[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-detail-201174-en":3,"doc-seo-201174-105":30,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":90},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",{"doc_id":7,"user_id":8,"nickname":9,"user_avatar":10,"doc_module":4,"category_id":11,"category_name":12,"doc_title":13,"doc_description":14,"doc_content":15,"file_id":16,"file_url":17,"file_type":18,"file_size":19,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":20,"is_downloadable":20,"audit_status":20,"page_count":21,"language":22,"language_code":23,"site_id":24,"html_lang":23,"table_of_contents":25,"faqs":26,"seo_title":27,"seo_description":14,"update_tm":28,"read_time":29},201174,8796095360427,"Lucas Martin","https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d",4,"Exam","Pre-Law Handbook - Office of Undergraduate Studies","A comprehensive pre-law guide that helps undergraduates evaluate whether a legal career fits their interests, values, and strengths. It explains how JD and specialization pathways connect to fields such as government, business, nonprofits, and higher education, while addressing changing job-market realities. The handbook provides actionable steps for exploring the field, preparing academically through logic, writing, research, and analytical skills, building relevant experiences, and planning LSAT and law school research.","Pre-Law Handbook  \nOffice of Undergraduate Studies  \n357 Sears Building [216.368.2928](216.368.2928 | ugstudies@case.edu)[ |](216.368.2928 | ugstudies@case.edu)[ ugstudies@case.edu](216.368.2928 | ugstudies@case.edu)  \nTable of Contents  \nDeciding on a Career in Law .................................................................................................... 2  \nExploring Your Interest  \nPreparing For Law School ........................................................................................................ 3  \nDeveloping Skills  \nSelecting A Major  \nExtracurricular Activities  \nResources at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law  \nRole of the Pre-Law Advisor in Undergraduate Studies  \nDetermining Where to Apply ................................................................................................... 5  \nChecklist for Researching Law Schools ................................................................................... 6  \nApplying to Law School ........................................................................................................... 8  \nHow the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Can Help You  \nResources and Publications ...................................................................................................... 10  \nA Pre-Law Timetable ............................................................................................................... 11  \nAction Report Summary from LSAC ....................................................................................... 12  \nHeeding the Advice of Alumni ................................................................................................. 15  \nDeciding on a Career in Law  \nA JD, or Juris Doctor, can lead to a wide range of law-related fields and can open doors to careers in government, business, non-profits, and higher education. Law schools now specialize with concentrations in Intellectual Property, Entertainment Law, Immigration Law, Environmental Law, Health Law, International Law and many other branches. At the most basic level,“the possibility of effecting social change, setting legal precedent, and defending basic human rights” is indeed attractive to those who want to make an impact on the lives of clients they serve. The legal profession also holds out the promise of high salaries and professional prestige. However, the ground has shifted in the current legal market, and undergraduates need to understand the structural changes that are taking place. Positions for newly minted JDs have declined, especially in the large private firms. Students should pursue a legal career only if it is something they passionately want to do. Don ’t go to law school out of default: because you couldn ’t get into medical school or didn’t know what to do with a BA in English or history.  \nExploring your interest  \nHere are some suggestions to help you decide ifa legal career is right for you:  \n􀁸 Email Pre-Law Advisor Terri Mester at [terri.mester@case.edu](terri.mester@case.edu) and ask to be included in the  \n􀁸 pre-law database and Blackboard so you will be informed of job opportunities, free LSAT practice tests, and upcoming information sessions.  \n􀁸 Attend the valuable sessions conducted by law school admissions and career office personnel, law professors, judges, prosecutors, and specialized practitioners.  \n􀁸 Take assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Strong Interest Inventory through Case Western Reserve’s Career Center to determine if your personality, values and interests match those required in the legal profession.  \n􀁸 Intern with a law firm or law-related organization in the summer like Legal Aid or the ACLU to gain exposure to the field.  \n􀁸 Shadow individual lawyers during winter and spring breaks.  \n􀁸 Conduct information interviews to learn about the legal profession. Talk with lawyers who are family members, family friends or Case Western Reserve alumni. Inquire about:  \n􀂟 What la","cbCaipkMnRhYWlbv","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipkMnRhYWlbv","pdf",1067277,1,16,"English","en",105,"# Deciding on a Career in Law\n# Exploring Your Interest\n# Preparing for Law School\n# Developing Skills\n# Selecting a Major\n# Extracurricular Activities\n# Resources at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law\n# Role of the Pre-Law Advisor in Undergraduate Studies\n# Determining Where to Apply\n# Checklist for Researching Law Schools\n# Applying to Law School\n# Resources and Publications\n# A Pre-Law Timetable\n# Action Report Summary from LSAC\n# Heeding the Advice of Alumni","[{\"question\":\"What should undergraduates consider when deciding whether to pursue law school?\",\"answer\":\"They should evaluate personal passion for the profession, understand the current legal job market, and consider how a JD can lead to a range of law-related fields and specializations.\"},{\"question\":\"Is there a required pre-law major or specific educational background for law school admission?\",\"answer\":\"No pre-law major is required, and unlike medical school, there are no specific educational requirements for entrance into law school.\"},{\"question\":\"What academic and skill areas should students develop before law school?\",\"answer\":\"Students should focus on courses that strengthen logical thinking, research and extensive writing, analysis of material, and reasoning skills across subjects such as English/communication, mathematics/philosophy, and physical sciences.\"}]","Pre-Law Handbook - Office of Undergraduate Studies | PDF",1788526303,40,{"code":4,"msg":31,"data":32},"ok",{"site_id":24,"language":23,"slug":33,"title":13,"keywords":34,"description":14,"schema_data":35,"social_meta":85,"head_meta":87,"extra_data":89,"updated_unix":28},"pre-law-handbook-office-of-undergraduate-studies","",{"@graph":36,"@context":84},[37,53,67],{"@type":38,"itemListElement":39},"BreadcrumbList",[40,44,48,51],{"item":41,"name":42,"@type":43,"position":20},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":45,"name":46,"@type":43,"position":47},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":49,"name":12,"@type":43,"position":50},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":52,"name":13,"@type":43,"position":11},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/pre-law-handbook-office-of-undergraduate-studies/201174/",{"url":52,"name":13,"@type":54,"author":55,"headline":13,"publisher":57,"fileFormat":60,"inLanguage":23,"description":14,"dateModified":61,"datePublished":61,"encodingFormat":60,"isAccessibleForFree":62,"interactionStatistic":63},"DigitalDocument",{"name":9,"@type":56},"Person",{"url":41,"name":58,"@type":59},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-04",true,{"@type":64,"interactionType":65,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":66},"ViewAction",{"@type":68,"mainEntity":69},"FAQPage",[70,76,80],{"name":71,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":73},"What should undergraduates consider when deciding whether to pursue law school?","Question",{"text":74,"@type":75},"They should evaluate personal passion for the profession, understand the current legal job market, and consider how a JD can lead to a range of law-related fields and specializations.","Answer",{"name":77,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":78},"Is there a required pre-law major or specific educational background for law school admission?",{"text":79,"@type":75},"No pre-law major is required, and unlike medical school, there are no specific educational requirements for entrance into law school.",{"name":81,"@type":72,"acceptedAnswer":82},"What academic and skill areas should students develop before law school?",{"text":83,"@type":75},"Students should focus on courses that strengthen logical thinking, research and extensive writing, analysis of material, and reasoning skills across subjects such as English/communication, mathematics/philosophy, and physical sciences.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":52,"og:type":86,"og:title":13,"og:site_name":58,"og:description":14},"article",{"robots":88,"canonical":52},"index,follow",{"doc_id":7,"site_id":24},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":91},[92,96,100,103,108,113,117,122,127,130,134],{"id":20,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":47,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":11,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":12,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},70,"exam",{"id":104,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":109,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":114,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":29,"slug":116},7,"Healthcare","healthcare",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":119,"show_sort_weight":120,"slug":121},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":125,"slug":126},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":125,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":125,"slug":129},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":131,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":132,"show_sort_weight":131,"slug":133},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":135,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":46,"category_name":136,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":137},19,"General","general"]