Pre-Law Minor

Pre-law can be a vital building block for students who wish to pursue a career in law. While getting into law school is certainly an achievement, it is just a start in the process of becoming a lawyer. Many students are unprepared for the sort of intensified reading, writing, and in-class argumentation necessary to succeed in law school. Indeed, depending on the institution, anywhere from ten to thirty percent of all new law students drop out of school by the end of their first year. A rigorous pre-law minor with a focus on abstract thought and methods helps facilitate NDSU students’ success in law school and beyond.

A law career itself lends itself to a generation of students who will change careers several times in their lives.  Within the law itself, there are several different career paths available to students, including a private practice lawyer, corporate attorney, legal aid attorney, and in-house attorney for non-profit groups. Law is a stable and well-paying career option in the Upper Midwest region.

NDSU graduates who pursue a law education typically attend law school through the University of North Dakota, the University of Minnesota, or Hamline University. However, NDSU graduates have also been admitted to such prominent institutions as the University of Michigan Law School, the University of Notre Dame Law School, and DePaul University College of Law.

Students who are interested in a future law career are urged to join the Pre-Law Club. The Pre-Law Club is a student organization that provides information about law schools, entrance examinations, and career opportunities. The Pre-Law Club maintains a collection of law school catalogs and materials to help students prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). It also organizes LSAT preparation and practice events, meetings with prominent attorneys and jurists, and field trips to visit law schools and courts in the region. Membership is open to any major.

If you have any questions, please contact the NDSU Department of Political Science & Pubic Policy at ndsu.poli.sci@ndsu.edu.