If you would like personalized assistance, please contact the CDC for an individual appointment, or stop by during drop-in hours Monday through Friday between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M.

Professional Schools: Law School

Thinking about law school can be pretty overwhelming, especially since there isn't a formal pre-law program you could go to for advice. We do have some resources-- both here at Macalester and outside in the community-- that should be helpful.

The best college coursework for students wanting to be lawyers, as reported in the National Law Journal:

38% Liberal Arts
22% Business and Finance
14% Science & Technology
10% Political Science
7% Economics
9% Other

Preparing for Law School

• What to Do Your First Year and Sophomore Year
• What to Do Your Junior Year
• What to Do Your Senior Year
• Taking the LSAT
• Sample LSAT Questions and Answers
• Three Basic Skills of a Lawyer

Area Law Schools

• University of St. Thomas School of Law
• Hamline University School of Law
• University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Law School
• William Mitchell College of Law

Macalester Resources

• CDC Alumni Network - Contact the CDC if you are interested in getting the names of Macalester grads working in law fields who have volunteered to talk to current students.
• CDC Graduate School Information
• Internship Program Office
• Community Service Office
• MAX Center (Macalester Academic Excellence Center)
• Legal Studies Program Website

Additional Resources

• Financial Aid for Law School - Financial aid for law school as well as other helpful links.
• Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)
• Princeton Review's Best Law Schools 2007

Is Law School for You?

First, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I enjoy working closely with people regarding significant events or issues affecting their lives?
• Can I empathize with a client's situation, yet have the ability to objectively analyze the issues and their consequences in light of existing law?
• Do I enjoy educating or teaching a person about a subject about which he or she may be ignorant or have significant misconceptions?
• Am I able to articulate in a clear and concise manner my analysis of a problem to others, whether it be verbally or in writing?
• Do I enjoy being an advocate?
• Can I argue both sides of the question with enthusiasm?
• Do I like detail work?
• Do I enjoy searching for the facts of a situation?
• Do I like to read and study?

Of course, you don't necessarily need to have answered all of these questions with an emphatic "Yes!" There is still time for you to develop your skills and passions in the direction of law. However, if you answered in the negative to a majority of these questions, perhaps you should think more in depth about why you would like to enter the field of law. See also: "Don't be a Fool--Stay Out of School; 29 Reasons Not to Go to Law School." This article was originally published on Nolo.com a resource providing law books, legal forms, and legal software.

Fun Mac Fact!

Out of all the students (graduating 1998-2000) who answered our survey, 20 are either currently in law school or are planning on attending one within the next year.

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Comments and questions to cdc@macalester.edu