Students attending UW-Green Bay with the intention of earning a bachelor’s degree and continuing on to law school receive excellent preparation.
The University’s commitment to broad-based liberal arts education, multiple perspectives and hands-on learning correlates directly with skills seen as valuable for those pursuing careers in law. Those skills include intellectual curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
Commonly chosen majors at UW-Green Bay include Democracy and Justice Studies, Public Administration, Urban and Regional Studies, Humanistic Studies, Political Science, History, English, and Business Administration. Unlike some professional schools, law schools do not recommend a specific undergraduate major.
The American Bar Association advises pre-law candidates that the law is “too multi-faceted” to be limited to one particular major or a narrow list of courses in preparation for law school. The ABA maintains an excellent pre-law advising page at www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html .
Most law schools tell potential students that the best preparation is a solid liberal arts education. Essential core skills and values include analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, task organization and management skills, and the values of serving faithfully the interests of others while also promoting justice.
In general, law schools assume their students will have a basic knowledge of American politics and history, as well as extensive experience in writing, reading and interpreting difficult texts. Polished communication skills — in particular the ability to excel in oral discussion — are imperative.
In conclusion, the ABA recommends, “Taking difficult courses from demanding instructors is the best generic preparation for legal education.”
Admission to law school is competitive. Law schools consider college record, grade point average, honors or awards, faculty recommendations, and scores on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Students are advised to take the LSAT in the junior year or early in the senior year; most law schools group their entering cohorts for fall-only starts. The Law Society, a UW-Green Bay student organization, organizes an LSAT preparatory course and offers various pre-law events such as guest speakers and field trips to law schools.
