PRE-LAW AT JMU
DR. JESSICA ADOLINO, DIRECTOR
ASSOCIATE DEAN
SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
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
 2010-11 JMU Pre-Law Advisors
Bill Hawk, Philosophy and Religion
Jessica Adolino, Political Science, College of Arts and Letters
Elaine Chisek, University Advising, Political Science
Joan Frederick, English
Art Hamilton, Finance/Business Law
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 matriculated JMU students and
alumni, fall 2009
Schools
American University
Appalachian School of Law
Catholic University
Florida Coastal University
George Mason University
Hofstra University
Penn State - Dickinson
Temple University
University of Alabama
University of Arizona
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Virginia
Wake Forest
Washington and Lee
West Virginia University
William and Mary
LSAT
160
158
156
150
164
159
156
164
161
160
160
159
167
161
163
157
165
GPA
3.46
3.69
3.81
3.30
3.60
3.30
3.46
3.51
3.40
3.30
3.59
3.49
3.87
3.45
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 2009
 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
 LSAT practice tests

Pre-Law at JMU
 JMM students and alumni accepted at nearly 100 different law schools
in 2008-09
 Selected Law schools acceptances, 2008-09 (law schools accepting the
greatest number of JMU students and alumni)
American University
7 students St. Johns University
7 students
Appalachian School of Law
8 students Temple University
9 students
Catholic University
10 students University of Baltimore
15 students
Charleston College
9 students University of Miami
7 students
Charlotte School of Law
7 students University of Pittsburgh
5 students
Drexel University
7 students University of Richmond
10 students
Florida Coastal School
10 students University of Virginia
2 students
George Mason University
13 students Villanova University
9 students
Hofstra University
4 students Wake Forest University
4 students
New England School
5 students Washington and Lee
5 students
New York Law School
6 students Widener University
6 students
Penn State – Dickinson
8 students William and Mary Law School
8 students
Law School Acceptance Rate
 In 2008-09, 179 JMU students or alumni applied to
law school
 132 were accepted to one or more law schools
 109 registered at a law school
 73 percent acceptance rate
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?