What is Pre-Law?

Unlike some other graduate-focused career paths, the pre-law path is incredibly flexible. Law schools don’t require applicants to complete law-related coursework or even graduate with a specific major. Instead, the bulk of a law school application is comprised of academic success (GPA), LSAT score (more on that later), and to some extent extracurriculars. Learn more about law school applications here.

UCSD traditionally has been known as a STEM-focused school, but is also home to vibrant pre-law community. Students have access to a variety of resources, from both UCSD and its students, to support you in your pursuit of the legal profession. Here’s how to get started:

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1. Student Organizations

UCSD has multiple pre-law student organizations that focus on various aspects of the legal profession. These organizations give students an opportunity to explore different legal fields and skillsets, fostering community among like-minded pre-law individuals, and finding mentors further along in their pre-law journeys.

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2. Career Center Advising

UCSD’s Career Center offers pre-law career advising through Handshake. After logging into Handshake with your UCSD SSO, navigate to: Career centers -> Schedule a New Appointment -> Pre-Law Advising.

Career advisors can help you to figure out what fields of law you may potentially find interest in, clarify the law school application, direct you to other resources on campus, and more!

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3. Coursework

The Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, and Philosophy Departments offer a variety of law-related courses. Most prominently, the Political Science’s 104 series is centered around legal studies with courses featuring legal reasoning (104J), constitutional law (104A/B/D/M, etc.), and legal policies. These courses are an invaluable opportunity to both explore legal scholarship and get to know professionals who have participated in the legal field.