Pre-Law Students
The legal studies minor and pre-law programs are now housed in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs! UNC offers many opportunities for students interested in the law, including: a Legal Studies minor; Pre-Law advising; a Pre-Law Mentorship program; and, a Law Club.
The Legal Studies minor exposes students to the theoretical foundations of law as well as its role in American and international institutions. It is relevant for many career paths.
Pre-Law Advising is UNC’s non-degree program in pre-law. Students who enroll in this program are considering going to law school. The American Bar Association does not recommend any specific major for undergraduates planning to attend law school. The most common majors of students accepted to law school are political science, economics, business administration, history, and English.
Our Pre-Law Mentorship program connects students interested in law school with judges, lawyers, and other practitioners.
UNC’s Law Club brings together students preparing for law school. Student-run, this club is an opportunity to connect with other undergraduates studying for the LSAT and writing applications.
Legal Studies Minor
Beginning with the 2015-2016 academic year, the Legal Studies Minor is now housed in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs!
The Legal Studies Minor is intended to give students broad training in the law: its processes, history, and theoretical foundations. Some students who minor in legal studies go on to law school, while others use it to round out their liberal arts education.
Contact for information: Gregory Williams
Academic Advising
Students planning to pursue a legal education are encouraged to consult regularly with the Pre-Law advisor in addition to their major advisor throughout their undergraduate career. Any UNC faculty members can help you pursue your post-graduation goals. However, the Pre-Law advisor can help you with specific tasks like selecting the best law school, navigating the application process, and preparing for the LSAT.
Learn about which majors tend to perform best on the LSAT.
Contact for information: Gregory Williams
Mentoring Program
UNC students who are considering law school are, appropriately so, advised in their academic major. However, the law school experience is such that pre-law students would benefit from additional advising beyond that available from their academic advisor. Specifically, information about desirable undergraduate electives, selecting and applying for law school, preparing for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), anticipating the first-year law school experience, learning about study and time-management skills needed in law school, understanding the day-to-day practice of law, and appreciating the realities of a career in law, are topics best handled by people with first-hand experience. Further, although the offering of advice on those topics is the primary reason for linking students and mentors, this relationship may allow for other experiences such as opportunities to observe courtroom activities, interact with other courtroom personnel, learn about legal careers that do not require a law degree, or be informed about undergraduate internship experiences.
To accomplish those goals and provide UNC pre-law students with a more enriched undergraduate experience, the UNC Pre-law Mentor Program has been established. The program makes use of local jurists and attorneys who volunteer to share their expertise and advice with interested students.
Contact for information: Gregory Williams
Law Club
The UNC Law Club offers you an opportunity to meet other Pre-Law students to discuss common problems and solutions as you prepare for law school as undergraduates and then prepare for the LSAT and the application process. To help you, the club sponsors speakers, LSAT prep and other events requested by you. See you there!
Contact for information: Lin Allen (Law Club’s Faculty Advisor)
Resources for Pre-Law Students
UNC does not endorse the use of any of the products or services described on any of these sites. They are listed only as examples of the types of products and services available.
