Preparation for Law School
Students interested in preparing for a career in law will find outstanding opportunities at the University of South Alabama. The finest pre-law education is considered by many to be a four-year liberal arts curriculum, but law schools will accept bachelor's degrees in other areas also.
Law schools generally do not prescribe a particular major or course of undergraduate study to qualify for admission. They all stress, however, the importance of excellence in whatever course of study is pursued. Specifically, the Association of American Law Schools emphasizes excellence in attaining the following three objectives in pre-law studies:
- Comprehension and expression in words.
- Critical understanding of human institutions and values with which the law deals.
- Creative power in thinking.
"Shortly stated, what the law schools seek in their entering students is not accomplishment in mere memorization but accomplishment in understanding, the capacity to think for themselves, and the ability to express their thoughts with clarity and force" (from Association of American Law Schools, Statement of Policy).
To help the student develop the best possible course of study to prepare for law school in the light of particular needs, the University of South Alabama provides pre-law advising in the Academic Advising & Transfer Services office as well as a pre-Law Advisor in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice. Pre-Law students are urged to consult with the Advisor for detailed information concerning how best to prepare for law school and for information concerning the Law School Admission Test, now required by practically all law schools.