prelaw

I have been doing pre-law advising for over twenty-five years. I am a member of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA). York College has a Pre-Law Advisory Committee. You should see a member of the committee if you have any interest in law or a law-related career. In general, students considering law school need:

Good Grades (Higher than a 3.0)

Good Scores on the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT)

A solid record of extracurricular activities, leadership and service

Good letters of recommendation

A solid and demanding major (a solid minor is also a good idea)

While there is no preferred major for admission to law school, political science has always been very popular for those considering a legal career. Students should select a major and electives that develop good writing, speaking and research skills. You should work with your advisor to ensure that your courses fit your individual needs.

York College has a Pre-Law Society for students interested in a career in law. The Pre-Law Society sponsors speakers, organizes trips to law schools and law school forums, and hosts other events and activities. It is strongly suggested that you get active in this organization. Internships in law offices and other law related agencies may be available to qualified students. Check with a pre-law advisor for information and details.

**Paying for Law School**
*At the 2003 meeting of the Northeast Pre-Law Advisors, we were asked to share the following information with all students considering law school:* Private loans are credit-based Debt consolidation is NOT always the best financial choice If you live like a lawyer as a student, you'll live like a student as a lawyer Cost of attendance is MORE than just tuition Debt is the #1 impact on job choice All scholarships, loans and grants are NOT created equal. You should talk about paying the bills with a member of the Pre-Law Advisory Committee. Law school is big financial commitment.

**Predicting Your LSAT Score**
Prof. Gerald Lee Wilson (Duke University) offered a formula in NAPLA Notes (Spring 2004, page 54). He arrived at it by trial and error and admits he has no idea how or why it works (which he claims it does, about 80% of the time for his students). The formula involves the following steps: (1) Take the student's first verbal SAT score, subtract 50 (for converted scores) and double (2) Take the student's first math SAT and subtract 50 points (for converted scores) (3) Add the doubled verbal SAT to the Math SAT (4) Divide by 3 (5) Take the first two digits for the resulting number and place a 1 before them, and you have the "predicted SAT Using numbers: (1) SAT Verbal 680-50 (for converted scores) = 630 X 2 = 1260 (2) SAT Math 630-50 (for converted scores) =580 (3) 1260 + 580 = 1840 (4) 1840 / 3 = 613 (5) 613 with the 3 deleted is 61; 61 with a 1 in front is 161 (the "predicted" LSAT)

The Pre-Law Advisory Committee

Prof. John Altman

110 Life Sciences Building

ext. 1953

Prof. Mel Kulbicki

307 Life Sciences Building

ext. 1269

Prof. Sid Sappington

329 Life Sciences Building

ext. 1248

Prof. Kwasi Sarfo

306 Life Sciences Building

ext. 1377

Prof. Dennis Weiss

233 Life Sciences Building

ext. 1513

Career Services

Student Union (2nd floor)

ext. 1452