Spring 2026 Course Recommendations

It’s time to get excited about Spring courses! Each semester, we receive many questions from pre-law students regarding courses helpful in preparation for law school. Each semester Pre-Law Advising creates resources with suggested classes that 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. Additionally, pre-law students should consider courses in topics that will help foster knowledge in topics helpful to learning law, such as business, history, technology, and more! Finally, students should also focus on developing skill sets in areas that will support future success in law school and the legal profession, including personal development.

Recommended courses have been arranged into two resources:

  • General Pre-Law Course Recommendations (relevant for all majors and minors)
    • Major/Minor Specific Pre-Law Course Recommendations (most relevant for specific majors and minors)

The general recommended course lists include classes from many disciplines that might serve one or more of the goals articulated above. The major/minor specific course list includes additional courses for those in specific majors and minors and may not be as generally applicable to all. We encourage you to explore both charts, particularly through departments that offer courses in areas you would like to further explore!

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Unique Minors

With guest authors Savannah Misius ’26 and Mia Starke ’28

Many students don’t realize that every single major and minor is acceptable for law school! With no required “pre-law” major or minor, undergraduate students are often unclear about what curricula they should declare in pursuit of attending law school. At the University of Illinois, there is an abundance of unique majors and minors that are all suitable for future success in law school.

Generally, law schools appreciate and value majors and minors that uniquely reflect applicants’ interests and long-term goals and help enhance the diversity of knowledge, professional, and academic experiences that future students will bring to the law school community.

Pre-law students are encouraged to think about how minors can help expand their knowledge in different subjects, provide different types of learning environments and communities, help develop important academic skills, and feed unique individual interests. In this blog post, we will highlight several less common minors for pre-law students available on our campus and how they can aid in an undergrad’s educational and future law school plans.

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Alumni Attorney Talks | Judge Louis Aranda

Alumni Attorney Talks is a virtual series that aims to provide prospective law students with helpful insights about attending law school and pursuing a legal career. This series features interviews with University of Illinois alumni working in a variety of diverse settings within the legal profession.

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Pre-Law Preview Part II | Tips and Reflections from Upper-Level Pre-Law Students

PART II

We are excited to present additional tips and reflections from upper-level pre-law students about their time at Illinois and as pre-law students. In Part I, we shared reflections on the pre-law journey, deciding to attend law school, tips for acclimating to campus, and more!

In Part II of our Pre-Law Preview series, the ’25-’26 Advisory Council shares their favorite classes, why they chose their major(s) and/or minor(s), and how they have maintained their wellness as students, and more.

Check out what they had to say below!

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Pre-Law Preview Part I | Tips and Reflections from Upper-Level Pre-Law Students

PART I

As we reach the mid-point of the summer, we know that many of our incoming and new Illini students will begin thinking about the upcoming academic year. Whether you are a returning student new to pre-law or a new student looking to begin your first semester on campus; we know that this is often both an incredibly exciting, but also overwhelming time. To help prepare for this exciting new chapter, we asked our 2025-2026 Advisory Council members to share some of their perspectives and advice about their time at Illinois.

From favorite spots on campus to tips on favorite classes, to their best advice for those wishing to step into the pre-law path at Illinois, we hope these insights will help you as you plan for the upcoming year at Illinois! Check out the answers below to gain first-hand perspectives from upper-level pre-law students and be sure to stay tuned for Part II of our Pre-Law Preview series later this summer for insights on our full list of topics!

We can’t wait to connect with you this Fall!

Continue reading Pre-Law Preview Part I | Tips and Reflections from Upper-Level Pre-Law Students