Pre-law is an unofficial self-designation that can be used by any student interested in a career in law. There is no official “pre-law major” or specific undergraduate coursework required for admission to law school. Pre-law advisors are available to all students and provide resources and individual counseling that can help you navigate the process of preparing for and applying to law school. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline and the American Bar Association recommends you pursue an area of study that interests and challenges you. Law schools value diverse educational backgrounds and there are many different pathways that will prepare you for a legal education.
The American Bar Association's statements on pre-law preparation are helpful and available here.
Students in all majors across the university can take Legal Studies courses, and may choose to earn a Legal Studies minor in order to gain valuable knowledge and deliberate exposure to the kinds of subject matter and instruction styles typically encountered in law school. Discipline-specific law courses can also be found across majors:
Every major offers the kinds of rigorous and challenging courses that build analytical skills, develop advanced reading comprehension and vocabulary, and hone critical thinking and problem solving skills. These courses help prepare students to achieve on the Law School Admission Test and perform well in law school. Other courses provide opportunities to build practical or professional skills that lawyers need:
Pre-law at UMass Lowell is therefore not a specific program, but a community of faculty and students from across the university who work together to make legal education accessible through rigorous preparation and practical guidance along the way.
If you would like to be added to the UMass Lowell pre-law email list to receive information on programs, events, and news of interest to pre-law students, please email pre_law@uml.edu and request to be added.
A juris doctorate gives you the opportunity to earn a living and make a difference in a wide variety of conventional and unconventional ways. Lawyers are in demand in almost every sector and field.
Juris doctors and licensed attorneys often work as:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides an overview of interesting information about the lawyer as a profession, including projected job growth, pay information, specific job functions, and work environment.
Zayna Basma volunteered at a center that helps Burmese refugees - and became fascinated by refugee policy and research.
