(click here for The Pre-Law Handbook)
General Information:
The Pre-Law Program at Westminster College aims to provide students interested in a legal career with information and advising to help them make the best choices possible.  Under the direction of the Law Professions Advisory Committee (LAWPAC), the Pre-Law Advisor works to provide each student with a variety of opportunities to explore the different careers possible in the law, to prepare for and succeed in the law school application process, to gain access to the greatest possible amount of information on law schools, and to make the best choice of school and career in light of his/her interests and abilities.

Over the years, Westminster students have had a great deal of success in gaining acceptance in law school.  Traditionally, many Westminster graduates have chosen the University of Pittsburgh,  Duquesne, Dickinson, and Case Western Reserve Law Schools.  In addition, in recent years Westminster graduates have been admitted to and/or attended a wide variety of other nationally-ranked and prestigious law schools, such as Georgetown University, Washington and Lee University, Boston University , George Washington University, William and Mary, The Ohio State University, Southern Methodist University, and Villanova University, among others.  By providing students with a firm, well-rounded liberal arts education, Westminster College provides the foundations necessary for success in law school and the legal profession.

Preparation for Law School and the Legal Profession:

In order to provide a handy resource to guide students interested in pre-law preparation, law school, and the legal profession, I have developed a Handbook for Pre-Law Students [highlight – will provide text for link] that will help answer your basic questions and provide guidance for further research.  Feel free to click on the link above to read and/or download the Handbook, or contact Dr. Cohen directly to get a printed copy.  In addition to general information about all of these areas, the Handbook provides a detailed description of the Westminster-Duquesne 3-3 Program, which allows interested students to attend law school after completing three years of undergraduate work.

 For students interested in doing web research on law school and the legal profession, I recommend the following sites as essential resources and places to start:

• The American Bar Association web page.  While you are here, make sure to read the Recommendations of the Pre-Law Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar; these provide essential guidelines to making the most of your undergraduate curriculum.
• The Law School Admissions Council  (LSAC) web page.  The LSAC organizes the process of application to law schools, including the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and its web site provides a good deal of helpful information in this area.
• FindLaw.com. This is a comprehensive site with all sorts of useful information and links concerning law schools, the legal profession, and current developments within the law itself.
• The Association of American Law Schools.  The umbrella organization for all law schools in the United States, this web site provides links to the law schools and other useful information about legal education.