FASTFACTS
- Law schools accept bachelor’s degrees from almost every discipline – from English and political science to mathematics and music.
- Joe Wideman ’13, a Blue Hose linebacker who played against VMI just hours after taking the LSAT, now practices law in Columbia, SC.
- Kelley Perkins Brown ’94 was named South Carolina Lawyer of the Year in 2005 and Juvenile Defender of the Year in 2016.
- Jake Moore ’73 is a senior partner at Moore Taylor and also teaches at the University of South Carolina School of Law.
What You’ll Study in the Pre-Law Program
Law schools don’t require that you have a particular major. Instead they want you to demonstrate skills in analysis, synthesis, critical thinking, and written and oral communication. Choose a major that motivates your best work and develops a range of relevant skills, especially writing and research.
PC offers you two options in pursuing pre-law along with your chosen major. You can choose the interdisciplinary pre-law studies minor or receive personalized guidance and counseling from the pre-law advisor.
In your freshman and sophomore years, PC’s pre-law advisor will help you choose electives and maintain goals. At this stage you should look for summer jobs or internships that offer relevant experience.
As a junior, decide when you’ll take the LSAT, register and begin preparing for it. Consider taking it in June before your senior year. Continue meeting with your pre-law advisor, and find a summer job or internship – ideally in a law-related field. Research and compile a list of potential law schools.
As a senior, prepare for and take the LSAT by October, if you haven’t already. Request information from law schools and apply to the ones you choose. Register with the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) and its Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to have your transcripts forwarded. Complete a transcript request form (found in the LSAT Bulletin), submit it to the Registrar’s office and request that your transcript be forwarded to CAS.
See Pre-Law Timetable, Law School Application Process, Law School Resources and Links and FAQ for helpful information about PC’s pre-law program.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the Pre-Law Studies minor, please contact the Pre-law Advisor, Dr. Erin McAdams, at (864) 833-8347 or esmcadams@presby.edu.
STUDENT EXPERIENCES
CAREER OUTCOMES
In law school you can expect three years of full-time coursework before earning your Juris Doctor (JD) degree. You’ll also have to pass the bar exam and be admitted to the state bar. Once you’ve accomplished those, you have several career options. You can practice law at a corporate legal office, work for a nonprofit or for the government. You may even choose to teach law or start your own law practice. The job field is competitive, but compensation is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median pay for a lawyer in 2018 was $120,910.
PC alumni serve as attorneys and partners at some of the region’s top law practices. Firms include Moore Taylor, Lucas, Warr, White & Mitchell, Rogers Townsend, Eller Tonnsen Bach, Brown Rountree PC, Burnett Shutt McDaniel, Gate City Legal Services, Schiller & Hamilton, Collins & Lacy, Fortson, Bentley & Griffin, Kinard & Jones, Savage, Royall & Sheheen and Clark Law Firm.
Whatever major you choose, the pre-law program at PC equips you with the skills you’ll need to succeed in law school – and beyond.
CAREER PROFESSIONS
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