Ready to Make KU Your Pre-Law University?
Being Pre-Law at KU
You have dreams, and that's exciting! At the University of Kansas, pre-law students come from almost every major across campus. Pre-law students at KU get to create an individualized experience with their academic and pre-law advisors to support their academic and personal goals. You can pursue a degree that aligns with your passions while preparing for law school. At KU, our pre-law students can:
- Make any major at KU your pre-law major. Unlike other universities with specific requirements for "pre-law tracks," KU follows the recommendation of the American Bar Association and works with student to choose an individual pre-law major the matches their interests. Any KU major can take you to law school!
- Start law school early with our accelerated law (3+3) program. Incoming freshmen in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences can participate in the Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) Program and begin law school during their senior year of college.
- Be at a university with a nationally-ranked law school. The KU School of Law continues to be a leader in legal education and be nationally recognized.
- Chart their own path at KU. Want to study-abroad or have an internship in Washington, D.C.? Your pre-law advisor can help identify opportunities to grow and prepare for law school.
It is important to remember that being pre-law is not a specific major or academic program. Most accredited, American law schools will require you to have a bachelor's degree. At KU, you'll tailor your college experience to match your interests and goals.
Pre-Law Clubs and Other Opportunities at KU
Pre-law students can take advantage of many clubs and other campus programs to explore, grow, and prepare for law school:
- Joining a pre-law club or mock trial team. KU is home to several clubs started by pre-law students. Phi Alpha Delta, the international pre-law and law fraternity, is a co-ed, professional organization for interested students. Minorities in Pre-Law Association, Undergraduate Moot Court, and KU Debate Team are other opportunities to connect with other students.
- Serving in the KU Student Senate. KU students can change their campus and participate in Student Senate. This important organization makes decisions on campus funding and university policies.
- Giving back to communities with the Center for Service Learning and Center for Community Outreach. Pre-law students can give back to local communities and make a difference while in school. From voter registration to social advocacy, you can gain valuable experience for law school by being a community-minded leader.
These are some opportunities KU students have, but with other over 150 student organizations and five campuses, you can make your path at KU.
Frequently Asked Pre-Law Questions
Some of the more common questions prospective students and families ask are included below. We encourage students interested in learning more to visit with a KU Admissions representative and ask their individual questions about academic programs, scholarships, or other personal circumstances.
FAQ
All prospective KU students are encouraged to follow the Kansas Scholars Curriculum. This can be important if you plan to pursue a KU major that requires you to be ready to take English, math, or science courses early on. Otherwise, taking classes that encourage you to become a stronger writer and understand American government can be great electives to consider! These might be called U.S. government or civics, journalism, creative or technical writing, and even debate or forensics. Talk with your high school counselor about what classes your school offers.
Sure thing! Consider joining a club that encourages you to grow your writing skills, lets you work on a team and grow your leadership skills, or increases your exposure to other communities and government activities. The Law School Admission Council won’t look at your high school transcript, so focus on doing your best to apply to KU first. Joining a club in high school could be an opportunity to explore future opportunities at KU, and you will often find similar opportunities for student government, student journalism, and academic honor societies on campus.
You can contact individual colleges and universities to learn more about their pre-law resources. Many universities do not offer professional pre-law advising and do not have a professional pre-law advisor. KU offers individualized advising for pre-law students and other opportunities in their majors to be ready for law school applications.
Nope, you can choose any major! The American Bar Association, the leading organization for legal professionals in the United States, does not recommend any specific major or set of college classes for pre-law students. Some colleges do offer specific “pre-law majors” or “pre-law tracks.” At KU, we encourage our students to choose a major that matches the interests and goals, and pre-law students work with their academic and pre-law advisor to become ready for law school applications. We think this is less pressure for our Jayhawks!
No separate application or fee is required because you are only applying to your bachelor's degree program which means you are in the running for any freshmen, transfer, and/or international scholarships you might also qualify for. You only have to submit one application to apply to KU and be considered for potentially thousands of dollars of scholarship aid. Remember, pre-law is not a major but a goal you have to pursue a legal education after your bachelor's degree.
You can express your interest in being pre-law and receive additional support during your time at KU. When you submit an undergraduate application, you will be asked about your interest in attending law school in the future. If you didn’t answer this question or are unsure if you did, no worries! During orientation and future advising appointments, you can indicate your interest.
KU pre-law students will typically apply during their senior year of college, but many KU graduates decide to take a gap year. They may use this time to prepare for law school, save up money, or explore specific law programs. As a high school student, you can prepare for law school by doing well in your high school classes, exploring your career interests, and doing your best while applying to colleges first.
The LEAD Program is an innovative program where KU students in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences can earn both a bachelor of arts (B.A.) and a juris doctor (J.D.) degree in six years instead of seven. Learn more about LEAD Program and application requirement.
Law schools are often holistic in their application process. This means that a law school will look at your KU GPA, score on an admissions test like the LSAT or GRE, letters of recommendation, and resume to understand more about you as a possible, future law student. While it’s important to do well in college, being well-rounded can help you stand out as a candidate. Sharing how you spend your time outside of college working, volunteering, or engaging in other activities helps an admission office understand more about you and what skills you have.
KU pre-law students go far and wide! In a recent year, KU students submitted applications to over 100 different law schools across the United States. We think our degree programs do an excellent job developing students to be ready for the world after graduation, but our pre-law students are often successful in receiving multiple acceptances to graduate law programs. Pre-law students are encouraged to regularly meet with their academic advisors and visit KU’s pre-law advisors for additional support.
You can visit KU Admissions and talk with an admissions representative for any additional questions! Whether you have questions about whether KU is your best fit or how to pay for college, you can contact an admission representative to talk about your next steps.