Pre-Law Majors at KU
Pre-law students at the University of Kansas come from almost every major across campus. KU allows students to work closely with their academic and pre-law advisors to create a personalized plan that fits their goals. We encourage our pre-law students to grow both inside and outside of the classroom through 1:1 coaching and advising.
You can choose a major that matches your interests while also preparing for law school. At KU, we believe any undergraduate major can be a pre-law major. Unlike other universities that have strict "pre-law tracks," we follow the advice of the American Bar Association (ABA) and help you select a major that suits your interests best. Whatever major you choose, KU can support your path to law school.
Does Your Undergraduate Major Really Matter to Law Schools?
We recommend choosing a major that excites you and matches your interests. A pre-law major should challenge you to develop the skills you’ll need for future success in law school, while also being something you enjoy. It is more important to choose a major that helps you grow than to stress about finding the "perfect" pre-law major.
When you apply to law school, your entire application helps show a law school that you are ready and interested in legal education. However, your undergraduate GPA and performance on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are often the most significant factors for decisions like admissions and financial aid offers. Law schools are required to admit students they believe can be successful, and doing well in college courses helps show a law school your academic and professional skills. Think of your GPA and LSAT/GRE scores as keys that "open the door" to law school, while your letters of recommendation and the experiences on your resume and college transcript help "walk you through the door."
Choosing a pre-law major can feel stressful, especially if you’re thinking about taking a gap year before law school. Taking time off is common for many KU students to study for the LSAT, save money, or explore their interests in law further. For this reason, Jayhawk Pre-Law Advising encourages students to select a major that also helps them feel confident and prepared, whether they choose to take a gap year or explore professional opportunities before law school.
Unlike many KU pre-health students, there are no required or specific courses that pre-law students must complete before applying to law school. While certain fields of law might benefit from specific coursework or experience, this isn’t usually the case for most law fields. This gives KU pre-law students a lot of flexibility in choosing their major. Any major can lead to the KU School of Law and other law programs.
Students in the Legal Education Accelerated Degree (LEAD) Program are required to enroll in a bachelor of arts (BA) degree and major in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This requirement is set by the College and the KU School of Law only for students in the LEAD Program. For information about the LEAD Program, please contact Chally Lytle.
What Are Things To Look for or Classes To Take In a Future Major?
Many KU majors have opportunities to take electives either in your department or school, and all KU students will complete the KU Core 34. This gives you a choice in selecting classes that can help expose you to law and grow your skills. The American Bar Association recommends ten skills, values, knowledge, and experiences for pre-law students:
- Problem Solving
- Critical Reading
- Writing and Editing
- Oral Communication and Listening
- Research
- Organization and Management
- Public Service and Promotion of Justice
- Relationship-Building and Collaboration
- Background Knowledge
- Exposure to the Law
KU students will often develop these through classroom, extracurricular, and professional experiences. Jayhawk Pre-Law Advising recommends that KU pre-law students declare a major that helps them grow their communications skills, includes reading and writing-intensive courses, and offers opportunities to practice research or problem-solving skills. Together, these can you develop the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills that are the foundation for future legal writing and analysis skills.
If you are unsure if your major has these opportunities, reach out to professors in your program or talk more with your academic advisor to develop a plan. Jayhawk Pre-Law Advising can also help you understand and explore different undergraduate programs at KU.
Pre-Law Majors
The best pre-law major challenges you to grow as a student and matches your interests. Popular majors for KU pre-law students include political science, business administration, history, finance, English, psychology, accounting, and criminal justice.
Patent Law
Interested in how design, discovery, and law come together? You might be on a path to patent law. Attorneys who work with scientists and designers to legally protect their work do an important job. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office sets specific educational requirements for patent attorneys who represent clients before them.
Tax Law
Many tax attorneys work in different roles. Whether advising a client on tax liability or helping audit a firm, tax law brings together finance and law. Students planning to also become certified public accountants (CPAs) are encouraged to meet early to discuss this unique pathway.
What About a Pre-Law Focus, Track, or Concentration?
Currently, the University of Kansas does not have a pre-law concentration in any of its undergraduate programs. Instead, we use an interest code students can declare to indicate their pre-law status. This pre-law interest code is used to assign students to a professional pre-law advisor and help students receive information about KU pre-law news and opportunities.
At KU, students declare a major that is their primary field of study. A major involves courses in a field or discipline, usually lasting one to two years. Some academic programs also approve official concentrations within a major to help students focus their studies on a specific topic or interest.
The Kansas Board of Regents only recognizes undergraduate majors and concentrations. KU policy discourages the use of unofficial “emphasis”, “area study”, “sequence”, “general”, “track”, “option”, or “specialization" plans with a degree or major. This helps avoid confusion and helps students understand their official graduation requirements.
How Do I Declare a Pre-Law Interest Code?
Declaring your interest in law school and being a KU pre-law student is simple. You can sign up to receive KU pre-law news, information, and opportunities by emailing prelaw@ku.edu.