Pre-Law Advising

A law degree equips one for a wide variety of careers in law, business, government, and politics. The practice of law itself encompasses a multitude of variations from mega firms to solo practice, from in-house counsel to prosecutor, from policy advocate to public defender. Therefore, law schools do not require, and Lewis & Clark does not prescribe, a single course of study as pre-law preparation. Faculty advisors usually recommend courses that cultivate analytical and writing skills as excellent preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and for subsequent work in law school.

Recent graduates of Lewis & Clark have pursued legal education at Duke; University of California, Berkeley; Boston College; Emory; Cornell; Georgetown; Harvard; Tulane; Lewis & Clark Law School; and many other fine schools throughout the country. Some graduates elect to go directly into the study of law after graduation; others wait a year or two before applying to law school.

Students have gone to law school after majoring in almost every field at Lewis & Clark. The majority are from the social sciences and the humanities. Recently, more science majors have been entering the legal profession as well. Several Lewis & Clark undergraduate courses involve meetings with federal and state judges, visiting large and small law firms, guest appearances by practicing lawyers, and sharing events at the law school.

Positions held by graduates include law school professor, U.S. representative, lobbyist, director of city planning, manager of a billion-dollar light rail construction project, U.S. ambassador, trial and appellate court judges, and congressional committee staffers.

Pre-Law Advising

Lewis & Clark College does not prescribe a pre-law curriculum; therefore, students' plans should be based on the students' interests and objectives in studying law. In general, the pre-law student should place emphasis not only on acquiring knowledge of the fundamental elements that define the nature and character of society but also on developing methods of study, thought, and communication. Present-day law students have undergraduate degrees in political science, English, business, natural science, history, linguistics, communications, and a host of other disciplines.

Informal pre-law advisors advise students and maintain information regarding law schools, the application process, and the legal profession. Information about law school and legal careers is also available from Lewis & Clark Law School. Undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the many public events sponsored by the law school.

For additional information, see the current U.S. Guide to Law Schools, published annually in October and prepared by the Law School Admission Council and the Association of American Law Schools. This book includes material on the law and lawyers, pre-law preparation, application to law schools, and the study of law, along with information on most American law schools. 

For more information, please contact Todd Lochner, Assistant Professor of Political Science at tlochner@lclark.edu or at 503-768-7756.