PRE-LAW AT JMU
DR. JESSICA ADOLINO
ASSOCIATE DEAN
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LETTERS
PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Pre-Law at JMU
 What does it mean to be a declared Pre-Law student at
JMU?

An ADVISING system
 What does Pre-Law advising involve?
A network of advisors
 Advisor choice left up to student

Pre-Law at JMU
 2012-13 JMU Pre-Law Advisors
Jessica Adolino, Political Science, College of Arts and Letters
Ben Carr, School of Hospitality, Recreation and Management
Elaine Chisek, University Advising, Political Science
Art Hamilton, Finance/Business Law
Kevin Hardwick, History
Bill Hawk, Philosophy and Religion
David Jeffrey, College of Arts and Letters, English
Howard Lubert, Political Science
Bob Roberts, Political Science
Roger Soenksen, Media Arts and Design
Daphyne Thomas, Finance/Business Law
Pre-Law at JMU
 Preparing for Law School
 What matters most in law school admissions?
LSAT score and GPA
 Recommendations, personal statement, extracurricular activities,
internships or summer employment in law firms or law-related
businesses

Pre-Law at JMU
 Selected LSAT scores and GPA’s for accepted JMU students and
alumni, fall 2011 (of 180 possible on LSAT)
Schools
American University
Appalachian School of Law
Catholic University
Charleston School of Law
Florida Coastal University
George Mason University
Hofstra University
Penn State - Dickinson
Temple University
New York University
Quinnipiac
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
Viilanova University
Washington and Lee
West Virginia University
William and Mary
LSAT
160
149
158
156
149
162
159
161
164
173
162
158
164
165
158
163
157
165
GPA
3.42
3.06
3.31
3.33
3.13
3.62
3.07
3.20
3.51
3.92
3.43
3.59
3.29
3.95
3.56
3.52
3.39
3.52
Pre-Law at JMU
 Preparing for Law School
 Is there a JMU Pre-Law curriculum?
Pre-legal education has no restrictions or requirements
 Choose something you like and can do well in

Pre-Law at JMU
 Preparing for Law School
 Are there particular majors recommended for students
considering law school?
NO!
 Most common majors of JMU law school applicants in 2010
 Political Science, History, Philosophy, Communications Studies,
Finance, Economics, English, Business Management
 But also Psychology, Justice Studies, Sociology, Accounting,
Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, International Affairs,
Public Policy and Administration, Computer Science and nearly
every other academic major

Pre-Law at JMU
 Preparing for Law School
 Are there any particular JMU courses recommended for
students considering law school?
Communication, including composition, language and speech
 Liberal arts, including work in the humanities and social sciences
 Critical thinking, logic, mathematics, accounting, and the natural
sciences
 Economics (micro & macro) and basic accounting
 Courses that develop independent research skills
 Courses (and other experiences) that require public speaking and
presenting of ideas before others

Pre-Law at JMU
 Preparing for Law School at JMU
 Academic Timeline
First year
 Sophomore year
 Junior year
 Senior year


Pre-Law Opportunities at JMU
Phi Alpha Delta
 Judicial visits, attorney speaker series
 Law school visits
 Moot Court
 LSAT practice tests

Pre-Law at JMU
 Law school acceptances
 For 2011 matriculation, 141 JMU seniors or alumni applied to
law school
Average number of applications per applicant: 7.25
 Average number of admissions per application 2.1


106 were accepted to one or more law schools


85 registered at a law school
75 percent acceptance rate
Pre-Law at JMU
 106 JMU seniors and alumni accepted at one or more law schools in
2011 admissions cycle
Selected law school acceptances, 2010-2011
American University
Appalachian School of Law
8 students St. Johns University
13 students Temple University
Catholic University
7 students
Charleston College
Charlotte School of Law
Florida Coastal School
George Mason University
Georgetown University
4 students
4 students
University of Baltimore
5 students
10 students
University of Miami
4 students
10 students
12 students
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
5 students
8 students
7 students University of Virginia
1 student
3 students
Villanova University
7 students
Hofstra University
7 students
Wake Forest University
4 students
New England School of Law
8 students
Washington and Lee
4 students
New York Law School
6 students
Widener University
10 students
Penn State – Dickinson
4 students William and Mary
5 students
Pre-Law at JMU
 Where do JMU grads who become attorneys work?

Federal, state and local government agencies


U.S. and state Attorney General’s offices
Major firms in U.S. major cities, for example:




Washington, D.C.: Williams & Connolly; Skadden; Orrick; Woodley & McGillivary;
Shearman & Sterling; Heller Ehrman; Watt, Tudor, Hoffar & Fitzgerald; Hogan &
Hartson; Sharp & Associates; Morgan Lewis; Latham & Watkins; Morrison &
Foerster; Jones Day; Cleary Gottlieb; Kenyon & Kenyon; Cohn & Marks; Greenberg
Trauig; Arent Fox; Ropes & Gray; Seyfarth Shaw; Reed Smith
Richmond, VA: Hunton and Williams; McGuire Woods; Saunders Cary &
Pallerson; Williams Mullen; Sands Anderson Marks & Muller; Kutak Rock
New York City: Harris Beach; Morgan Lewis, Bernstein Litowitz Berger &
Grossman, O’Melveny & Myers; Cassin Cassin & Joseph
Boston: Riemer & Braunstein; Morrison Mahoney; Robinson & Cole
Pre-Law at JMU
JMU Pre-Law website:
http://www.jmu.edu/prelaw/
Questions?