pre law schools in michigan

Last Updated on July 29, 2023

In 2018, 88 students participated in University of Detroit Mercy’s Pre-Law Studies program. They earned a total of 88 bachelor’s degrees. It is a medium-sized college, which is private and not-for-profit. It is located in a large city, which has a population of more than 300,000 people.

Law school programs are typically three years. Unlike a student’s undergraduate degree, law school does not allow a student to choose their own pace. Law students are required by most law schools to complete the law program in three years.

Read on to learn more about Pre Law Schools In Michigan, university of michigan pre law, pre law requirements, umich pre law advising and pre law majors.

Pre-Law Pathway | College of Arts and Sciences | Western Michigan University

Pre Law Schools In Michigan

We begin with the facts of Pre Law Schools In Michigan, university of michigan pre law, pre law requirements, umich pre law advising and pre law majors.

#1: Harvard College

A traditional feeder school, a Harvard education will undoubtedly give you an advantage in your law school applications, especially with the right grades and LSAT scores. Harvard also has several organizations for pre-law students, including the Harvard Law Society and the Harvard College Black Pre-Law Association. You’ll also be able to take advantage of Harvard’s alumni network at top schools and law firms.

#2: Yale University

Yale is considered the top law school in the country, and is the 4th best university overall according to US News and World Report. Though Yale does not have a pre-law major, the school does offer an interdisciplinary track that allows students to create their own major that can give them the skills that law schools seek. The Yale Law School Admission Council also provides undergraduates with pre-law counseling and events throughout the year.

#3: Northwestern University

Northwestern is known for academic rigor, and a big school means lots of resources, including their own law school. Northwestern’s Legal Studies track can be completed as a major or a minor, and differs from pre-law programs in that it has an interdisciplinary focus and aims to teach students to think critically about the relationship between law and society, and includes everything from psychology to literature to religious studies. It’s a well-rounded degree, and the added advantage of being in Chicago means more opportunities for internships.

#4: University of Maryland

The University of Maryland has a department dedicated to advising pre-law students, which also connects students with resources and mentors, and works closely with the university’s law school. Maryland also has a three year arts/law degree program, in which a student can apply to law school in their third year of undergrad, and be awarded their baccalaureate degree in their first year of law school. College Park is also close to Washington D.C., which can help you with landing an internship.

#5: Georgetown University

Georgetown’s pre-law advising center offers resources on all things law school, including one-on-one advising, help with applications, and workshops. Additionally, Georgetown’s record of academics in the humanities make it a great place to learn the skills necessary to excel in law school, and its Washington D.C. location means opportunities to have internships and make connections with those working in the legal field or in politics.

#6: New York University

NYU is in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, and certainly offers a ton of opportunities for internships both in the legal industry and beyond. NYU also offers the Lawyer Alumni Mentoring Program, or LAMP, for pre-law students. The school’s academics are rigorous overall, and has a strong record in the humanities, particularly English.

#7: Michigan State University

Michigan State offers a pre-law major that is also considered a liberal arts degree. The pre-law major aims to introduce students to legal studies while also teaching critical thinking and analytical skills so that pre-law majors are prepared to work in law enforcement, become paralegals, or go into a career in government.

#8: University of Texas at Austin

UT Austin’s career center hosts one of the largest Law Fairs in the country every year, which allows students to interact with over 100 law school admissions professionals. The career center also hosts panels and workshops, law school application coaching, and more. If you’re stuck between majors, these resources can help you decide what is best for you, and what will help you stand out on an application. UT Austin offers many majors in both sciences and humanities, and UT students go onto to law school with degrees in numerous fields.

#9: Florida State University

In addition to one of the country’s top Criminal Justice programs, FSU has a pre-law advising center that helps students magnify their achievements within their majors, and works closely with the law school. FSU hosts the Donald J. Weidner Summer Program for Legal Studies, a four-week program taught by law professors. Even better: 70% of program attendees have gone on to law school. The program is open to undergraduates from all schools and is competitive.

#10: George Washington University

George Washington University encourages pre-law students to establish themselves as pre-law early on, and take advantage of the many groups, societies, and panels dedicated to that goal. Advisers at GW help you find the law schools that are the best fit for your background and goals, and they tailor your undergrad education to those schools. Additionally, the Washington D.C. location makes for a great spot to score internships.

