The Ultimate Pre-Law Bucket List [Checklist Inside!]

*This post is about pre-law bucket list*

Are you looking for a pre-law bucket list that will help you check off exactly what you need to do in order to be fully prepared for law school?

If so, I got your back. I am sharing with you my pre-law bucket list that I wish someone shared with me when I was in college!!!

Not only does this pre-law bucket list include all the classes that will help you in a MAJOR way for law school, but you’ll also learn about some pretty cool programs, clubs, and trainings you can join that will give you the insight you need to determine if pursuing a career in law is right for you.

Let’s jump in!

Disclosure: *This post contains affiliate links which means that I may receive a small commission at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through my link.

Pre-law Bucket List

1) Intro to Logics

“Logic Games” and “Logical Reasoning” are two of four subjects tested on the LSAT so it’s extremely helpful to take this course. I recommend taking it close to the LSAT.

2) Take Constitutional Law aka Con-law

“Even if you took con-law in high school, taking con-law at the college level will give you a taste of law school: you’ll learn how to brief cases like a law student, start using legal analysis, and build a good foundation on law.

3) Take Criminal Law*

Totally optional but if you’re interested in practicing criminal law, then I highly recommend that you take this class for the same reason in No. 2.

4) Join a Law-Related Simulation Program

Basically any program that will help you build skills for a career in law. (e.g. debate team, collegiate moot court, Model UN, etc.)

5) Participate in a Prelaw Summer Program

If you have to choose between doing a legal internship and participating in a prelaw summer program, choose the prelaw summer program! You’ll get way more exposure and much needed practical insight into law before you make the big law school investment.

One (hands-down-amazing) prelaw summer program that you can do is Immerse Summer School at Oxford, Cambridge, or London. There you can be taught by professors from world leading universities about the law, the skills needed for a career in law, and the various legal opportunities available to a law graduate.

Right now until January 2022, Immerse Education is giving applicants an opportunity to win a 100% scholarship to participate into the program by entering into this essay competition.

If you want exposure to law and a study abroad adventure, this is for you! Apply here.

6) Be Active and/or Lead in ONE Student Organization

To be clear: It can be just one organization of any interest. Like majors, what you’re involved in doesn’t matter but being very active or leading in a student organization (or job) will show admissions that you can handle/juggle a full plate which is absolutely necessary to survive in law school.

7) Law School Prep Course (Totally Optional but Recom’d)

Want to get a better idea if law school is for you before making a whopping $150,000 + 3-year investment?? Then I recommend Barbri’s Law Preview course. It’s costly ($1395) but it beats spending $45,000 your first semester just to find out you hate law. Avoid taking this course, however, just one semester or summer away from law school to avoid burnout.

8) 3.5 cummulative GPA or higher

Need I say more?? The stronger the GPA, the more you improve your odds of getting accepted into law school.

9) Take Kaplan’s In Person (Or Online Class) LSAT course

The book is good but if you want to do really well on LSAT, take LSAT with a live instructor so you can learn all the tips and tricks to improve your score and receive help in the areas you’re weak.

10) Get a Score of 160 or Better on the LSAT

With a 160 or better, you can into any accredited law school you want and greatly increase your chances of getting accepted into one or more ivy-league law schools.

11) Graduate With a Bachelor’s Degree in Any Major

It doesn’t matter…really! Cue in message from the the American Bar Association: “The ABA does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education.”

12) Take the “Is Law A Good Fit For You” Quiz if Unsure

Often law school is the default option when a person doesn’t know what to do with their life but it shouldn’t be for you because law school is a lot of work, a HUGE investment, and you need to be a good, passionate lawyer for your client. Take EduAdvisor’s quiz if you’re unsure if law school is a good fit for you. The quiz is pretty darn accurate!

13) Take a Gap Year and Take a Job as a Paralegal

Unless you are 500% sure (I mean that much! ) you want to be a lawyer, take a gap year and get a job as a paralegal so you can get some real-world experience working in a law firm to confirm a career in law is right for you. With the right firm, you’ll gain skills that will give you an advantage in law school and put your head and shoulders above the rest.

14) Get Practical Introductory Training in Legal Writing)

Legal Writing is an entirely foreign subject and skill from what you’ll ever learn in college. Trust me, majoring in English gives you zero advantage. More importantly, this subject will either cause you to dig law or discover you absolutely hate the practice of law and want your money back! Before making a very expensive dive into law, get legal writing training either through Nos. 5, 7, or by purchasing A Lawyer Writes by Christine Coughlin; the same book first-year law students learn from.

15) Connect with a Law Student from your Dream Law School

There is no better way to find out exactly what you need to do to get into your dream law school than to connect w/a law student. Don’t be shy. Find them on LinkedIn, IG, or TikTok and ask away. Most will be excited to help!

16) Get a Strong Recommendation from a Law School Connection

By law school connection, I mean a professor or administrator that has connections to your law school of interest. For example, one of my recommendations came from my undergrad con-law professor, who was a former student and valedictorian of my law school of choice. Getting her recommendation impressed the admissions team greatly! How do you get this recommendation? Take con-law, crim-law, or any law-related course. Like my professor, your professor will likely have some connection and/or have gained the trust of the law school admissions team; thereby giving you a strong recommendation. Of course, research the professor first!

17) Update/Revise Your Resume Before Submission

You’ll want to go in with the best resume so make sure it’s completely up to date and professionally approved before you submit your law school application.

18) Write a Solid Personal Statement for Law School

This is 100% within your control. You got this. Concisely but honestly share why you are interested in law school and have one of your English major friends peer review it before you submit your application. Yes, this is the only time being an English major helps. (Of course, not required lol)

19) Take a Gap Year and Get a Job as a Paralegal

Haha. Yes, this bears repeating! Why: Because on average 2/3 of those who get into law school took a year to three years off and they did HEAD AND SHOULDERS above the rest that didn’t. Gaining real world experience will help you understand the cases you read so much better and help you write more enriched, well thought out, well analyzed law school paper, which is necessary for success as a law student.

20) Apply to Law School!

If you’ve done everything above and you feel ready to go to law school, then congratulations!! It’s time to apply to law school. I wish you well as you embark on your journey to becoming a lawyer.

Want to take this checklist to go?? Click here!

*This post is about pre-law bucket list*

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The Ultimate Pre-Law Bucket List [Checklist Inside!]