricular activities are an additional bonus, but what really is going to get you in the door of a law school is your academic credentials."

Graduate School: University of Notre Dame Law School

City: Chicago, IL

Degree: Political Science, 2015

"I highly recommend that aspiring attorneys work diligently but patiently when preparing for the LSAT and choosing a law school. Properly preparing for the LSAT is critical, and it requires much more time than I believe many students anticipate. The last thing you want to do is rush into taking the exam or go into the test feeling unprepared. My words of wisdom for current Auburn students would be to find a current alumni lawyer that has already taken the steps you envision for yourself.”

Graduate School: University of Virginia Law School

City: Charlottesville, VA

Degree: Health Services Administration, 2017

“Law school admission is largely a numbers game; however, other factors can improve your application. Explain why you want to go to law school, discuss your passions, and think about qualities or experiences that you have that would contribute to the larger law school community. Your application should make an admissions officer excited to meet you and welcome you into their law school’s community.

Being involved is more important than I thought it’d be. In fact, I was asked about my leadership activities on-campus by the dean of admissions during my interview. I think that goes back to finding something to be passionate about and doing something meaningful. However, do not let this get in the way of being academically successful. Grades are very important.

In regards to courses, take some legal classes to see if you really would like the academic work involved. I took business law and healthcare law while at Auburn. Not only did they help me see what a legal education might be like, but they also gave me a valuable leg up in the initial days of law school. With that being said, you can know nothing about the law and be successful in law school.

Strongly consider what your goals both for your career and life are prior to applying to law school. If you can accomplish those goals without attending law school, then do so. Legal careers and law school are not worth the time and energy if they do not align with your goals in life.

Learn how to work with people who have different backgrounds or life experiences than you. Being a more empathetic human being will make you a better law student, lawyer, and human being.”

Graduate School: University of Chicago Law School

City: Birmingham, AL

Degree: Political Science, 2015

"Mock trial [in college] was especially helpful. Try to keep up your grades, treat the LSAT seriously, and take advantage of Auburn’s pre-law curriculum (and advising). Perhaps most importantly, form relationships with mentors who can provide guidance and advice. More than anything else, the LSAT tests perseverance. It really helped me to understand that preparing for the LSAT amounts to running a marathon, not a sprint.”