DR. JESSICA ADOLINO, DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATE DEANSCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

PRE-LAW AT JMU

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 AdvisorsBill Hawk, Philosophy and ReligionJessica Adolino, Political Science, College of Arts and LettersElaine Chisek, University Advising, Political ScienceJoan Frederick, EnglishArt Hamilton, Finance/Business LawDavid Jeffrey, College of Arts and Letters, EnglishHoward Lubert, Political ScienceBob Roberts, Political ScienceRoger Soenksen, Media Arts and DesignDaphyne 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 LSAT GPAAmerican University 160 3.46Appalachian School of Law 158 3.69Catholic University 156 3.81Florida Coastal University 150 3.30George Mason University 164 3.60Hofstra University 159 3.30Penn State - Dickinson 156 3.46Temple University 164 3.51University of Alabama 161 3.40University of Arizona 160 3.30University of Pittsburgh 160 3.59University of Richmond 159 3.49University of Virginia 167 3.87Wake Forest 161 3.45Washington and Lee 163 3.52West Virginia University 157 3.39William and Mary 165 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 school73 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?