The Pre-Law Pathway is designed to develop required skills in students using an interdisciplinary approach. Students interested in pursuing law school can apply to any undergraduate degree program at St. Mary’s and begin their journey! There are no specific admission requirements to start in the pre law pathway, you just need to be admissible to the degree of your choice.
The skills and abilities listed as desirable in lawyers and law students are 1. Analytic/Problem Solving, 2. Critical Reading, 3. Writing and Research Skills, 4. Oral Communication/Listening Abilities, 5. Public Service and Promotion of Justice, and 6. Background Knowledge and Exposure to Law. By choosing St. Mary’s as your university, you’ll get a well-rounded education that will help prepare your for law school.
While you are completing your undergraduate degree, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind that will strengthen your application to law school.
1) GPA.
Most law schools have very competitive GPA requirements for admission. You’ll want to aim for a GPA of 3.6 or higher in order to be considered a competitive applicant. Most law schools are looking at the last 60 credits of your undergraduate degree to calculate your admission GPA – so your last two years are the most important!
2) Experience
Most law schools are looking for students who have demonstrated an interest in law, community, social justice, etc., throughout their recent years. It is important that you are gaining some real-world experience and perspective throughout your undergraduate degree that will strengthen your résumé. This could be anything from completing job shadows with lawyers, having a mentor working in the legal field, volunteering in the community, and so much more. Once you’ve began your degree at St. Mary’s, you can meet with our Career Advisor who can help you determine what opportunities might be right for you!
3) The Law School Admission Test (LSAT).
This is an admissions test that all law school applicants are required to take. You want to write this test as few times as possible, so preparation for it is key! You should plan to take an LSAT prep course in your third and/or fourth year. To prepare for the LSAT test while in your degree, you should consider taking some of the courses mapped out below that will develop some of the key competencies that the LSAT tests for.
You’ll want to meet with an Academic Advisor to discuss the best options for you based on your interests and what will help you succeed academically!
CPSC 215 – Introduction to Programming
Philosophy
PHIL 201 Introduction to Western Philosophy
PHIL 211 Introductory Logic
PHIL 313 Bioethics
PHIL 351 Ethics
PHIL 353 Contemporary Ethical Issues
PHIL 373 Epistemology
PHIL 395 Metaphysics
Math
MATH 205 Math Appreciation
MATH 211 Elementary Linear Algebra
MATH 249 Introduction to Calculus
MATH 251 Calculus I
Physics
PHYS 211 Mechanics
PHYS 223 Introduction to Electromagnetism, Fluids, and Thermal Physics
Psychology
PSYC 312A An Introduction to Experimental Design and Quantitative Methods for Psychology
PSYC 312B Advanced Experimental Design and Quantitative Methods for Psychology
Statistics
STAT 213 Introduction to Statistics I
STAT 217 Introduction to Statistics II
Greek
Any GREK 200 level courses
Italian
Any ITAL 200 or 300 level courses
Latin
Any LATI 200 level courses
French
Any FREN 200 or 300 level courses
Spanish
Any SPAN 200 or 300 level courses
Any English Literature, Philosophy, Political Studies course or courses that compare various writers, genres, philosophers, theories etc.
English
Any ENGL 300 or 400 level courses
WRIT 201 for academic writing
History
Any 300 or 400 level courses
SOCI 313 – Introduction to Research Methodology
As well, degree program capstone projects, e.g., LBST 401 (Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies) & LBST 403 (Liberal Studies Interdisciplinary Project); HIST 401 (The Historian’s Craft) & HIST 403 (Major Research Project); BIOL 493 (Senior Project); SJCS 403 (Major Research Project); and PSYC 500 (Honours thesis)
A Technical Writing course may be a good option to explore as it would benefit anybody who wants to pursue post-graduate work.
PSYC 407 – Communication and Counselling Skills
MUSI 207 – Music Appreciation: The Art of Listening
ENGL 480 Internship
ENGL 481 Senior Internship
HIST 480 Internship
HIST 481 Senior Internship
IDST 480 Internship
IDST 481 Senior Internship
MGST 307
PHIL 313, 351, 353
POLI 315, 353, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371
PSYC 337, 363, 405, 435
RLGS 317, 323, 325
SJCS 401 Directed Community Field Experience
SJCS 403 Major Research Project
SOCI 325, 327, 375
St. Mary’s Liberal Arts Core
St. Mary’s University believes strongly in the benefits of a traditional liberal arts education that includes the sciences. The Liberal Arts Core consists of six courses that form the foundation of liberal arts education at St. Mary’s University. The courses are common degree requirements for all St. Mary’s Unviesrity Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs.
ENGL 200A Studies in Literature: Middle Ages to 1660
ENGL 200B Studies in Literature: 1660 to the Present
HIST 200A History of Ideas: Antiquity to the Reformation
HIST 200B History of Ideas: Scientific Revolution to the 20th Century
PHIL 351 Ethics
RLGS 205 Reading Bibilical Texts
Classical Studies
CLAS 200 and 300 level courses
Economics
ECON 200 and 300 level courses
History
HIST 200, 300, and 400 level courses
Political Studies
POLI 200, 300, and 400 level courses
Sociology
SOCI 200 and 300 level courses
Philosophy
PHIL 211 Introductory Logic (the seminar portion can be specific to inductive logic, a study of fallacies, and general preparation for the L-SAT)
PHIL 499 Directed Reading (a course whose subject could be Legal Reasoning, Philosophy of Law, etc.)