Santa Clara University

Preparing for Law School

How Pre-Law Students at Santa Clara University Get There

For undergraduate students planning to apply to law school, Santa Clara University provides a wide range of opportunities for building a strong pre-law foundation.

There is no specific major or curriculum required to qualify for law school admission. Successful law school applicants come from majors as diverse as anthropology, philosophy, communication, political science, physics, English, history, biology, and economics. Law school admissions officers recommend undergraduate preparation in a major that demands discipline, analytical ability, precision in written and oral work, critical thinking, research, and communication skills. The departments of Philosophy and Political Science offer a pre-law emphasis within the major; however pre-law advisors can help provide anyone with the tools needed to enter law school successfully.

The Santa Clara pre-law student's preparation is also served not just by the University's Core requirements, but also by a variety of elective courses that provide valuable training and breadth of academic and analytical experience. Some elective courses strengthen specific abilities, while others provide perspective on legal issues and topics.

Many Santa Clara students successfully pursue careers in law. In fact, Santa Clara University undergraduates were the second-most represented students in the incoming 2006-2007 class at the Santa Clara University School of Law. This Pre-Law website is intended to provide the pre-law student with a starting point and a general outline, not a detailed path, leading to law school. Early in their undergraduate careers, all students thinking of careers in law should arrange personal conferences not only with their major advisors, but also with one of the specially designated pre-law advisors, to formulate a program designed for their specific needs, interests, and career goals.