Pre-Law

Law School Admissions Council 

LSAC is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to advance law and justice by promoting access, equity, and fairness in law school admission and supporting the learning journey from prelaw through practice.

LSAC provides products and services that support candidates and schools throughout the law school admission process, and innovative solutions to expand and diversify the range of prelaw students, enhance student outcomes in law school, and support legal professionals throughout their careers.

LSAC’s services include:

• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
• Official LSAT Prep Resources
• Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
• LSAC Law School Forums
• Diversity Initiatives
• And more!

AccessLex

AccessLex Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional.

AccessLex’s focus is on academic and bar success, diversity programs, financial education, grants, policy and advocacy, and research.

Law School Timeline 

To set yourself up for success, it is recommended that you start your law school admissions process about 1.5 years prior to your estimated law school start date.

Example: If you would like to be enrolled and going to law school in Fall 2026, you will need to start studying for the LSAT during the winter months of 2025, plan to take the LSAT in the summer of 2025, and complete all of your application materials and submit in fall of 2025.

Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

“Your LSAT score is an integral part of your law school application for most law schools. Scores are based on the number of questions answered correctly (the raw score). There is no deduction for incorrect answers, nor are individual questions on the various test sections weighted differently.

Raw scores are converted to an LSAT scale that ranges from 120 to 180, with 120 being the lowest and 180 the highest possible score.” – Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Learn more about the LSAT

Personal Statements 

“Law schools want to recruit people who are qualified for reasons beyond grades and scores. The essay or personal statement is your opportunity to tell the committee what sets you apart from others.

An essay on actual experiences and past accomplishments has more value to the committee than speculation about future accomplishments. Any noteworthy personal experience or accomplishment may be an appropriate subject, but be sure to do more than just state it. Describe your experience briefly but concretely, and explain why it had value to you.” – Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

For help with your personal statement, it is recommended that you visit the Writing Center and speak with your Pre-Law Advisor.

Letters of Recommendation 

“The most effective letters of recommendation are written by professors or work supervisors who know you well enough to describe your academic, personal, or professional achievements honestly and objectively. Letters that compare you to your academic peers are often the most useful. Most schools do not consider general, unreservedly praiseworthy letters helpful.” – Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Law schools typically ask for 1-4 letters of recommendation, depending on the school. The average number of letters of recommendation tends to be two letters (but again, check with the school). Start creating strong relationships with professors, supervisors, mentors, or coaches early in your college career to make the ask for a letter of recommendation easier when you are applying to law school.

Transcripts 

“Most law schools look closely at your college grades and course selection. UGPA is often a strong indicator of how well you’ll perform in law school. Law schools also view difficult or advanced undergraduate courses more favorably.

Many schools also consider your undergraduate performance trend. They may discount a slow start in your undergraduate career if you performed exceptionally well in later years. Similarly, a strong start followed by a mediocre finish could be an indication of less potential to succeed in law school.

When you complete your applications, be sure to comment on any irregular grade trends in your academic record.” – Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Academic Record

Requesting Transcripts at DU

Additional Requirements

Some institutions may require additional materials such as a resume, supplemental essays, or an English Proficiency Exam for International Students. Make sure to check each school’s application requirements thoroughly before submitting.

Self-Paced Resources

Law Hub

• From test preparation to getting ready for the first day of class in law school, to starting your career in law, LawHub is the learning destination to help you achieve your academic and professional goals. LawHub offers both free and paid versions.

7Sage (they also do live sessions and coaching)

• 7Sage will let you start your LSAT prep for free. They also offer live sessions (virtual and in-person classes) and tutoring services.

Blueprint (they also do live sessions and coaching)

• Blueprint offers self-paced courses, live instructed courses, and LSAT tutoring. They also offer several free resources such as a study plan generator, a free practice exam, flashcards, and cheat sheets.

LSAT Demon (they also do live sessions)

• LSAT Demon will let you start for free. Their paid plans offer LSAT question drills, live classes, access to recorded lessons, and a help button.

Classes 

Note: Many of the “self paced” resources also offer classes! Other classes include:

• Campus Prep 
• Kaplan
• Princeton
• LSAT Prep Course through DU’s Center for Professional Development

Books 

LSAT PrepTest books are available from your favorite bookseller.

• The New Official LSAT TriplePrep Volumes 2-9

LSAT Tutors 

Many tutors are available through the “self paced” and “class” resources (see above).

Pre-law Listserv  

We invite any students who are interested in the legal profession, law school, or pre-law information to add themselves to the Pre-Law Listserv and join the awesome community of pre-law students at DU. You don’t need any prerequisites to be added to this list – just your interest in pre-law!

By identifying yourself as a pre-law student, you’ll receive pre-law announcements, information about law schools and law school prep, occasional notifications for pre-law internship opportunities, and you’ll also gain access to easily schedule pre-law advising appointments through the PCO platform.

Mini Law School 

This six-week series in Fall 2024 will feature lectures on the ways in which the 2024 election may impact various areas of the law, including healthcare, immigration, and more.  Open to all, this program is designed for non-lawyers, is an excellent lifelong learning opportunity, and is a great chance to get a taste of what law school is like.  Participants who view at least four of the six sessions receive a Mini Law School Certificate (no academic credit is received for participation).  There are no required readings, tests, or homework assignments – just a great opportunity to learn about the law!

We anticipate that individuals will be able to participate in Mini Law School this fall in three ways:  (1) live from approximately 6pm to 7:30pm MT, in Boulder at the University of Colorado Law School’s Wolf Law building; (2) livestreaming the lecture anywhere in the country, on the night of the lecture; or (3) on-demand at any time of your choosing, beginning approximately 2 days after the live lecture.  All participants can watch any lectures they miss live by watching a recording at their convenience at a later date.

Register for Mini Law School

Law School YES WE CAN 

LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can is the first law school pipeline program of its kind in Colorado – a program that targets high achieving college freshmen from diverse backgrounds and mentors and trains them for four years.  It is also unique because it takes mentoring to a new level.  In addition to helping prospective legal professionals meet the challenges their predecessors faced, the program helps these students (1) identify the unique challenges they will face in the future; (2) cultivate the skills and relationships they need to mitigate competitive disadvantages that can accompany those challenges; and (3) perform at their peak academic, professional, and leadership levels while they are still in college.  Through exposure programs, LAW SCHOOL…Yes We Can will demystify the law school application process and give Fellows access to the legal profession.

Sturm College of Law 

The Denver Law Admissions team is available to help you. Their office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. They invite you to connect with or visit them at any stage of the application process. Contact them directly at (303) 871-6135 or admissions@law.du.edu. 

LSAT Law School Forums & Fairs 

Law school recruitment events provide opportunities to meet admission representatives, get more information about law school, and ask questions that will help you determine the school for you.

Each year, LSAC hosts a series of free LSAC Law School Forums. These events provide invaluable opportunities for candidates to connect with representatives from 100+ law schools in one place. By attending an LSAC Law School Forum, you’ll be able to connect directly with law school representatives from across North America, attend exclusive workshops run by law school admission and financial aid experts, and get important information and answers to any questions you may have. Candidates interested in JD and LLM programs, as well as those who are considering law-related master’s degrees and certificate programs, are encouraged to attend.

Mock Trial

DUMT is a Chapter of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), which assists students in the development of critical thinking, public speaking skills, and knowledge of legal practice and procedures through engaging in trial simulations in competition with teams from other institutions. In addition to furthering the mission of the AMTA, our DUMT Chapter’s mission is to enhance student’s understanding of the rights and privileges of citizenship through immersion in the trial-related aspects of our legal system.

Learn more and join the Mock Trial community