Pre-Law

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A four-year course of liberal arts study at St. Lawrence is an excellent foundation for law school. There is no formal pre-law curriculum and law schools require no particular major. Students interested in law should acquire a good general education, demonstrating achievement in serious and substantial courses.

  • Students are advised to take foundation courses in all aspects of liberal education––humanities, science, social science, and arts––and to study such areas as economics, government, and history.
  • Courses and majors that demand expository writing, sustained research, and the analysis of arguments are especially apt.
  • Courses in reasoning and symbolic logic are also helpful in preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Students wishing to pursue law school should plan to take the LSAT no later than the early fall of their senior year, as admission is heavily dependent on the LSAT score. Information about the LSAT can be obtained from the Office of Academic Advising in Fox Hall and in the Center for Career Excellence in the Sullivan Student Center.

The Pre-Law Advising Committee provides briefings periodically for students at all levels of preparation.

Dr. Cathy Crosby's September 2020 LSAT workshop is available courtesy of the Center for Career Excellence.

"Navigating Law School," an October 2020 panel discussion with SLU alumni who are in or have completed law school, is available as part of the Center for Career Excellence Young Alumni Insights Series.

For further information on applying to law school, consult the Law School Application Resources document (below) as well as the website of the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), which has information for prospective students, including advice on preparing yourself for law school, dates and locations of LSAT administration, and the law school application process.

St. Lawrence has a Law Early Admission Program (LEAP) partnership with Cornell Law, allowing students to complete their St. Lawrence B.A./B.S. and Cornell's J.D. degree in just six years. To take advantage of this 3+3 Pathway, students must complete all St. Lawrence requirements (only 30 units of credit at SLU are required) in three years and gain acceptance into Cornell Law to complete this program. See the Cornell Law admissions website for details on program requirements.

The St. Lawrence University-Cornell Law School Scholarship Fund offers generous scholarship support to St. Lawrence students who are accepted to Cornell Law School, whether through the LEAP partnership or after a full four years at SLU. Note that it is not a full scholarship, and the amount awarded can vary from year to year.

The LSAT is offered online regularly throughout the academic year.

Students with specific questions about their plans should meet with one of the Pre-Law Advisors:

• James Sieja, Assistant Professor of Government (Hepburn 210, jsieja@stlawu.edu, 315-229-5279)

• Serge Onyper, Wallace Associate Professor of Psychology (Fox 101, sonyper@stlawu.edu, 315-229-5121)

• Cathy Crosby, Associate Professor of Psychology (Valentine 113A, ccrosby@stlawu.edu, 315-229-5167)