1. I’m Pre-Law: Now What? Catherine Preston, Associate Director College of Arts & Sciences Advising Services Coordinator, Pre Law Advising

2. Core Skills and Values  The American Bar Association suggests that you can acquire these important skills and values and significant bodies of knowledge prior to law school and that they will provide a sound foundation for legal education: – Analytic and problem solving skills – Critical reading – Writing skills – Oral communication and listening abilities – Research skills – Task organization and management skills – Public service and promotion of justice

3. Is Law School the Right Choice?  Self-Evaluation: – Why do you want to go to law school? – What do you want to do with your law degree? – Do you know what lawyers do every day? – Is law school the right investment in an advanced degree?

4. Preparing as an Undergraduate for Successful Application to Law School  Choice of Major – Academic Rigor – GPA – Honors Programs – Minor – Electives  Leadership development activities – Phi Alpha Delta, National Black Law Students AssociationPhi Alpha DeltaNational Black Law Students Association

5. Continued…  Faculty recommendations  Pre-law advising http://www.artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/ http://www.artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/

6. Researching law schools  Typical Information Sources – Neutral/Factual/Comparative/Consumer Information ABA/LSAC Guide to Law Schools http://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuid e_Default.aspx http://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuid e_Default.aspx Discover Law http://www.discoverlaw.org/http://www.discoverlaw.org/ CLEO http://www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?nodeid= 2 http://www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?nodeid= 2

7. Continue… – UTK pre-law website: http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/ http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/ – PAD or NBLSA – Anecdotal/Opinions Chat rooms, web sites Family, Friends, Faculty, Alumni Ratings and rankings – Law School Information Sources Web sites, print materials, forums Contacts with faculty, staff, students

8. What is the LSAC?  LSAC Credential Assembly Service – www.lsac.org www.lsac.org – Register for CAS and pay fees – Take the LSAT or use valid score – Request all academic transcripts sent to LSAC – Line up Evaluators or Recommenders http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/letters-of- recommendation/ http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/letters-of- recommendation/

9. What is the LSAT?  http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/law- school-admissions-test-lsat/ http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/law- school-admissions-test-lsat/  Timing  Preparation  Implications for admission

10. Factors in the Admissions Process  Holistic file review – each school may differ  Commons factors – Academics - LSAT and UGPA, advanced degrees – Personal statement, writing sample, essay http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/personal-statement/ http://artsci.utk.edu/pre-law/personal-statement/ – Letters of recommendation – Work experience/military – Service/activities/leadership (Phi Alpha Delta, National Black Law Student Association) – Diversity

11. Your undergraduate GPA and your LSAT score make up the CAKE The icing and decorations make up everything else

12. Cost of a Legal Education  FAFSA and SAR  Scholarships  Loans  Financial Aid Resources – LSAC.org: http://www.lsac.org/JD/finance/financial-aid- determining-eligibility.asp http://www.lsac.org/JD/finance/financial-aid- determining-eligibility.asp – cleoscholars.com: http://www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?fuseacti on=Page.viewPage&pageId=526&parentID=524 &nodeID=2 http://www.cleoscholars.com/index.cfm?fuseacti on=Page.viewPage&pageId=526&parentID=524 &nodeID=2

13.  All majors, Catherine Preston, appointments 865-974-4481, caa@utk.edu caa@utk.edu  Political Science major, Liam Hysjulien, appointments through GradesFirst, lhysjuli@utk.edulhysjuli@utk.edu  Follow us on