Political Science Program
Requirements for Admittance to Law School
Virtually all law schools require applicants to have an undergraduate
college or university degree and to take the Law School Admission Test
(LSAT). Whether or not the applicant is admitted to a law school depends
largely, if not almost entirely, on the school's evaluation of the
applicant's undergraduate grades and LSAT score.
Strong undergraduate preparation is therefore needed, as there continues to
be stiff competition for law school admission. In order to have a reasonable
chance of admission, the applicant should probably have a grade average well
above "B" and rank in the upper half of those taking the LSAT. These
admission criteria vary from law school to law school. The legal studies
advisor at ISU has data available on admission policies at almost all of the
law schools in the United States.
Information about law schools (admissions criteria, etc.) can also be found
on the Political Science Department's Web Page under the category "Resources".
Preparation for Law School
Advisement and Counseling
Other Features of the ISU
Program
The Association of American Law Schools has stated that its members seek
students well qualified in oral comprehension and expression, critical
understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals,
and creative power in thinking. The Association expressly noted that
development of these qualities is not the exclusive monopoly of any academic
discipline.
The Prelaw Committee of the Law School Admission Council, the Association of
American Law Schools, and the American Bar Association recommend only that
college students intending to apply to law school pursue interesting and
challenging educational programs which, in the classical sense, are both
broad and liberal.
As these statements indicate, few if any law schools require a specific
major or specific courses for their applicants. However, some law schools
may specify that a substantial majority of an applicant's courses must have
contained significant theoretical or intellectual content. Recent evidence
shows that the single most popular major for a prelaw student is government
or political science.
The Department of Political Science at Indiana State University offers two
major tracks. There is a conventional department major track and a
relatively unique prelaw major track. The prelaw track includes relevant
course options from several other departments throughout the University. It
is also quite possible to couple a political science major (regular or
prelaw) with a second major or a minor in a related field of interest, or in
a field (such as English or communication) which stresses strong writing,
speaking, and/or analytical skills. The Department would also like to call
attention to the University's International Studies minor, which improves a
student's chances of being "up to speed" for the challenges and
opportunities of the next century.
It must be remembered, however, that no specific major and no specific
courses can guarantee a student's acceptance into law school or success
after admission.
Advisement and Counseling
The Legal Studies advisor is also Director of the School Information
Office, which maintains a comprehensive collection of law school catalogs
and files of additional information.
The Pre Law advisor's main responsibility is to discuss with prelaw students
not only their undergraduate programs, but also their career plans. In
addition, the Legal Studies advisor is prepared to assist students in
selecting the law schools to which they apply and in discussing their
applications. All students who are considering the study of law are urged to
consult the Legal Studies advisor.
Other Features of the ISU
Program
Indiana State University does not have a law school; however, its library
has an extensive collection of law materials and the computerized WestLaw
legal research program is now available to all students at no cost. The
Legal Studies advisor, in addition to advisement duties, teaches courses in
constitutional law, civil rights and liberties, judicial process, and
administrative law. In these classes students have the opportunity to learn
and exercise many of the skills needed in law school. These and other
political science courses makes use of legal materials found in courses make
use of legal materials found in the Indiana State University library and the
legal dimensions of the University's highly developed computer resources
(e.g., WestLaw and access to the Internet). The Legal Studies advisor can
also suggest useful courses in other disciplines.