Myths and Realities about Pre-Law Education

Many young women fresh into their undergraduate careers do not know what to study or how their educational goals in undergrad will mesh with their goals of going to law school. I have seen my colleagues stress about LSATs as freshmen when most of us are unsure of what major we will even have!

Below are some myths about the undergraduate education I feel should be cleared up for any aspiring female law students out there (the "0L's," as I refer to them) who are stressing early on about their post-grad studies.

Myth #1: You should overload on pre-law courses in undergrad to see what it's like being in law school. 

Reality: You should instead focus on your major, which is hopefully in a subject you are interested in and can glean skills from which you can take with you to law school (such as reading and writing well, as well as reading comprehension). I'm a senior and still have not done a single pre-law class. While many universities offer pre-law courses that do provide a good basis for understanding the foundations of law, it is still good to attain good grades and a thorough knowledge of your chosen major.

Myth #2: Study for the LSAT as early as possible! Prepare from sophomore year until you finally take it!

Reality: The LSAT is hard. It is grueling. You will burn out if you stress about it for a long time (as in, longer than a year). A good amount of preparation begins with deciding when you are going to take it. Most law schools recommend the June LSAT after your junior year and, if your score was less than desirable, take it again in September or October. Finally, if you can afford a prep class, take it the fall or spring of your junior year and continue to study independently of the class.

Become familiar with what study routine works for you and get to know the test very well. Taking practice tests in a testing environment, such as free tests the Princeton Review offers, or through timing yourself with the help of a friend, will prepare you better than making a timeline the first day of undergrad for when to prepare for this.

Also, many law schools advise taking the LSAT in June after your junior year because you develop skills over the final years of undergrad that don't compare to your previous collegiate experience (i.e. before college). Taking the LSAT too early could put you at a major disadvantage, so plan ahead when is the best for you.

After the jump: the argument against limiting your law school lists to the coasts!

Sandra Day O'Connor, First Female Justice on the Supreme Court, Hopes to Push for More Civics Classes in Schools

"Only a third of Americans can name the three branches of government. That's scary," Sandra Day O'Connor told "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. "But 75 percent of kids can tell you 'American Idol' judges."

Justice O'Connor believes that with the emphasis that schools have placed on math and science scores, and with the focus on the No Child Left Behind Act, that basic civics and social studies courses have, in fact, been left behind. The former Justice fears that children without a basic knowledge and understanding of of how their government works will not be able to take an active role in democracy when they grow up. In order to remedy this situation, Justice O'Connor has developed a website called Our Courts in the hopes of promoting "21st century civics." The website will allow children to play interactive games, ask questions, submit projects, and watch webisodes that will allow them to learn about (and perhaps become interested in) the way our government functions. The site also features a "curriculum builder" that will allow teachers to create lesson plans and classroom activities centered on civics and social studies.

Impressive Progress Alongside Persistent Problems

In April the New York Committee on Women in the Courts celebrated twenty years of working to implement the recommendations of the New York Task Force on Women in the Courts. New York’s Chief Judge Judith Kaye encapsulated these two decades with a perfect aphorism, “Impressive Progress Alongside Persistent Problems” – an aphorism that captures the work not only of the New York Committee, but of every effort to achieve equality for women in the courts and the legal profession.