To prepare for law school, you’ll first need to earn an undergraduate degree. Course selection and grade point average (GPA) play an important role in law school admission decisions, according to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).^{(See disclaimer 1)} If you’re admitted to law school, you can expect introductory coursework in all areas of the law, followed by more advanced topics and intense bar exam preparation.

How hard is law school? It can be challenging studying and memorizing case law, and so knowing how to prepare for law school can be beneficial. First, explore the fundamentals of how law school works, learn about the typical admission requirements and then focus on preparing to succeed as a law school student.

It’s important to note that you cannot apply to law school immediately after high school. You’ll first need to earn a bachelor’s degree.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

There is no universally recommended type of major for pre-law students. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), law schools admit students from virtually every undergraduate academic discipline.^{(See disclaimer 2)} However, you may wish to explore a legal studies concentration as a pre-law school option to help prepare for the LSAT as well as law school curriculum.

Some individuals apply to law school shortly after graduating with a bachelor’s, while others may take the time to earn a master’s degree, engage in a law related internship and gain professional work experience before pursuing law school.

Once in law school, students work toward earning a Juris Doctor, or JD. The JD is a professional degree, and law school is considered a professional school, rather than a graduate school.

After earning a JD, graduates do not automatically become lawyers. They must first pass the bar exam to obtain licensure as lawyers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Obtaining licensure is known as being admitted to the bar.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

If you’re still in high school, you can prepare for pursuing law school after your undergraduate education by talking to your school counselor about your plans. Select a challenging, yet realistic course load and work hard to keep your grades up. Look for extracurricular and summer activities or internships that are aligned with the legal profession.

In college, continue to select challenging courses, as the rigor of classes is one factor that law school admission personnel consider, along with GPA.^{(See disclaimer 1)} Talk to your academic advisor about your plans to apply to law school. Look for internships in law offices and join relevant student clubs. 

As you near your college graduation date, you should start researching different law schools and the admission requirements. Consider where you’d like to attend law school and begin working on your law school applications.

The following are the typical law school requirements:^{(See disclaimer 1)}

• Undergraduate degree
• Application and application fee
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• LSAT score (standardized admission exam for law schools)

When you arrive at law school, you can expect to undergo an orientation, during which you may attend information sessions and meet professors and fellow students. When classes get started, you can expect to study topics such as:

• Criminal law
• Civil procedure
• Torts
• Constitutional law
• Contracts
• Legal research and writing

During the first year, you’ll be expected to gain broad, foundational knowledge in the law. During subsequent years, you’ll study advanced and specialized topics, such as alternative dispute resolution, trial advocacy and family law. Throughout your time in law school, you’ll prepare for the bar exam.

Law school is quite different from college. Rather than relying primarily on textbooks, you’ll study case law. You’ll read through cases, becoming familiar with legal terminology and strategies, as well as legal precedents.

You can expect law school to be an intensive experience, with a heavy workload of reading and writing. The goal is to help you learn how to think like a lawyer by crafting sound legal and evidence-based reasoning. To that end, your professors may use the Socratic method in classes, which involves calling on students to engage in case dissection.

You may find it helpful to use active studying techniques in law school. For example, use the active recall technique, during which you’ll quiz yourself. You can use flashcards to quiz yourself, or you can try a verbal method. After reading a section of the text or your notes, cover the text and then say out loud everything you can remember about it.

Other active studying techniques include answering practice questions, including taking practice bar exams. You can also form a study group with your peers, during which you can take turns teaching each other about legal concepts, which is another active studying technique.

Before and during your time in law school, you’ll work on developing a skillset that supports a legal career. LawHub recommends learning how to think like a lawyer by following the IRAC framework: Issue, Rule, Application and Conclusion. This framework provides the building blocks for developing a legal argument.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Other important skills for law students include:^{(See disclaimer 4)}

• Deductive and inductive reasoning
• Reasoning through the use of analogies
• Oral and written communication skills
• Active listening
• Critical thinking and evaluation

Because law school involves a demanding workload, it’s essential to treat it like a full-time job. To manage your time well and stay organized, you’ll need to plan out each week in advance using a day planner or scheduling app. Make a note of all deadlines, assignments and classes, and block out plenty of studying time.

Along with your day planner, you may find it helpful to write a daily to-do list. Keep your class materials organized right from your first day by using designated physical or digital folders and notebooks or documents. Get into the habit of creating outlines to serve as study guides by compiling and organizing your class notes, syllabi and key cases.

During your first year of law school, you may go through a period of adjustment, during which you’ll become accustomed to how law school works and how classes are conducted. You’ll need to meet expectations and adapt to the workload.

It can be stressful to adjust to the expectations and pacing of law school, and it’s important to be mindful of the risk of burnout. To help prevent burnout, set aside some time each day to relax and decompress. Take active breaks from studying, such as by going outside for a brief, brisk walk in the fresh air. Connect with your loved ones and ask for support when needed.

Before classes begin, you’ll want to learn how to prepare for law school by having the right supplies and resources available. In addition to the usual school supplies, such as notebooks and highlighters, you might want an ergonomic bookstand and noise-cancelling headphones for studying. It is also important to have a quiet, designated study area.

Some resources to consider are Quimbee and LexPlug, which provide tutorials and case briefs. You can also find concise study guides that offer overviews of important legal concepts. Law students and lawyers may turn to the digital version of The Bluebook for support with legal writing.

You can develop a firm foundation for pursuing law school admission at GCU, where you can choose from programs such as the Bachelor of Arts in Government with an Emphasis in Legal Studies degree and the Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies degree. Benefit from a Christian education at our faith-centered school while building pre-professional connections.