Pre-Law Advising: Guidance and Support to Help You Prepare for Law School

Pre-Law Advising at the University of New Haven provides personalized guidance and support to students interested in pursuing a legal career. Whether you're beginning to explore options or have already decided to apply to law school, we offer the necessary information, resources, mentorship, and support to help students successfully navigate the law school application process. Like most colleges and universities, the University of New Haven does not have a “pre-law” major. Instead, we encourage students to major in subjects that interest them, in which they can excel, and that provide the academic rigor needed to develop strong critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills essential for successful law school admission and future study. It is important to note from the outset that a student’s GPA carries significant weight in the admissions process, so regardless of your major or area of study, it should be a priority to aim for a 3.5 or higher GPA, even if it is not a set minimum requirement for law school admission.

Components

  • Access to faculty pre-advisors available for one-on-one meetings to discuss what the law school experience entails and what the application process involves.
  • Individual guidance on every step of the application process, including preparing for the LSAT, writing a personal statement, seeking letters of recommendation, gathering application materials, navigating the LSAC website, and choosing which law schools to apply to.
  • Guidance on seeking internships or other experiential learning opportunities in the legal field.
  • Access to alumni or other professionals in the legal field who can become mentors or networking contacts.
  • Centralized information about any on-campus clubs, guest speakers, or other law-related activities.
  • Access to the Pre-Law Canvas page for current and ongoing updates, resources, and communications about the law school application process and relevant topics of interest.

Faculty Advisors

Two faculty advisors are available to offer individualized guidance and support to students planning to apply to law school. Students can contact Professor Beth Merkin at BMerkin@newhaven.edu, or Professor Victor Rodriguez at VRodriguez@newhaven.edu to schedule a pre-law meeting.

Beth Merkin, J.D.

Beth Merkin, J.D.

Assistant Professor of Practice

Professor Beth Merkin, J.D., began teaching at the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice after spending thirty-four years as a Public Defender, mostly in the New Haven Judicial District. She has extensive criminal trial experience and has trained and mentored many law students and new attorneys throughout her career. She currently teaches Criminal Procedure I, Criminal Procedure II, Wrongful Convictions and Innocence, and the internship courses (CJST-3399 and 4501), and she advises students who are interested in applying to law school.

Victor Rodriguez, J.D.

Victor Rodriguez, J.D.

Associate Professor of Practice

Professor Victor Rodriguez, J.D., has been the Director of the Legal Studies program since August 2018, after 30 years of business law experience as a partner at private law firms and corporate counsel for multinational corporations. Rodriguez has mentored many attorneys, paralegals, and law students throughout his career and currently provides pre-law advice to college students. Rodriguez teaches Intro to Legal Concepts, Global Legal Systems, Law and Policy, Justice in America, and Legal Ethics within the Legal Studies Program in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Application Timeline
    • Maintain a strong GPA and take courses that will help you develop skills in writing, critical analysis, thinking, reasoning, and public speaking.
    • Register as a student on the University of New Haven Pre-Law Canvas page.
    • Start building relationships with professors whose classes you enjoyed. Remember that you'll need letters of recommendation for your law school application, and faculty who know you and your academic abilities will be better positioned to write those letters.
    • Join any club or extra-curricular activities that would help strengthen your advocacy skills and could provide networking opportunities (e.g., Model UN, Mock Trial Team, Legal Society)
    • Set up an appointment with one of the pre-law advisors to begin learning about the application process.
    • Continue to maintain a strong GPA and remain in contact with the pre-law advisors.
    • Register with the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) and learn how to navigate the website after setting up your account. Start planning your LSAT preparation and choose your test date. The best time to take the LSAT is during the summer before your senior year, or at the latest, the fall of your senior year. Register for the LSAT once you've selected your test date.
    • Explore different LSAT preparation courses and select one that suits your schedule and budget. Study for two or three months before the test and dedicate at least 10-15 hours per week to focused preparation.
    • Start thinking about which law schools you are interested in and what criteria you may use when deciding where to apply. Study law school websites and attend in-person or virtual open houses whenever possible.
    • Begin identifying two faculty members or other references who will write letters of recommendation for you. Select references who know your academic record, interests, and potential for success in law school, and who can speak enthusiastically about you. Make sure to give these references several months’ notice before asking them to submit their letters to LSAC.
    • Take or retake the LSAT if necessary.
    • Send your transcripts to CAS.
    • Write your personal statement and other application essays carefully, paying close attention to each law school's specific requirements. Many online resources are available to help you craft a strong personal statement, so be sure to utilize them. Additionally, meet with a pre-law advisor or faculty member to get feedback on your personal statement.
    • Attend regional law school fairs to meet law school admissions officers and learn about various schools. Remember, building relationships with admissions officers can significantly boost your chances of getting into your top-choice schools.
    • Complete and submit your law school applications by the end of November, if possible. Most law schools operate on a rolling admissions cycle, so applying early increases your chances of acceptance and scholarship opportunities.

Creating An LSAC Account

LSAC (the Law School Թ Council) is the centralized digital platform that allows you to register for the LSAT, complete and upload your law school application materials (onto the Credential Assembly Service, or “CAS”), and access resources with important information about the application process. It's essential to navigate this website carefully, as it provides key dates, application requirements, and other materials that guide students through the process. You will need to create an account once you've decided to take the LSAT, and the link to their website is: . Note that there are fees for registering on LSAC, taking the LSAT, and applying to schools, and you may be eligible for a fee waiver; you can apply here: .

About The LSAT

Your LSAT score is a crucial part of your law school application, because law schools weigh that very heavily when making admissions and academic scholarship decisions. The LSAT is offered multiple times each year. Preparing for the LSAT can be overwhelming, so it’s important to start planning early and stay disciplined with your study plan.

The LSAT consists of two parts and is taken in a digital format, normally at a designated test center. The first part of the LSAT is a multiple-choice exam that tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension. The second part of the LSAT is a prompted argumentative writing essay, administered online via secure proctoring software installed on the candidate’s own computer.

The LSAT scoring scale is 120 to 180. The average score is 151.

Most law schools use each applicant’s highest LSAT score, not an average. Therefore, it is not unusual for students to take the LSAT more than once. Ideally, however, you should study hardest for your first LSAT exam. Taking the LSAT multiple times can be stressful and expensive.

If you intend to attend law school in the fall after graduation, it’s highly recommended to take the LSAT in June, August, September, or October (at the latest) after your junior year. Most law schools have rolling admissions, so applying earlier increases your chances of acceptance.

LSAT & Թ Timeline

Many resources are available to help, some free, but most with different pricing options. Here is a list of some choices with both self-paced and live (remote) classes:

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Online Resources