UL-Lafayette Pre-Law Advising

Deciding to pursue a law degree, and then working toward that goal, requires a great deal of careful planning and sustained effort. To help you make a more informed decision, the following links provide helpful information and resources for individuals thinking about going to law school.

Perhaps the best place to start your information gathering and decision-making process is the "Pre-Law Mini-Guide" below, which helps you answer two basic, initial questions: (1) "Do I want to go to law school?" and, if so, then (2) "How do I get into law school?"

Pre-Law Mini Guide By UL Pre-Law Advisor Dr. Rick Swanson. A basic summary of information to help you decide whether you want to go to law school, and if so, then how to maximize your chances of getting into law school. Besides the information contained in this handout and in the links on this page, for further information and advice about law school and a career in law, contact Dr. Swanson at swanson@louisiana.edu or at 337-482-6164 or stop by his office in Mouton Hall room 231 on the UL-Lafayette campus.

The following links provide more detailed information on writing a personal statement, preparing for the LSAT, and applying to law schools.

Preparing for the LSAT By UL Pre-Law Advisor Dr. Rick Swanson. Information on how to maxmimize your performance on the Law School Admission Test.

Writing a Personal Statement by UL Pre-Law Advisor Dr. Rick Swanson. Information on writing a high-quality personal statement.

Note: The above handouts by Dr. Swanson, as well as the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) information booklet, are also available in the Political Science Department Office in room 112 Mouton, or from Dr. Swanson in his office in room 112 Mouton Hall.

Visit the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) at www.lsac.org for important official information and materials, such as:

  • Law School Admission Test (LSAT) registration, information, and practice
  • American Bar Assocation--Law School Admission Council (ABA-LSAC) Official Guide to U.S. Accredited Law Schools
  • Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), required by most law schools to apply to law school
  • Information and advice on choosing a legal career, choosing a law school, and preparing for law school
  • Financial Aid information for law school

Practice LSAT Questions and LSAT Advice from LSATTestQuestions.com

Pre-Law Toolkit From the American Bar Association (ABA) and Continuing Legal Education (CLE). Information and links to help students make informed choices about going to law school.

National Association for Law Placement Data on legal careers, placements, and salaries.

Lawyers Detailed description of the practice of law, from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Locally Available Commercial LSAT Preparation Courses:

Louisiana Law Schools (in alphabetical order)

Paying for Law School from the Pre-Law Advisor National Conference (PLANC)

Again, if you have other questions, please contact UL Pre-Law Advisor Dr. Rick Swanson via e-mail at swanson@louisiana.edu or at 337-482-6164, or stop by his office in Mouton Hall room 231 on the UL campus.

Department of Political Science, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Mouton Hall Room 112, P.O. Box 1652, Lafayette, LA 70504-1652
Tel. 337-482-6171; E-mail: pols@louisiana.edu