Law School

Texas A&M University is a national leader in preparing students for law school. Since 2018, we’ve placed 8th nationally for providing law students. The most successful students plan ahead and take every advantage to enhance their profiles.

Look Ahead!

Watch the intro to pre-law advising at Texas A&M, then schedule an appointment with your advisor so your first appointment will be more personalized.

Thinking about Law School?

Getting Started

Of all professional programs, the Juris Doctor (J.D.) remains the most flexible and accepting in terms of admission, in part because there are no required courses for admission. In fact, law schools do not favor any major over another; instead, they revel in diversity of everything, from your major, activities, outside interests, and personal history. At Texas A&M, students from every college apply to law school and are successful in both admission and in law school. Therefore, choose the major that suits you, one that you find challenging and engaging, one that prepares you for other career paths.

You do not need to determine exactly which area of law you plan to practice before law school. Instead, learn about the practice of law and whether that is appealing to you. The best piece of advice to follow is to speak with lawyers. Learn about the profession and how individuals came to it and wound up in their niche. Remember, every lawyer went to law school and therefore knows a lot of lawyers in different practice areas. After getting a sense of the profession check out LSAC’s “Your Journey to Law School.”

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Research Law Schools

Where to start?
As you progress through undergraduate studies, take every opportunity to learn more about legal education, law schools, and how schools differ from one another. There are currently 199 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

One place to start your search is right on campus! Each year, Texas A&M hosts one of the largest law school fairs in the country (Law School Caravan), with about half of the accredited schools coming to campus to tell you more about their programs. You do not have to be a law school applicant to benefit from attending. Throughout the year, various law school admission deans are guest speakers at student organization meetings, university events, and networking events. Attend every session you can to learn more about legal education.

Online searches
There are dozens of online “law school rankings” which seek to create a single ranking of law schools that will be appropriate for everyone. These rankings cannot capture elements which are important to you, fit your academic profile, and provide the best setting for YOUR legal education. Instead, these rankings tend to imply that schools in “lower tiers” are not worth attending; however, nothing could be further from the truth. Read rankings with a cautionary eye and develop your own list of potential law schools and read what the Law School Admissions Council has to say about them. Another great resource is the The Stern-Wilson Book of Law School Lists . This online book is based on a survey done by prelaw advisors of the U.S. law schools.

How to rank schools

When making your list of law schools, XploreJD.org helps you not restrict yourself by eliminating private schools or schools in other states. Sometimes private school scholarships make them more affordable that an in-state school. Instead, start listing factors which are important to you, whether it is location, size of student body, clinical programs, employment statistics, admissions profiles, and more. Talk to attorneys who attended various schools and learn more about what each school has to offer. Finally, you can visit law schools on your own or with other Aggies. The PreLaw Advisor will announce all trips planned to Texas law schools on the aggie-lawyer listserv. The MSC sponsors the J. Wayne Stark Northeast Trip which tour law and business schools in Chicago, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia in January each year.

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Where to start?
As you progress through undergraduate studies, take every opportunity to learn more about legal education, law schools, and how schools differ from one another. There are currently 199 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

One place to start your search is right on campus! Each year, Texas A&M hosts one of the largest law school fairs in the country (Law School Caravan), with about half of the accredited schools coming to campus to tell you more about their programs. You do not have to be a law school applicant to benefit from attending. Throughout the year, various law school admission deans are guest speakers at student organization meetings, university events, and networking events. Attend every session you can to learn more about legal education.

Online searches
There are dozens of online “law school rankings” which seek to create a single ranking of law schools that will be appropriate for everyone. These rankings cannot capture elements which are important to you, fit your academic profile, and provide the best setting for YOUR legal education. Instead, these rankings tend to imply that schools in “lower tiers” are not worth attending; however, nothing could be further from the truth. Read rankings with a cautionary eye and develop your own list of potential law schools and read what the Law School Admissions Council has to say about them. Another great resource is the The Stern-Wilson Book of Law School Lists . This online book is based on a survey done by prelaw advisors of the U.S. law schools.

How to rank schools

When making your list of law schools, XploreJD.org helps you not restrict yourself by eliminating private schools or schools in other states. Sometimes private school scholarships make them more affordable that an in-state school. Instead, start listing factors which are important to you, whether it is location, size of student body, clinical programs, employment statistics, admissions profiles, and more. Talk to attorneys who attended various schools and learn more about what each school has to offer. Finally, you can visit law schools on your own or with other Aggies. The PreLaw Advisor will announce all trips planned to Texas law schools on the aggie-lawyer listserv. The MSC sponsors the J. Wayne Stark Northeast Trip which tour law and business schools in Chicago, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia in January each year.

