At OSU, the term “prelaw” refers to a student's intention to pursue law school following his or her undergraduate degree, not to any prescribed degree or exact set of courses. Law is a very diverse profession. Lawyers must work with and represent individuals and organizations in every aspect of society: from medical doctors to chemical companies; from people with little education to those of affluent economic backgrounds; from individuals in personal crises to organizations planning future activities. Because legal careers are so varied, law schools do not recommend any particular major.

The ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools suggests the following guidelines for law school preparation:

• Acquire a well-balanced education through which thinking, reading and writing skills are developed - "a broad liberal arts* curriculum is the preferred preparation for law school.
• Maintain a rigorous courseload in whatever major you choose - “an undergraduate career that is narrow, unchallenging, or vocationally oriented is not the best preparation for law school.”
• Be cautious of programs labeled prelaw since there is no required prelaw curriculum. Such programs may introduce legal principles that help determine if law school is of interest, “but rarely are they taught with the same depth and rigor as actual law school courses. A prelaw curriculum that is designed to encompass a broad array of liberal arts* courses, however, can be excellent preparation for law school.”

*Liberal arts encompass a wide variety of fields including fine arts, humanities, social sciences, physical and biological sciences, and quantitative studies. 

Make appointments to see the Prelaw Advisor at:  http://ascalendar.okstate.edu