Undergraduate Pre-Law Timeline
Interested in going to law school? Whitman’s pre-law advisors will help you stay on track every step of the way. Here’s what you should know about when to meet with your advisor, declare a major, seek out internships, take the LSAT and more.
Years 1 & 2
You should devote your first two years at Whitman College to exploring different fields of study, working on completing your General Studies requirements, and developing strong and sustainable study habits. Consider meeting with a pre-law advisor and subscribing to the law advising listserv by the end of your second year.
Starting the summer after your first year, we recommend you take full advantage of summer breaks to explore your interests, both in the law and more broadly. Check out pre-law summer programs and internship and mentorship opportunities for more ideas.
Year 3
Pursue an academic major that you are genuinely interested in studying. There is no “right” major for law school. Any major at Whitman will enable you to succeed in law school. You should schedule a meeting with a pre-law advisor during your third year.
If you wish to enroll in law school in the fall after graduation, we recommend that you take the LSAT in April–June of Year 3 or August–September of Year 4. This will enable you to submit your law school applications in late fall of Year 4. Please note: Many law students take time between their undergraduate education and enrolling in law school.
Year 4
If you are applying to law school and planning to enroll in the fall after graduating from Whitman, then you should do the following in Year 4:
- Meet with a pre-law advisor in early September
- Reach out to potential letter of recommendation references in early September
- Aim to have an LSAT score no later than October
- Plan to submit your applications by Thanksgiving
If you are planning to take time off before applying to law school, you should still reach out to potential letter of recommendation references before graduation.