Pre-Law
Pre-Professional
Why Pursue Pre-Law at Allegheny College
Like most universities and colleges in the United States, Allegheny College does not offer a major specifically called “pre-law,” because law schools do not require any specific major for admission. In fact, the Association of American Law Schools advises students not to pursue specific “pre-law” programs. Instead, it recommends completing precisely the kind of broad-based curriculum featured at Allegheny, so as to develop skills that are absolutely crucial for law school and law careers. The academic rigor, experiential learning opportunities, and in-depth research experiences at Allegheny more than equip students with the skills necessary to succeed.
Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Pre-Law with:
Where Pre-Law Alumni Work Today
Judicial Law Clerk
U.S. District Court
Sarah Nathan ’20
Duquesne Law School
Olivia Brophy ’23
Your Four-Year Journey
Students interested in pursuing a law degree are encouraged to reach out early and maintain a connection with the pre-law advisor throughout their academic career to ensure they are on-track academically and gaining experiences outside the classroom that law schools will value.
Students are encouraged to choose a major that is challenging and interesting to them. This allows our students the opportunity to learn a breadth of knowledge and gain a global perspective while also following the proper track to prepare them for a future in law.
If the student wants to practice a certain kind of law, it’s a good idea to factor that desire into the selection of a major or a minor. A student who wants to practice international law, for example, would be well-advised to develop fluency in at least one foreign language. A student interested in corporate law should have some familiarity with the world of business and economics. A student looking to practice law related to healthcare or technology, should know something about a relevant science.
Skills To Build
A law student requires three basic qualities:
- Skill in the use of language
- Knowledge of human institutions and values
- Creative power in thinking
- A reputation among professional schools for a challenging academic program that produces well-prepared, articulate and successful graduate students.
- The Senior Project, a significant independent research project or creative project undertaken by all students in the major field.
- Pre-legal advising from First-year Orientation through Commencement, embracing the entire range of law-related careers (including legal journalism and criminal justice) and providing personal attention to each student.
- Accessible faculty who help to fit the academic experience to each student’s particular needs and interests.
- A curriculum that emphasizes analytical reading, writing and thinking skills throughout all four years.
- On average, over 85% of Allegheny’s law school applicants are accepted-more than twice the national average.