Prepare to Apply

Core Skills, Values, Knowledge, and Experience - Aggies in any major are well-prepared to be successful in law school due to the rigor in all majors and the high expectations of your professors. However, the American Bar Association has prepared a statement about Core Skills, Values, Knowledge, and Experience to guide you in preparing for law school and a legal career. These include:

Problem Solving
Critical Reading
Writing and Editing
Oral Communication and Listening
Research
Organization and Management
Public Service and Promotion of Justice
Relationship-building and Collaboration
Background Knowledge
Exposure to the Law

You can find the entire prelaw statement in our handouts or on the ABA website. After reading the statement, do a self-analysis on your skills and knowledge levels and make plans to improve them. Doing a self-analysis every semester will ensure that you are ready.

Citizenship - Please note that many of the skills that the law school are looking for are acquired outside the classroom. This is why participating in student activities, service work, internships, and leadership positions is crucial to building a strong case for you being admitted to your top law school.

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The LSAT vs. the GRE Testing information - The LSAT is a test composed of 4 multiple-choice sections of 35-minutes each, plus a written essay administered separately. The test covers reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning (sometimes called logic games). The test is given multiple times a year. Score range from 120 to 180. LSAC offers a range of accommodations, so be sure you check out what may be available to you and how to request accommodations in advance.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam consisting of 3 sections. If possible, take the LSAT or GRE by August the summer before you apply to law school. Confirm the law school(s) you are applying to accept the GRE, before registering to take the test.

Should I take a practice LSAT or GRE? - Absolutely, and it's never too early to take it. You can visit LSAC LawHub to sign up for a free LSAT Prep account and take a free diagnostic test to see the types of questions that are asked. Kaplan offers a free practice GRE online. Magoosh offers a free GRE trial. The OPSA office makes no claims about the efficacy of prep programs, but only provides the names of know providers as a service. After taking the practice exam, you should be able to determine whether you will take a commercial prep course (in-person or on-line), or prepare yourself. Try to take a practice exam before the end of your second year. This should give you sufficient time to decide whether you will do self-prep or take a commercial prep course. Which method to choose is very personal and depends upon your starting score, your goal score, your level of personal responsibility and motivation, and the craziness of your schedule. One size does not fit all!

Once you have a timed practice score, the PreLaw advisor is happy to discuss your prep options and help you sift through that decision. #accordionGroup4 { display: none; }

Testing information - The LSAT is a test composed of 4 multiple-choice sections of 35-minutes each, plus a written essay administered separately. The test covers reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical reasoning (sometimes called logic games). The test is given multiple times a year. Score range from 120 to 180. LSAC offers a range of accommodations, so be sure you check out what may be available to you and how to request accommodations in advance.

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a multiple-choice, computer-based, standardized exam consisting of 3 sections. If possible, take the LSAT or GRE by August the summer before you apply to law school. Confirm the law school(s) you are applying to accept the GRE, before registering to take the test.

Should I take a practice LSAT or GRE? - Absolutely, and it's never too early to take it. You can visit LSAC LawHub to sign up for a free LSAT Prep account and take a free diagnostic test to see the types of questions that are asked. Kaplan offers a free practice GRE online. Magoosh offers a free GRE trial. The OPSA office makes no claims about the efficacy of prep programs, but only provides the names of know providers as a service. After taking the practice exam, you should be able to determine whether you will take a commercial prep course (in-person or on-line), or prepare yourself. Try to take a practice exam before the end of your second year. This should give you sufficient time to decide whether you will do self-prep or take a commercial prep course. Which method to choose is very personal and depends upon your starting score, your goal score, your level of personal responsibility and motivation, and the craziness of your schedule. One size does not fit all!

Once you have a timed practice score, the PreLaw advisor is happy to discuss your prep options and help you sift through that decision.

