Pre-Law at JMU is not a major, minor or concentration but a set of recommended courses and skills that will help students prepare for law school study and the Law School Aptitude Test (LSAT) required for application to law school.

Students who plan to apply to law school may select their major from a wide range of fields, depending upon their interests. The scope of the law is broad and offers room for individuals of varied educational and intellectual backgrounds. Students should choose courses that provide them with broad informational and cultural preparation and develop their reasoning abilities.

Especially valuable to a pre-law program are courses in:

• Communication, including composition, language and speech, which enable students to express themselves well.
• The humanities and social sciences, which help students to appreciate and perform effectively in their culture and society.
• Logic, mathematics and the natural sciences, which develop skills of fact discrimination, analysis and synthesis.
• Accounting and economics.

Pre-Law Advising

Pre-law advising, coordinated by the College of Arts and Letters, is provided by faculty in a variety of disciplines at JMU who can assist students in selecting those courses that will provide students with the intellectual challenge and skills necessary for success in law school.

Because entrance into law school is highly competitive, students should contact a pre-law advisor early on to make sure they are selecting courses that will provide them with the best preparation.

For more information on pre-law and preparation for law school, contact:

Melinda Adams
Pre-Law Coordinator
adams2mj@jmu.edu