Frequently Asked Questions in Pre-Law Advising

"I'm interested in a particular area of law. What schools would be good for me?"

One resource that is very helpful for students who have a particular area of interest in law (international, tax, corporate, family, entertainment, etc.) is the on-line LSAC Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools at http://officialguide.lsac.org/. Students can select to do a "keyword search," enter the area, and the search will return the names of schools that offer something in that area.

"Where can I get more information about advising pre-law students?"

"Are there any organizations that focus solely on pre-law advising?"

" What professional development opportunities are out there?"

Each region of the country has an Association of Pre-Law Advisors to support advisors who work with pre-law students.

Pre-Law Advisors National Council        http://www.planc.org/

Midwestern Association of Pre-Law Advisors    http://www.mapla.org/

Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors       http://www.napla.org

Pacific Coast Association of Pre-Law Advisors    http://www.pcapla.com/

Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors      http://www.sapla.org

Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors    http://www.swapla.org/

Western Association of Pre-Law Advisors      http://www.wapla.org/

"Given my GPA and LSAT scores, Where should I apply?"

"What are my 'safety' schools?"

The Boston College Law School Locator helps students determine where their grades and scores might be competitive for admission. Find it at the following site.....A GREAT SITE to help your students research law schools. 

http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/gradschool/law/lawlocator.html#the25

"What is the LSAT like?" "How should I prepare for the test?"

"What is the LSDAS, and am I required to register for it?"

For questions about the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) or the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), go to the web site of the organization that administers them both, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), at http://www.lsac.org.  Take some time to explore this site yourself, as well - it has a wealth of resources, including a web version of the Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools.

"When should I take the LSAT?" "What's the timeline for applying to law school?"

A suggested timeline for the application process can be found at http://prelaw.asu.edu/prepare/timeline.

"I'm thinking of applying to law school, but I don't know where to start. Help!"

"Can you give me some general advice?"

For general questions and knowledge, there are many pre-law guides and handbooks available on the web. Below are just a few links to get you and your students started!

Arizona State University   http://www.prelawhandbook.com/home

Elon College Pre-law Program   http://www.elon.edu/pre-law

University of Notre Dame Pre-law Advising   http://www.nd.edu/~prelaw

University of Chicago   http://pre-law.uchicago.edu