LSAT & GRE Prep Companies

OPSA makes no claims about the efficacy of various LSAT prep programs, but provide the names of known providers as a service. If you have already received the LSAC fee waiver before you sign up for an LSAT course you will receive additional assistance from test prep companies.
LSAT

7 Sage
Alphascore
Blueprint
Campus Prep
Cutts Graduate Reviews
Kaplan Test Prep
Khan Academy
LSAC LawHub
LSAC prep books & ebooks
LSAT Demon
LSATMax
Magoosh
Powerscore
Scoreperfect -TAMU students should call 800-259-6211 or email from your TAMU email address to request a discount. Former students who don’t have access to your TAMU account should contact Brie .
TEES LSAT Test Prep
Texas Appleseed Diversity Legal Scholars for LSAT prep - various deadlines
The Princeton Review

GRE

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Texas Law Schools

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Law Schools with January start dates

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The Application Process

Law school applications - Applications for law schools general consist of 5 parts:

Academic record
LSAT score (some law schools accept GRE)
Resume
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation

Fortunately, the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) makes the process simple and streamlined by aggregating all application functions on their website. They have created a “Navigating the Application Process” handout found here. You will register for a free account with LSAC approximately 2 years prior to when you want to apply to law school to take advantage of all the free opportunities available to you, such as: applying for a fee waiver, sign up for LSAC LawHub, create a LSAT study plan, and sign up for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). Following their instructions, you will print a Transcript Request Form for each school you have attended and have the registrar forward an official transcript directly to LSAC. Letters of Recommendation (LORs) are collected and processed at LSAC as well. When you are ready to apply, you will access applications there and submit them electronically.

OPSA application workshops - Workshops about the application process and current state of law school admissions are held by the OPSA Law School advisor in the spring and summer. Check our Workshops page for dates and registration information.

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Financial Aid

Financial aid is a great way to help pay for law school. If you are eligible for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are encouraged to apply the October before you plan to start law school. AccessLex has free workshops, a loan calculator, free personal, confidential financial counseling and more. Since most scholarships are given by the individual law school's themselves, we suggest contacting programs directly to find out their requirements and how to get an application.

Click on the links below for more information such as qualifications, deadlines, and how to submit your application for some scholarships you may be eligible for.

Nance Presidential Scholarship for Baylor Law School - the application is available in December and is due via email submission no later than noon, February 8, 2024. This is a full-tuition scholarship for all three years of law school.
- To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, an applicant must:
  - Earn a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M-College Station and have completed a substantial portion of their degree requirements at Texas A&M Main campus, which includes only College Station, Galveston, McAllen and Qatar;
  - Have applied to Baylor Law School for the fall quarter by scholarship deadline;
  - For Fall 2024, the minimum GPA is 3.75 and the minimum LSAT is 163
- Additional questions may be sent to opsa@tamu.edu
AccessLex Law Scholarship Databank-various deadlines approximately 800 scholarship opportunities
Texas Appleseed Diversity Legal Scholars for LSAT prep-various deadlines
Pipeline to Practice Foundation Scholarships
Marshall-Motley Scholars Program
American Bar Association Scholarship
Texas Aggie Bar Association Scholarship (typically due mid-January)
Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund (Feb 1 - April 1)

You can also search for more outside scholarships through TAMU Scholarships and Financial Aid.

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Financial aid is a great way to help pay for law school. If you are eligible for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you are encouraged to apply the October before you plan to start law school. AccessLex has free workshops, a loan calculator, free personal, confidential financial counseling and more. Since most scholarships are given by the individual law school's themselves, we suggest contacting programs directly to find out their requirements and how to get an application.

Click on the links below for more information such as qualifications, deadlines, and how to submit your application for some scholarships you may be eligible for.
- Nance Presidential Scholarship for Baylor Law School - the application is available in December and is due via email submission no later than noon, February 8, 2024. This is a full-tuition scholarship for all three years of law school.
  - To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, an applicant must:
    - Earn a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M-College Station and have completed a substantial portion of their degree requirements at Texas A&M Main campus, which includes only College Station, Galveston, McAllen and Qatar;
    - Have applied to Baylor Law School for the fall quarter by scholarship deadline;
    - For Fall 2024, the minimum GPA is 3.75 and the minimum LSAT is 163
  - Additional questions may be sent to opsa@tamu.edu
- AccessLex Law Scholarship Databank-various deadlines approximately 800 scholarship opportunities
- Texas Appleseed Diversity Legal Scholars for LSAT prep-various deadlines
- Pipeline to Practice Foundation Scholarships
- Marshall-Motley Scholars Program
- American Bar Association Scholarship
- Texas Aggie Bar Association Scholarship (typically due mid-January)
- Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund (Feb 1 - April 1)
You can also search for more outside scholarships through TAMU Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Networking and researching the Profession

Find an Aggie
Texas Aggie Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
I Am The Law Podcast-A Show About Law Jobs
Leg Up Legal Podcast

Student Organizations

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Additional Resources

Application Resources

Important Datasets

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Have Questions?

979-847-8938