Undergraduates who wish to become lawyers should enroll in colleges with strong law programs.
The American Bar Association does not recommend a specific major for undergraduate students who wish to enter law school upon graduation. Law school students come from diverse educational backgrounds. The American Bar Association recommends that students choose majors that they find interesting, and enroll in courses that will strengthen their writing and research skills. Students who wish to pursue a career in law should attend undergraduate universities with strong law schools, as these programs often provide the best training and opportunities.
Yale University
Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, offers the best law program in the country, according to a 2010 ranking by "U.S. News & Report." Although Yale does not offer a prelaw major, undergraduates interested in law may join the Yale Pre-Law Society, a nonprofit student organization for undergraduates who wish to enter law school. In addition, some undergraduates are eligible for combined bachelor's and master's programs in law, though qualifications vary. The program also features an extensive law library, with more than one million law volumes, according to "U.S. News & Report." Students also can get involved in undergraduate prelaw societies, or speak with faculty members of the prestigious graduate Yale Law School. This program has an average annual tuition of $48,340, as of 2010.
Yale University
P.O. Box 208215
New Haven, CT 06520
203-432-4995
law.yale.edu
Harvard University
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, offers the second best law program in the country, according to a 2010 report by Top Law Programs. Undergraduates enrolled in this university may pursue a major in prelaw and may join one of several prestigious law societies. Harvard University also offers the Leverett House, a prelaw advising organization that helps undergraduates prepare and apply for law school. In addition, seniors at Harvard University may work with advisers from the Dudley House, an academic advising organization that assists students with law school applications and preparing for the LSATs. Many undergraduates of this program choose to study civil procedure, environmental law, government services, human rights, legal philosophy or taxation, according to the university's website. This program has an average annual tuition of $43,900, as of 2010. The program also has more than two million law volumes in the university's library, according to "U.S. News & World Report."
Harvard University
1563 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
law.harvard.edu
617-495-3109
law.harvard.edu
Stanford University
Stanford University, located in Stanford, California, features the third best law program in the country, according to a 2010 "U.S. News & World Report" ranking. Undergraduates enrolled in this university may pursue a major in prelaw. Students also may network with faculty members from the prestigious Stanford Law School. Many undergraduates also have studied civil procedure, criminal law, government services, labor law and international law, according to the program's website. Students admitted to Stanford's Law School have an average LSAT score of 170 and an average GPA of 3.8, according to College Admission Essay. The university has an enrollment size of approximately 25,000 students, and Stanford has an average annual tuition of $44,121, as of 2010. The program also offers 490,073 law volumes in the university library, according to "U.S. News & World Report."
Stanford University
Crown Quadrangle
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA 94305
650-723-4985
law.stanford.edu
Tags: Harvard University, according 2010, according News, annual tuition, annual tuition 2010