The first couple of years in college are critical. Support your student as they make the exciting but also daunting transition to college. For some students, this transition is relatively easy; for others, this transition can be massive, challenging, and emotionally exhausting. For most students, it’s probably a bit in between the two.

Encourage your student to build strong foundations and habits, and equip them with the knowledge and tools to do so. Their academics and their personal well-being are key to getting started on the right track. Establishing healthy and stable patterns can set the stage for success now and growth in the years ahead.

Encourage exploration without pressure (law schools accept students from all majors). Challenge your student to consider their interests and explore the wide array of career options they might pursue besides law school. Many students will change their mind or adjust their plans for law school while in college. We want students to aspire for law school if that is the right fit for them, but we also want students to pursue academic and extracurricular experiences that align with their interests and can help them secure employment in fields other than law in case they change their plans or choose to take a gap after college and before going to law school.

Questions to Ask

• Why is the student interested in law school?
• Has the student started building their resume? How you can support them in building theirs?
• Is the student involved in extracurricular activities or organizations? The University of Alabama has 600+ student organizations.
• Has the student settled on a program of study yet? Law schools will accept students from any major or minor.
• Is the student signed up for the pre-law listserv? This is how students can stay up to date with pre-law events, resources, and other information.
• Have they joined the Pre-Law Student Association or any other student organizations on campus?
• Has the student reviewed the Pre-Law website?

Parental Support and Suggestions

• Empower your student to seek internship and volunteer opportunities during breaks and holidays.
• Encourage students to get to know professors and attend office hours.
• Encourage students to get to know advisors and attend appointments.
• Enable students to be problem-solvers.
• Support students if they need additional academic support (i.e. tutoring, major change, career track change, etc.)

Junior year is when the process begins to significantly speed up, particularly for students who are looking to apply in their senior year or shortly after graduating. Students at this point should be researching law schools and the application process, continuing to build relationships with their faculty (very helpful for letters of recommendation), continuing to prioritize academic success, and meeting with their Pre-Law advisor.

Students who are looking to apply their Senior year or shortly after may be getting into their LSAT preparation around this time. LSAT prep typically takes a half year, but can be much longer or a little shorter depending on where a student is already practice testing once they begin. Many students underestimate how difficult the test is and how much they will need to practice and study to do well. It’s also difficult to juggle LSAT prep with classes and other commitments. If a student intends to study for the LSAT while still in school, they need to treat their LSAT prep like a 3-hour class (which means devoting anywhere between 5-15 hours a week most weeks).

Our Pre-Law advising team is eager to meet with your student and help them navigate the big and small pieces of this process. Encourage your student to schedule an appointment or email us, and to ultimately take ownership of this process and be their own advocate.

AS 299: Pre-Law Seminar is a one-hour pass/fail course for Juniors and Seniors. The course is typically taught every Fall and Spring semester. AS 299 is not a required class. The course is intended to assist Junior and Senior students potentially interested in attending law school with their preparation for the application process and eventual success in law school.

Questions to Ask

• Has the student met with their Pre-Law advisor?
• Has the student begun reviewing the Pre-Law Resources?
• Has the student created their free Law School Admission Council (LSAC) account? They will need an account to access free LSAT test prep resources, register for the LSAT, and apply to law schools.
• Is the student thinking about how and when they will prepare for the LSAT?
• Has the student started researching schools?
• Has the student visited with the Career Center?
• Has the student begun familiarizing themselves with the cost of applying to law school and the cost of attending law school? See resources and events from AccessLex for helpful guidance.
• Has the student attended or planning to attend the on-campus Law School Fair? Nearly 100 law schools visit campus each year.

Parental Support and Suggestions

• Become familiar with the law school application process and the components included in an application. Our Pre-Law Resources is a helpful place to start.
• Familiarize yourself and your student with the cost of APPLYING to law school (i.e. standardized test, prep materials, Credential Assembly Service, applications, visiting schools, etc.) and with the cost of ATTENDING law school (loans vs. scholarships, the difference between undergraduate loans vs. graduate loans, etc.).
• AccessLex (nonprofit) is a great resource to assist you and your student in navigating the financial aspects of law school. Your student can even schedule a one-on-one financial coaching consultation to discuss their specific circumstances, goals, and financial situation.

Senior year could include applying to law schools or preparing to pursue other postgraduation pathways. Nationally, about 2/3 to 3/4 of applicants have already graduated before applying to law school. At the University of Alabama, around half of applicants have already graduated.

For those planning to apply to law school, they should have already been working towards their applications through research, working on application materials such as the resume and the essays, and getting a suitable LSAT score to apply to a good range of schools.

For those planning to pursue employment and/or further education following graduation, we encourage them to continue to use our Pre-Law Resources and to stay in touch with a Pre-Law advisor for further assistance in their application process.

Questions to Ask

• When does the student intend on submitting their application materials through the Credential Assembly Service?
• How is the student handling their class load? Applying takes up a lot of time, and students want to ensure they maintain good academic records and finish strong.
• Does the student have any concerns or doubts about law school?
• If they intend on graduating in the fall semester, what will they do in the spring and summer before potentially starting law school?
• Does the student plan to take time between graduating and applying to law school? If so, what other employment or education are they working towards pursuing after graduation?

Parental Support and Suggestions

• Think strategically and long-term about your student’s professional journey. Every year, some applicants express immense pressure from family members to immediately attend law school following college. While this path may make sense for some applicants, it is not always ideal, and is also not as common. Taking more time to focus on getting a better LSAT score, improving the undergraduate GPA, saving up money, and ensuring law school is the right path are all valuable choices that can help students be more successful and prepared.
• If your student is applying, remind them to submit applications early. For Fall admission, apply ideally between September – November, but no later than December. Applying early in the cycle matters as most schools utilize rolling admissions. Many schools will have much less room to admit applicants in the latter part of the application cycle.
• While applying early is advised, applications should also be at their strongest. We do not advise applicants to rush their applications at the expense of the quality of their application.
• Advise your student to carefully consider cost, location, etc., and to visit their top choices before making a final decision.
• Encourage your student throughout the year. Check in and motivate them regularly. Celebrate every victory.