Law

Help with identifying the courses, extracurricular activities and internships that will put you in the best position to get into your top-choice law schools, as well as providing assistance with the law school application process, decision making considerations and ultimate law school experience. Bucknell’s Pre-Law advising resources are available for all Bucknell students and alumni who want to prepare and apply to law school.

Focused on all things related to the legal field (or Pre-Law) and is not limited to only law school but encompasses any ‘law’ focused path including paralegal and compliance positions.

Students who graduate from Bucknell and begin law school have majored in a range of subjects — from economics to engineering, chemistry to classics, philosophy to political science.

Law schools want students who can think critically and write well. They want someone who understands the forces that have shaped the human experience.

When selecting an extracurricular pursuit, consider these skills that the American Bar Association calls essential: 

Most law schools require two or three letters of recommendation. Unless you have been out of college for longer than three or four years, you should try to have letters from college professors. Your recommenders should know you well enough that they can speak to your abilities and potential in detail. A letter from a prominent person who barely knows you will carry very little weight to an admissions committee. 

Ideally, the recommender can write a letter offering a positive comparison of your academic, analytical or writing skills with those of your peers. When making a request for a letter of recommendation, if at all possible, do it in person. If not, try to set up a time to call and make your request. You should tell the recommender why you have selected them to write the letter. It is best to provide the recommender the opportunity to decline the request if for any reason they do not feel comfortable writing the letter. To help your recommender, you should provide a copy of your resume and personal statement (even if it is in draft form), if at all possible.

You should not take the LSAT until you are prepared to do well on it. The LSAT is a standardized test designed to assess skills that are considered essential for success in law school. To begin your preparation for the test, you should first become familiar with the test.

Next, you should take a timed practice test, such as one of the three Mock LSAT programs offered each year at Bucknell. Set a goal for your actual LSAT and begin your preparation. You may choose to prepare on your own or with the help of one of the many prep courses that are available, but either way, what is crucial to success on the LSAT is mastering the skills that are tested by putting forth the necessary time and focus.

Because most law schools do not interview candidates, the personal statement is your opportunity to convey what sets you apart from other candidates who might appear similar to you at first glance. The personal statement should be concise, detailed, honest and interesting to read. 

Some schools ask for a response to a specific prompt, while others simply ask that you submit a personal statement. Either way, the personal statement is an important component of your application and deserves time for reflection prior to writing and for revision after the first draft.

You should have several people read and provide feedback on your personal statement drafts to ensure that the tone is correct and that it conveys what you intend. 

Who can you consult for reading your personal statement?

The pre-law adviser and writing center are a great resource for this feedback, and appointments to discuss personal statements can be made for either in-person or over the phone. The feedback for these essays should involve conversation, so please do not expect feedback to be provided via email.