Prepare for Law School
Law school welcomes students from every academic background, and there’s no single path to a legal career. Whether you’re majoring in philosophy, politics, biology, or anything in between, your unique perspective can be an asset in the field of law.
This page is here to support you—whether you’re just beginning to explore legal professions or preparing your application. You’ll find tools to help you reflect on your goals, build relevant experiences, understand timelines, and strengthen your law school application with confidence.
Explore the legal profession
Understanding the legal landscape is essential. Take time to reflect on your interests, values, and long-term goals. From public interest law to corporate litigation, the field is diverse—and gaining clarity now will help you make informed decisions, select meaningful experiences, and build a strong, authentic application.
Voices of the Law: Exploring Legal Careers One Story at a Time (LawHub)
Gaining experience
Hands-on experiences can help you confirm your interest in law and develop the core competencies law schools value—such as communication, reasoning, problem-solving, and ethical judgment.
Legal experience is not required for admission, but it can shape your goals, increase your confidence, and help you stand out. Law schools and future employers value students who enter the field ready to make an impact.
Getting started
Here are a few ways to get started:
- Gain experience in legal or related roles before applying to law school
- Shadow attorneys or judges to observe the legal profession in action
- Connect with UCSC alumni and legal professionals for insights and mentorship
- Volunteer or intern with law offices, government agencies, or public interest organizations
- Volunteer in the Santa Cruz Community
- Join a student organization
Network and shadowing
Start by connecting with your network—friends, family, peers, professors, and alumni—to find leads on shadowing or mentorship opportunities. Then, contact local legal offices (ideally in person or via email) to request informational interviews or observe legal work.
A strong elevator pitch can help you stand out. It should include:
- Your availability (without negatively impacting academics)
- Your name, school, and year
- Why you’re interested in their office or organization
- Your legal career goals
- How you can contribute or what you hope to learn
Core competencies
Use this guide to reflect on the key skills and qualities law schools look for in applicants. It’s a great tool to assess your strengths, identify areas for growth, and shape meaningful academic and co-curricular experiences.
Preparing for application and timelines
Most law schools require you to apply about a year before you plan to begin. For example, if you hope to start law school in the fall, you should aim to apply the previous fall—ideally between September and November. Applying early in the cycle is important, as many law schools use rolling admissions, reviewing applications as they arrive rather than waiting for the final deadline.
When to apply
You should apply when you’re confident in the strength of your application. Law schools typically expect strong academic records, relevant experiences, and a clear sense of purpose. For many applicants, this means taking one or more gap or experience years after graduation to gain legal exposure, improve their GPA, or prepare for the LSAT.
Finding a pace that supports both academic success and meaningful experience is key. Thoughtfully spacing out your coursework and activities can help you build a competitive application—and ensure you’re ready when the time comes.
Additional resources
- Free Resources for Aspiring Law Students | Law School Admission Council
- LawHub – Tools and resources to help you explore, prepare for, and succeed in your legal education journey. Powered by LSAC.
- LSAC Law School Forums – Search for in-person and digital law school forums. These are career fairs where you can connect with school representatives.
- JD Programs – Search for JD law schools
- Apply for an LSAC Fee Waiver
- Develop Your Mission Statement for Law School – Worksheet
Components of the application
Check with each university and program for specific application material requirements.
- Law School Application Components | LawHub
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS) – This is the centralized application service used by law schools.
- Résumé – Highlight your academic and relevant experiences.
- Personal statement – This statement should help admissions know who you are and how you stand out from other candidates. Consider discussing your motivations, experiences, and career goals for pursuing law school.
- Letters of recommendation (usually 2-3) – Develop good relationships with your letter writers so they can write strong letters of recommendation for you. Programs will email your letter writers a link to upload the letter to your application.
- Transcripts for all college classes – You will need to submit transcripts for all colleges and universities attended.
- LSAT score – This is the required standardized exam for law schools.
Alumni statistics
Want to know where UCSC alumni have been admitted? This report provides a comparison of UCSC applicants and national admission data across recent years.
Meet with a pre-law coach
We provide coaching to support students interested in pursuing careers in law and legal professions.