#11: Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern is a little different than the other schools on this list because of its thorough pre-law (legal studies) major that offers an undergraduate law degree. Nova Southeastern is dedicated to helping students prepare for law school by offering a challenging program and a dedicated interest in the humanities. The school’s B.S. in Legal Studies major also allows students to take classes in philosophy, history, and more as they work toward their degree.

university of michigan pre law

Next, we discucss university of michigan pre law, pre law requirements, umich pre law advising and pre law majors.

NMC TRANSFER GUIDE – MTA

To: University of Michigan – Main Campus

PROGRAM: PRE-LAW

Since the University does not have a designated pre-law curriculum, students must choose a field of study that would lead to a Bachelors degree. Freshman and sophomore applicants should be working to fulfill prerequisites for their intended field of study and to meet the general academic requirements in liberal arts. Coursework should be chosen in Analytic/Problem Solving Skills, Critical Reading, Writing Skills, Oral Communication/Listening Abilities, General Research Skills, Task Organization/Management Skills, Public Service and Promotion of Justice.

At an early stage, students are urged to obtain a copy of the Pre-Law handbook prepared annually by the Association of American Law Schools. Most book stores have workbooks that students can purchase to assist in preparing for the Law School Admissions Test ( the LSAT). The LSAT attempts to measure the ability to understand and reason with verbal, quantitative, and symbolic materials and is generally taken in the spring of the Junior year.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

  1. GPA – 3.0 if transferring as a Junior. 3.3 plus strong high school record if transferring after 1 year at NMC.
  2. Preference is given to applicants who have obtained Junior standing (54 credits)
  3. Credits Accepted – U of M accepts a maximum of 60 transferable credits.
  4. Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)-required of all students applying to law school, usually taken at the end of the Junior year or early in the Senior year.
  5. Transferable Courses – Courses with a GPA of 2.0 or above are considered for transfer.
  6. Pre-Law Handbook – Students are urged to obtain a copy of the Pre-Law handbook prepared by the Association of American Law School.
  7. Students are not required to have all the courses listed on this guide completed prior to admission to U of M.
  8. LSA Pre-Law Program Page | Preparing for Law School (American Bar Associaation) | Law School Admissions Council site |

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

This guide was developed for students choosing a major in the School of Literature, Science, and Arts ( LS&A)

The following courses are listed to facilitate transfer and fulfill distribution requirements at U of M. These courses may not fulfill requirements for the Associate of Arts or Science degree at NMC. If your goal is to complete an Associate degree before transferring, see a counselor for assistance.

Upon request at the NMC Records and Registration Office, a statement will be placed on your transcript, “MICHIGAN TRANSFER AGREEMENT (MTA) SATISFIED”.

ACADEMIC AREACREDITS
Communications 
ENG 111English Composition4
ENG 112English Composition4
Humanities
Select 7 credits representing 2 departments from Humanities Area »
Natural Science
Select 7 credits representing 2 departments from Natural Science Area including one LECTURE/LAB »
Social Science
Select 7 credits representing 2 departments from Social Science Area »
Mathematics
MTH 131 Probability and Statistics to meet MTA and Quantitative Reasoning at U of MOR take Quantitiative Reasoning at U of M3
Foreign Language
Two years of 1 language. This requirement may be fulfilled in one of 3 ways:Completing the 2nd year of a college level foreign language.Passing the foreign language proficiency test given to entering U of M students during Orientation.Scoring 600 or higher on the College Entrance Exam Achievement Test.

Additional Courses
Choose 9 additional credits from at least 3 areas in the Distribution list, and electives as needed »
If working to attain Junior status (54 credits), students may need to select additional credits.

Northwestern Michigan College does not assume final responsibility for the accuracy of information on this guide. The final responsibility for the successful transfer of classes suggested on this guide rests with you and the institution you plan to transfer to. It is strongly recommended that you visit the institution as early in your academic career (prior to transfer) as possible.

pre law requirements

Now we journey through pre law requirements, umich pre law advising and pre law majors.

What Are the Pre-Law Requirements?

The number of applicants to law schools in the United States is roughly 35 percent higher this year than it was last year at the same time, according to the Law School Admission Council. 

Law is a popular career path, and with admission to law school so competitive, you’re probably wondering how to improve your pre-law profile. Are there requirements? And which courses should you take to increase your chances of acceptance?

What is Pre-Law? Is it a Major?

There’s no specific pre-law major, just as there’s no pre-med major. Being pre-law simply means you’re planning on applying to law school.

Some of the most popular majors for pre-law students are political science, psychology, and history. That said, students can choose any undergraduate major and apply to law school. You could major in something that seems totally irrelevant, like music or the visual arts, and still become a lawyer!

