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Pre-Law Handbook Carnegie Mellon University

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1 ACADEMIC YEAR 2018-2019 PRE-LAW HANDBOOK CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY DR. JOSEPH DEVINE, PRE-LAW ADVISOR CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY 2 Pre-Law Handbook: Introduction This handbook is designed to take a “deeper dive” than our main pre-law web site into matters pertaining to pre-law interests and needs of current students and alumni/ae. It discusses in much greater detail the relevant information and issues about exploration of law school as a professional school option, preparation for law school, the law school application process, financing law school, and several resources for additional reference. This handbook is navigable by detailed bookmarks so that you can go straight to those sections that respond most directly to your questions and needs. And, of course, you should use this in combination with CMU’s pre-law advisor, Dr. Joseph Devine ([email protected]). Both he and this handbook represent complimentary resources for you as you consider, and perhaps decide to apply to, law school. Pre-Law Advising Program: An Overview The Pre-Law Advising Program is an advising resource for Carnegie Mellon students and alumni/ae who are contemplating law school and a career in law or law-related fields. The program has three general foci, each of which corresponds roughly to the sequence of phases for those who develop an interest in, and ultimately apply to, law school: 1. Exploration. (“I have a tentative interest in law, but have not definitely decided to apply to law school.”) Questions common in this phase: a. What do lawyers do? b. What role(s) does law play in our society, economy and world? c. How many subfields, or specialties, are there in law? What are career prospects like in each? d. Which are in highest demand, and are there certain backgrounds that work best as preparation for them? e. What skill sets are necessary for success in law? f. For those who like their career in law, what do they find most satisfying and rewarding? g. What are the down sides? 3 h. Is it something that I would enjoy, and at which I would be successful? i. What is law school like? How is it different from college? j. What is the range of law school options? k. What does law school cost, and how would I pay for it? 2. Preparation. (“I have definitely decided to apply to law school, but I don’t know when I will apply.”; or “I am not yet at the point when I will be applying [e.g., I’m not yet a senior at CMU]).” a. What could, or should, I be doing now, and in the time leading up to applying to law school? b. What options and opportunities – in and out of school – are available to me to prepare for law school? 3. Application. (“I have definitely decided to apply to law school, and now is the time when I intend to apply.”) a. What does the application process entail? b. What do I do, and when? c. Where should I apply? d. What are the components of a law school application, and how can I put together the best possible application? e. How best to decide where to enroll in law school? f. What are my prospects for scholarships or other forms of financial aid? How do I finance the rest of law school costs? The remainder of this handbook is organized around these three foci (exploration, preparation, and application). In the section that follows detailed discussions of these foci, a recommended time line for exploration, preparation and application is presented. Finally, an “additional resources” section is offered that is also organized around this three-part model (again, exploration, preparation and application). Pre-Law Advisor Dr. Joseph Devine is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. He is also the university’s Pre- Law Advisor. A message from Dr. Devine, University Pre-Law Advisor, to current pre-law students and alumni/ae: 4 If you are interested in exploring and preparing for law school and a career in law, let’s begin that conversation now so that you can have a framework, or structure, within which you can gather your thoughts and questions, and organize yourself for further research and tasks to ultimately make a decision that’s right for you regarding law school. In one recent academic year, 26% of Carnegie Mellon law school Click here to register with the Pre-Law Advising Program. You will be applicants were placed on the program’s distribution list, which is the easiest way to undergraduate seniors when applying; 74% were stay informed about events, opportunities, and activities of the alumni/ae. Of these Carnegie Mellon Pre-Law Program. No matter where you are in time – alumni/ae applicants, 46% st had been out of college for a 1 -semester freshman or a graduate of the university, a few (or even three years or less; 54% had several) years into a career – if law is an interest for you, it’s never too been out of college for early or too late to explore this option. more than three years. This is relatively consistent with data about CMU law school Note to Pre-Law Alumni/ae: You will soon notice that the wording of applicants from recent this web site and handbook implies a primary tilt toward current years, and consistent with national trends. undergraduate students. This seemed unavoidable, in that their circumstances (age, calendars, student status, etc.) are more similar than not, while yours are so varied. I am hopeful, however, that you can adapt the student-focused language to your circumstances, and thereby find this web site and handbook useful to you as you consider and/or pursue law school. To students and alumni/ae: Any and all comments and suggestions about this web site and handbook are welcome and appreciated! Dr. Devine ([email protected]) Schedule a meeting with the pre-law advisor To schedule a meeting with Dr. Devine (to be either in-person or by phone), please call (412) 268-2831 or stop by the Dietrich College Dean’s Office in Baker Hall 154. You can also send e- mail to Dr. Devine at [email protected]. Thomas M. Kerr, Jr. Pre-Law Society The Thomas M. Kerr, Jr. Pre-Law Society is a recognized CMU student organization for current students and alumni who are interested in law school and the legal profession, or just more generally interested in law-related issues, events and activities. It is named for the late Thomas M. Kerr, Jr., a celebrated Pittsburgh attorney and CMU faculty member who also served as 5 university pre-law advisor from the 1960s until the mid-1990s. [Read more about Thomas M. Kerr, Jr.] 6 Exploration “What does it mean to be ‘pre-law’?” Being “pre-law” can mean a variety of things depending on where you are in your degree of interest in law and law school, and proximity to that point in time if and when you decide to apply to law school. It does not necessarily mean that you have made a firm commitment to go on to law school at some point after college. Some pre-law students will, and some will not. To the extent that these decisions have been informed to some degree by the information, advice, resources, activities and other facets of the Carnegie Mellon Pre-Law Program (including this handbook), the program will have successfully fulfilled its primary mission. There are several options and opportunities to learn more about law school and the legal profession, and to learn more about yourself and whether law school and a career in law would be a good fit. Many of these options and opportunities stem from, or are promoted by, the Carnegie Mellon Pre-Law Program. To be a “pre-law student” at Carnegie Mellon is perhaps best described as engaging in a process of exploration, investigation, preparation, and reflection about law school and the legal profession, simultaneous with the other facets of one’s undergraduate experience. Some elements of this process include the following: • Challenge yourself academically, both in your primary area(s) of study and in other areas outside of your “comfort zone.” At a place like Carnegie Mellon, that is so well-known for its multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary Are you a humanities major, approaches to research and teaching, you may well discover looking ahead to law school, but somewhat wary of non- several ways in which other fields have a bearing on your primary humanities fields like statistics? foci, including relevance (direct or indirect) for the law. In the As it happens, several faculty process, you will also develop a strong interdisciplinary profile members of Carnegie Mellon’s Statistics department have that can be showcased in a law school application by both you research and teaching interests and those recommending you. in law and justice. This area includes not only issues arising in court cases, but also issues of • As you maintain focus on your studies, step back and reflect on human rights, criminal justice, forensic science, etc. See: the the skill sets that you are acquiring and refining. Career Law and Justice page on the consultants in the university’s Career and Professional Statistics and Data Science Development Center are particularly good at facilitating this kind Department’s web suite. 7 of reflective exercise, and how these well-articulated skill sets can be concisely captured in an updated resume or personal statement.
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