At Kent State, a pre-law education is not a major, though a pre-law minor is part of the Department of Political Science's curriculum. Students entering Kent State also have an exciting opportunity to participate in the Pre-Law Program's Service, Citizenship and Justice Living Learning Community with like-minded peers in a residential dorm. Also, the Political Science Department lets students save time and costs by participating in a "3 plus 3 Bachelors/Law Accelerated Degree" partnership with Cleveland Marshall's College of Law, a program that permits students to take undergraduate and law school courses simultaneously.
Law schools value students who have a wide range of skills, including the ones listed below, and they accept students from all majors. As a general rule of thumb, you should declare major that fits your interests and coursework that you excel in. Your major, as well, should bolster the types of critical thinking, problem-solving, written and oral skills that are used by attorneys and judges.
- critical analysis
- logical reasoning
- reading comprehension
- written skills, including basic grammar, spelling and citation proficiencies
- oral communication, advocacy, and public speaking
- ethical-based reasoning
- public service
The American Bar Association offers similar pre-law advice that is helpful to prepare for law school and legal or a law-related profession.
In addition to learning about government and politics as a cornerstone of securing a legal education, problem solving and logical reasoning skills are helpful as well, and they can be obtained in math, science, and philosophy courses that use and apply logical thinking. You should discuss the coursework needed to develop law-related skills with your pr-law and/or college advisor early in your undergraduate career.
Admission to law school is also very competitive, so always strive to work diligently and conscientiously in all of your courses in order to achieve the best grades you can at every stage of your undergraduate education. Do not fear failure and learn from it should you not succeed in courses at first. Take advantage of all of Kent State's academic help resources, such as the Academic Success Center and the Writing Commons, in order to learn from tutors or academic coaches, engage with or learn from supplemental resources, and, in general, continuously refine your written, analytical and oral academic skill-set. If you are struggling in school, or have questions about your major or pre-law minor, you should not hesitate to visit with a pre-law or academic advisor as early as possible in your undergraduate career.