Pre-Law
We believe that the best preparation for law school consists of achieving a strong grade-point average in a solid academic curriculum. Our graduates in fields as diverse as political science, philosophy, history, psychology, math, literature, drama, environmental studies, economics and management have done well in law schools throughout the country.
What Is the Best Preparation?
A strong liberal arts curriculum is the best preparation for law school. Within the minimum 120 semester hours required for graduation, you should consider the following elective courses:
- Micro and Macro Economics, 6
- Political Science courses in American government, 6
- Foreign Languages, 6
- Introductory Psychology, 3
- U.S. History survey courses, 6
- Introductory Sociology, 3
- Language, grammar, 6
- Speech, 3
- Philosophy courses, especially Logic (Inductive and Deductive), 6
- Mathematics (pre-calculus), 6
- Total: 51 hours
- Major field of study: 30-36
- All-University requirements: 55-58
- Total: 120-135*
*Pre-law students can graduate with the minimum of 120 hours because many of the pre-law electives are also required for a major or are part of the All-University requirements.
Program of Study
Most freshmen take introductory and general education courses as part of the Integrative Liberal Studies Program. Foreign languages reinforces the verbal skills you will need to do well on the Law School Admissions Test. You should take the 100- and 200-level survey courses during your freshman and sophomore years, and the recommended math and literature courses in your junior and senior years. As a rule, juniors and seniors devote most of their time to their major course of study. Most students take the LSAT in June or October of the senior year prior to applying to law schools by the end of fall semester.
Is Law School Hard to Get In?
Students who complete our program with a 3.0 grade-point average or better have an excellent chance of being accepted by a good law school. Still, it is becoming more difficult to enter any professional school. The key to admission is to tailor your curriculum to specific goals and law schools. It also helps to attend a first-class undergraduate institution like UNC Asheville, where standards and requirements are high. You must do well in the classroom and on the LSAT to enter law school. Both are prime requisites. Law schools have also begun to look for extracurricular activities and leadership qualities—anything that points to success in dealing with people, which is a must for any lawyer.
UNC Asheville graduates have been admitted to law schools across the state and nation—Harvard, Yale, Duke, Wake Forest, N.C. Central, Campbell, Vanderbilt, American and Samford universities; the Universities of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, South Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia and Dayton; and others. Because UNC Asheville is small, students receive personal attention from dedicated faculty members.
Are There Too Many Lawyers?
No. Although the number of law school graduates has doubled during the last decade, these graduates do not seem to have employment difficulties. Over the last 10 years, 90 percent secured jobs in law-related fields, and the median salary for lawyers still ranks second only to that for medicine. Moreover, the range and number of legal services have increased significantly in the last decade.
More Information
Pre-Law Program
215 New Hall, CPO #2830
UNC Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804-8520
828.251.6272