Author: mpickens@illinois.edu

Welcome Pre-Law Illini!

Whether you are a returning student or are new to our campus, on behalf of the entire Pre-Law Advising Team – welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!

Being pre-law at Illinois means being part of a talented, driven, and supportive community. Our pre-law Illini past and present represent some of our most accomplished Illinois students from all different communities, backgrounds, and majors. While pre-law Illini share a common interest and goal in law school, the path to legal education will be different for each student and alumni and will be enhanced by pursuits in a vast array of curricular, extra-curricular, and professional experiences.

Being a successful future law applicant, law student, and attorney begins with being a successful undergraduate student. We hope that you will explore all that Illinois has to offer and encourage you to invest in your academic and professional experiences while pursuing your individual passions and interests. If done well, your time at Illinois will allow you to not only earn your degree and prepare you for your professional goals, but will also afford you the opportunity to invest in your own personal growth and development. Whatever unique steps lay ahead for your journey, we look forward to supporting you.

Continue reading Welcome Pre-Law Illini!

Reflections from Law School – Advice for Future Law Students

In a few short weeks our most recent Illini applicants will begin their law school journey. We wish all Illini beginning their legal studies this fall good luck! We know that you will succeed and make immeasurable contributions to your new academic communities.

To help in preparing during these final days before the semester, we asked past Illini currently attending law school to share their reflections on their first year of law school and advice for new Illini joining law school across the country this fall. These reflections share helpful insights for all Illini planning for their future legal education. Thanks to all our alumni for taking the time to share their thoughts!

Continue reading Reflections from Law School – Advice for Future Law Students

What is the American Bar Association?

In April, the American Bar Association (ABA) President, Mary Smith, will visit campus. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to connect with a national leader in the legal profession. In honor of Ms. Smith’s visit let’s take some time to learn more about the American Bar Association and why it is important to the U.S. legal system and the legal profession!

To learn more about unique opportunities for pre-law students to engage with Ms. Smith during her visit, click here!

Continue reading What is the American Bar Association?

Pre-Application Series: July Tips

Welcome to our pre-application tip series.  July marks an important point in pre-application preparations.  By July, many applicants have either recently sat for the 1st LSAT or will be doing so in the upcoming weeks while also taking other active steps to prepare for the upcoming application cycle.  To assist in your efforts, below are a few tips and recommendations for this phase of the pre-application series.

Continue reading Pre-Application Series: July Tips

Taking Your Time – Gap Years

Unfortunately, the time between graduation and law school is often referred to as “gap years”. This term often invites an impression that this time lacks substance, is unintentional or is void of value. Perhaps, as a result, many students have an inaccurate impression that taking time prior to law school is inherently negative or a disadvantage to their ultimate goal of attending law school. The reality is that taking time to pursue opportunities prior to law school can contribute significantly to an applicant’s success, and can ultimately offer an individual tremendous benefits personally, academically, and professionally.

Whether you ultimately decide to pursue an opportunity prior to law or go “straight through”, every future applicant should consider how a timeline that includes a “gap year(s)” might enhance their application and contribute to their ultimate success as a law student!

Below is a collection of resources to assist in your decision-making!

View this brief virtual workshop discussing Gap Years!

Learn more about the many benefits of taking a gap year and possible opportunities to pursue!

Watch! Gap Year Perspectives Panel

PLAS welcomed a panel of UIUC pre-law alumni to share perspectives and insights about their experiences taking time to pursue opportunities prior to law school. The Gap Year Perspectives Panel was hosted on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 5:30 pm via Zoom. To register for this event, please click here. Learn more about our accomplished groups of panelists below!

watch the gap year perspectives panel
Meet the Panelists

Chandler Cathey ’16

“By taking these gap years and finding what makes me happy in life, I was able to figure out how to intertwine that with my passion for the law, (hopefully) setting me up to have a career after law school that I can be proud and happy with.”

Haydn Lambert ’19

“I wanted to get a better sense of what the world was like outside of school so that my time in law school would be more informed by experience.”

Skylar Rolle ’20

“I wanted to make sure that law school was the right choice for me. In addition, I wanted to take the chance to work in politics so that I could go into law school with some real-world experiences.”

Matthew Krauter ’22

“I wanted to have the opportunity to make a real impact with my undergraduate education and be able to navigate law school admissions better and position myself for success.”