Our Pre-Law advisors can answer questions about preparing for law school, help you select appropriate courses at Iowa State and guide you regarding the 3+3 program.
Connect with our Pre-Law advisors:
prelaw@iastate.edu
515.294.4831
A Timeline for Pre-Law Students
First Year
Meet with your pre-law advisor and maintain contact throughout your academic career.
Join Pre-Law Club.
Get involved: search for volunteer opportunities.
Start a career journal and keep track of volunteer activities, extracurriculars, and contact information.
Read, read, read. It’s one of the best ways to prepare for the LSAT.
Talk to LAS Career Services about finding internship opportunities.
Start job shadowing, and schedule informational interviews.
Visit your professors during office hours to learn about their research. As you determine your own area of interest, your role as a research assistant can be a major help when asking for letters of recommendation.
Second Year
Start researching law schools that are of interest. Explore the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) at lsac.org.
Keep using your career journal.
Make a plan to select appropriate courses to prepare you for law school.
Take a good look at yourself. Are you an excellent student? Do you like a hectic, challenging lifestyle? If not, reassess your goals.
Third Year
Plan for the LSAT. Study often and take as many practice exams as you can. Take several full-length practice exams to get comfortable with timing.
Approach professors, advisors, and other leaders about writing a good letter of recommendation for you.
Decide when you’ll take the LSAT, and talk it over with your pre-law advisor.
Review the LSAC website for info about the Law School Credential Assembly Service (LSCAS) and the law school application process. Keep your pre-law advisor informed.
Summer after Junior Year
Begin your law school application. Go to lsac.org to review the application process, request transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended, and have several people proofread your personal statement.
Submitting your application before your senior year starts in the fall will avoid stress, and will give you an advantage in the admission process.
Fourth Year
If possible, schedule an informal interview with an admissions representative at your law school of choice. The LAS Career Services team can help you practice mock interviews.
Be patient. Most students receive a letter of acceptance or rejection by mid-March.
Enjoy your senior year of college!