In fact majoring in a less-traditional discipline may provide you with the background to pursue special types of law. For instance, environmental studies majors may go into environmental law, and music majors may go into entertainment and copyright law.

No matter what your major, look for a school that has strong pre-law advising. This will help you navigate the law school admissions process and give you support and resources throughout your undergraduate studies. For example, George Washington University and NYU will help students determine whether law school is the best choice for the student, prepare for the LSAT and GRE, identify the right schools, explore career options, offer webinars on the subject, and more.

What Are The Pre-Law Requirements?

Are there Course Requirements?

There are no specific course requirements for admission to law school, in contrast to medical school. While you may think it’s best to major in a law-related field, law schools often prefer a broad liberal arts education.

For example, Harvard Law School’s FAQs page states: 

…in preparing for law school, a broad college education is usually preferable to one that is narrowly specialized. The Admissions Committee looks for a showing of thorough learning in a field of your choice, such as history, economics, government, philosophy, mathematics, science, literature or the classics (and many others), rather than a concentration in courses given primarily as vocational training.

Typical Pre-Law Requirements

While there are no course requirements, you will need to meet other requirements to apply to law school, including:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Strong LSAT score
  • Complete application, including essays and recommendation letters

The LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) is especially important, as it’s a standardized way to compare applicants from diverse backgrounds. The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120-180, with the average score being a 151. Applicants to top 10 law schools, however, should aim for a 170 and above. The LSAT tests reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning. The formatting of the test is very different from other standardized exams, and students will need to thoroughly familiarize themselves with the question types.

Recommendation letters are also important in any grad school admissions process. Students should strive to build meaningful relationships with their professors; this will not only help them receive strong rec letters, but also help them find life-long mentors.

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What Courses Should Pre-Law Students Take?

While there are no course requirements for admission to law school, there are many courses that will help you prepare for the rigor of the curriculum and your legal career. 

Liberal arts and humanities courses, including English and history, will help you learn how to think critically, read efficiently, and write competently — skills that will be essential when you’re a lawyer. They’ll also give you experience reading and analyzing texts, another pivotal part of the law school curriculum.

Political science, government, and criminal justice courses will provide a good foundation for understanding how the government, law, and judicial systems work. Just bear in mind, if you’re considering majoring in one of these disciplines, these are popular choices for law school-bound students and law schools value diversity.

Psychology and sociology can help you understand people and their behaviors, which will also be useful in your career as a lawyer. Meanwhile, economics will give you insight into the business world, something that will come in handy if you’re interested in corporate law or have a practice later on.

STEM courses can also be useful, especially if you’re interested in the legal and regulatory issues related to these fields. Harvard Law School actually encourages applications from all backgrounds, and states that STEM students “may wish to work in the field for a few years to garner practical experience in the sciences before studying the legal aspects that regulate such work.”

Besides that, taking logical reasoning courses like mathematics and philosophy can help prepare you for the logic-related questions on the LSAT. This is especially true for mathematics courses that are proof-heavy, like Geometry and Linear Algebra.

To sharpen your public speaking skills, you may consider taking a speech class, or participating in extracurriculars like Debate or Mock Trial.

Want to learn more about becoming a lawyer? See our step-by-step pre-law guide, beginning from high school.

Your path to becoming a lawyer starts with the best undergraduate education for you. To find out your chances of being admitted to your top-choice colleges, check out CollegeVine’s free Chancing Engine. This tool uses your unique information, including your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and more to estimate your real odds of acceptance.

umich pre law advising

More details coming up on umich pre law advising and pre law majors.

Humanities - prelaw | Majors | Michigan State University

Pre-Law Advisors

The Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center offers pre-law advising appointments for students and alumni of all schools and colleges (Ross, Engineering, Ford, Kinesiology, etc.) at UM who are considering and applying to law school. You are encouraged to make an appointment our pre-law advisors, below. If you are exploring career possibilities related to the law, you may also find a career advising appointment at the Career Center very helpful.

Hours of operation at the Newnan Advising Center: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To schedule a pre-law advising appointment, please email [email protected].

