It’s time to get excited about Summer & Fall courses! Each semester we receive many questions from pre-law students regarding courses helpful in preparation for law school. Pre-Law Advising has made a helpful chart with suggested classes pre-law students might find useful and interesting when planning and exploring a legal education.
In general, students interested in going to law school should take classes that focus on analytical and critical thinking, communication, research and writing, and when possible – legal topics of interest. The recommended course list includes classes from many disciplines that might serve one or more of these goals. Look at the chart to find courses that interest you and will help build the necessary skills for law school.
Click HERE for the list of Summer 2025 courses!
Click HERE for the list of Fall 2025 courses!
Note: The Course Recommendation Charts are in Canvas. Self-enroll in the course by clicking here.
Please keep in mind that these lists should not be viewed as exhaustive as there are many beneficial courses offered each semester. These lists should be used to highlight courses of particular interest only. There are no required courses for law school and any courses should first foremost serve your individual interests and goals.
Want to learn more?
See what Pre-law Advisory Council Members say are some of their favorite pre-law-related courses at Illinois…
Sam Holmes
Sam is currently a Class of 2028 Representative of the PLAS Advisory Council. He shared the following perspectives on his favorite pre-law-related courses…
- PS 270 – Intro to Political Theory – This course has really helped me develop as a thinker, and not just within a political lens, but broadly in all aspects of my life. Professor Benjamin Miller is also a tremendous lecturer who has formed a very tight community for all students who take PS 270, despite the class size being rather large.
- HIST 293 – The President and the People – This course helped better my writing abilities through the interesting lense of American history. I leaned more about writing in this class than any other English class that I had taken beforehand, and all of that is spearheaded through Professor Marsha Barrett, who has a clear love for the content she teaches combined with a ton of in-depth knowledge.
Milica Stupar
Milica is currently a Class of 2026 Representative of the PLAS Advisory Council. Here is her perspective on her favorite pre-law-related courses…
- PS 301 – The U.S. Constitution – This course provides a strong foundation in constitutional interpretation and the balance of powers and helps develop critical and analytical thinking skills through the analysis of Supreme Court cases.
- FIN 241 – Fundamentals of Real Estate – This is a great course for understanding real estate from both a financial and legal perspective. It’s useful not only for those interested in real estate careers but also for students who wants to gain practical knowledge about markets, investments, and property law.
- LAW 301 – Introduction to Law – This course provides an introduction to legal reasoning, the structure of the legal system, and how law interacts with society.
Erika Efigenio
Erika is currently a Class of 2027 Representative of the PLAS Advisory Council. She shared the following perspective on her favorite pre-law-related courses…
- PS 270 – Intro to Political Theory – I really enjoyed this class last semester because of the philosophical aspect to learn more about one of the subfields of political science. This class also helped me think more broadly about “simple” topics at hand.
- EALC 230 – Pop Cultures of Contemporary East Asia – This elective course is a great way to learn about pop culture in different regions and analyzing the differences between the U.S and East Asia.
Isabel Escapa
Isabel is currently an At-Large Representative of the PLAS Advisory Council. These are her favorite pre-law-related courses…
- CMN 323 – Argumentation – This class taught me how to structure an argument effectively, as well as the different argument schemes and their purposes based on the author’s intentions or goals. Through analyzing various texts, I developed strong analytical skills and learned strategic rebuttal techniques to engage with opposing arguments. While this class offers great skills for anyone planning to attend law school, I think people studying for the LSAT would benefit the most from this course.
- PSYC 339 – Restorative Justice – This class covers the restorative justice movement. Even if you are unsure about the practicality or application of restorative justice methods, this class can still be very helpful. Through various readings and in class applications, I learned how to handle conflicts in sensitive situation, consider multiple perspectives, and develop effective communication skills.
- PSYC 465 – Personality and Social Development – This class discusses various areas of personality and social development and its outcomes in school environments, home environments, and even interactions with the criminal justice system providing insight into how early experiences, social influences, and personality traits shape behavior over time. This knowledge can be helpful in understanding the background of clients and provide a deeper awareness of the factors that may have influenced their circumstances.
Elizabeth Segel
Elizabeth is currently an At-Large Representative of the PLAS Advisory Council. These are her favorite pre-law-related courses…
- GGIS 221 – Geographies of Global Conflict – I recommend this course as it provides a broad scope of how politics is interconnected and connects us on a global scale.
- HIST 294 – The President and the People – I recommend this course as it highlights the intersection between law and politics and how different presidencies can affect law and policy within the U.S.
- HIST 394 – Hidden Political Figures – I recommend this course because of its emphasis on law and public policy, specifically from the lens of minorities and overlooked people of color who helped progress our society forward.
Still not sure what to take?
Schedule a pre-law advising meeting to discuss course options!