Thinking about going to law school?

Congratulations! You're a pre-law student.

At Lawrence  “pre-law” describes your intention to go to law school someday—but what you choose as a major will be completely up to you. Regardless of your major choice, there is no stronger preparation for law school than a rigorous liberal arts experience like you will receive at Lawrence, where you will develop your skills in reading broadly and deeply, listening intently, and writing and speaking persuasively.

Our pre-law advisory program will help you navigate your options—including selecting an academic program that matches well with your interests while providing strong preparation for success in law school.

  • Reading, writing, and research
  • Debate and civil argumentation
  • Advocacy and service
  • Government
  • Simplifying complicated things
  • Issues affecting nearly every aspect of life (e.g., environment, family, business, public policy, immigration, etc.)
  • Anthropology
  • Biology
  • Classics
  • Economics
  • English
  • Government
  • History
  • Languages
  • Psychology

 

Life After Lawrence

Lawrentians with law degrees enjoy careers in...

Litigation, legislation, government, family law, immigration, environmental law, corporate law, private law, sports law, the court system, and consulting. They have become district attorneys, public defenders, chief compliance officers for multinational firms, U.S. attorneys, Department of Justice leaders, and lead investigators in major litigation cases.

And they studied at places like...

Creighton University, Emory University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Stanford Law School, Vanderbilt Law School, Washington University School of Law, University of Wisconsin

 


 

Nearly 9 out of 10 accepted to law school

Of Lawrentians who go on to graduate school, about a fifth go to law schools all over the country, including some to the top 20 programs each year.

 

Build your legal network before graduation

By joining the Pre-Law Society, you’ll have opportunities to connect with Lawrentians who are practicing lawyers, including many of our trustees who conduct informational and mock interviews.

 

Graduate with your bachelor's and law degrees in 6 years

Through our special partnership with Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wis.), we offer a 3-3 program where you can enroll at Marquette after your third year and complete both degrees in six years, rather than the usual seven.

 

Special funding available for pre-law students

Thanks to the generosity of a Lawrence family, a fund exists to help Lawrentians defray the costs of looking into law school, whether it’s supporting an internship, paying for LSAT prep, or application fees.

 

Get practical law experience in Appleton

Work in the public defender’s office, the district attorney’s office, municipal courts. With no law schools in our metro area of 225,000, there is no competition from law students for great legal internship opportunities.

Pre-Law Advisors

  • Chloe Armstrong
    Chloe Armstrong Profile Picture
    Assistant Professor of Philosophy
    Campus Phone: 920-832-7424
    Education: University of Victoria, B.A.; University of Western Ontario, M.A.; University of Michigan, Ph.D.
    Interests: history of philosophy (17th and 18th centuries, ancient Greek philosophy); science fiction and philosophy; logic.
    Campus Address: Main Hall Room 416 Philosophy
    Website: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~chloea/index.html
    Years at Lawrence: 2015-
  • David Gerard
    David Gerard Profile Picture
    John R. Kimberly Distinguished Professor of the American Economic System and Associate Professor of Economics
    Campus Phone: 920-993-6035
    Education: Grinnell College, B.A.; University of Illinois, M.S., Ph.D.
    Interests: Institutional & Organizational Economics, Energy & the Environment, Regulation & Public Policy
    Campus Address: Briggs Hall Room 210 Economics
    Website: http://faculty.lawrence.edu/gerardd/
    CV: http://faculty.lawrence.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/06/Gerard_CV-2020-May.doc
    Years at Lawrence: 2009-
  • Jerald Podair
    Jerald Podair Profile Picture
    Robert S. French Professor of American Studies and Professor of History
    Campus Phone: 920-832-6677
    Education: New York University, B.A.; Columbia University School of Law, J.D.; Princeton University, M.A., Ph.D
    Interests: 20th-century American history, urban history, American race relations
    Campus Address: Main Hall Room 319 History
    Website: http://jeraldpodair.com/
    CV: http://jeraldpodair.com/Podair-CV(5-19).pdf
    Years at Lawrence: 1998-
  • Steven Wulf
    Steven Wulf Profile Picture
    Associate Professor of Government
    Campus Phone: 920-993-6272
    Education: Cornell University, B.A.; Yale University, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.
    Interests: political philosophy, history of ideas, constitutional law
    Campus Address: Briggs Hall Room 211 Government
    Years at Lawrence: 2002-