Nearest Law Schools

Michigan State University – Detroit College of Law
368 Law College Bldg.
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300
(800) 844-9352
www.law.msu.edu

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
651 East Jefferson
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 596-0200
www.law.udmercy.edu

The University of Michigan Law School
625 South State St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215
(734) 764-1358
www.law.umich.edu

Western Michigan University
Cooley Law School                                                                                                                                                                      

300 S. Capitol Ave.
P.O. Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48933
(517) 371-5140
www.cooley.edu

University of Toledo College of Law
Toledo, OH 43606
(419) 530-4131
www.utoledo.edu/law

Wayne State University Law School
471 W. Palmer
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 577-3937
www.law.wayne.edu

pre law majors

Political science - prelaw | Majors | Michigan State University

Top 10 Best Pre-law Majors (+ 10 Pre-law Majors You’d Never Expect)

Published June 23, 2018

Here’s the secret: there’s no undergraduate major that will guarantee entry into OR rejection from law school, nor ensure your success once you get in. Your choice of major will not improve performance on the LSAT, the bar exam, or in a courtroom.

Bottom line: If you’re planning to go to law school after undergrad, choose the major that best fits your goals and/or interests.

That said, there are certainly some majors that are more popular with people who end up going to law school.

A 2017-2018 study by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) looked at people who applied to one or more ABA-accredited schools from a total of 145 different majors. The following 10 majors were the most common out of all who applied. Data includes ONLY applicants who met the requirements for GPA and LSAT scores.

If you’re a prospective law student, these 10 may be some of the best pre-law majors for you!

Top 10 Best Pre-law Majors (see also: what did most law school students major in?)

1. Political Science – 9,612 admitted

Political Science is the not-at-all-surprisingly undisputed top pre-law major. 18% of all applicants admitted were from this major.

2. Other – 2,917 admitted

The second highest number of admitted law students majored in “Other” – topics that did not fall under the other 144 majors listed. 7% of all applicants were admitted from these majors.

3. Psychology – 2,960 admitted

A Psychology degree can be very helpful for prospective attorneys, since practicing law is as much about the people involved as it is about the law itself.

4. Criminal Justice – 2,220 admitted

The Criminal Justice major tends to have a lower percentage of applicants admitted than other majors. English, History, and Economics all had more admitted applicants than Criminal Justice.

5. English – 2,564 admitted

Practicing law also requires strong oral and written language skills for things like case briefs, reports, and analyzing & presenting a case. You’ll be expected to use these skills in law school as well as in practice.

6. History – 2,657 admitted

Law is tightly entwined with History, as it requires knowledge of legal precedents and origins of laws.

7. Economics – 2,373 admitted

If you’re interested in corporate or tax law, an Economics major is a good foundation. Economics is also broadly applicable to other areas of law, such as intellectual property.

8. Philosophy – 1,858 admitted

Law and Philosophy are like the positive and negative poles of a magnet. Very different, but inseparable. At their foundation, the law must consider ethics, human nature, common sense, and other philosophical topics to be effective.

9. Arts & Humanities – 1,496 admitted

This major may include concentrations like language, religion, and design.

10. Sociology – 1,327 admitted

Sociology is the study of people in groups. Laws are guidelines for how people are expected to act in groups.

10 Unexpected Pre-law Majors (see also: can you go to law school with any degree?)

You can absolutely go to law school with any degree. In fact, if you’re planning on specializing in law for a certain industry (e.g. environmental, medical, industrial) you may find it helpful to build a background in that industry before entering law school.

That said, people major in different topics for different reasons, and they go to law school for different reasons at different points in their lives.

The most important thing is: students in the following majors met the requirements for law school, and were admitted based on their aptitude, not their major.

#1 Most Surprising: Home Economics – 5 admitted

The award for least expected pre-law major goes to Home Economics, with a total of 12 applicants for the 2017-18 school year.

#2 Most Surprising: Botany – 5 admitted

A close runner-up is Botany, with six total applicants.

#3 Most Surprising: Aviation Science – 3 admitted

The third favorite underdog is Aviation Science, with five total applicants.

Runners Up:

  1. Dentistry – 5 admitted
  2. Astronomy – 3 admitted
  3. Forestry – 10 admitted
  4. Marine Engineering – 6 admitted
  5. Radiology – 6 admitted
  6. Archaeology – 9 admitted
  7. Physical Therapy – 6 admitted

What should you major in to go to law school?

The bottom line is: you can major in anything you want and go to law school, BUT there may be some majors you’ll like more due to your interest in law. However, if you’re interested in a specific market, industry, or topic in law, building that foundation in undergrad may not be a bad idea.

Similarly, if you’re considering law school later in life, your original degree doesn’t matter. If you meet the application requirements, you will not be discounted based on your major.

What matters is the work you put in once you’re there. Getting into law school means displaying aptitude. Succeeding in law school means dedication, good work ethic, and the desire to make it happen.

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