<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I am inquiring as to what skills I should focus on pre-law school. Obviously logical reasoning, writing, and research skills, but what else would you recommend?</p>
<p>I am nearing the end of my sophomore year and am now beginning to study for the LSAT.</p>
<p>Also, would I take the LSAT in June the summer before my senior year? Is this mandatory, or am I able to take the test later in my senior year? </p>
<p>Thank you to all who take the time to answer.</p>
<p>From [LSAC</a> - JD: Statement on Prelaw Preparation](<a href=“http://www.lsac.org/jd/Think/prelaw-preparation.asp]LSAC”>http://www.lsac.org/jd/Think/prelaw-preparation.asp)</p>
<p>Some of the types of knowledge that would maximize your ability to benefit from a legal education include:</p>
<pre><code>A broad understanding of history, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of our society in the United States.
A fundamental understanding of political thought and of the contemporary American political system.
Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic precalculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data.
A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.
An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world.
</code></pre>
<p>You can take it later in your senior year, but the October test of you senior year is probably the latest you would want to push it unless you had no other choice. If you take it by the June prior to your senior year or October of your senior year you will be able to apply early which will be a big advantage since most of the Law Schools use rolling admissions. Also, if you don’t do as well as you believe you could have you will have time to retake the test and still apply in the same cycle.</p>
<p>Ok, the skill sets you will need for law school arent exactly what you referenced in your post </p>
<p>Writing. Yes writing is important, but what you will actually be doing is legal writing which is a stylistic form in and of itself. If you want to get a jump on the other students search for a book online to help introduce you to legal writing.</p>
<p>Research. Research for your college level class is completely different than legal research. Though your law school will have a law library, you will do almost 100% of your legal research online with either Westlaw or Lexis Nexis. I would suggest you take the free online tutorials that these programs offer to familiarize yourself with legal research and how it is conducted.</p>
<p>Reading. Similarly to the other two skills, legal reading is different vs. college level reading. Law school teaches law students via the case method, which means you will be assigned to read cases and then class discussions will be based on those cases. Understanding and effectively reading case law is a skill that can be obtained only through experience. You can try to read some of the law cases you find on the internet, but this will be a difficult skill to improve on your own.</p>
<p>For a list of all the pre law school skills that you may want to read about, review the below sites.</p>
<p>Hope this helps! </p>
<p>[Pre</a> law wisdom and how to become a lawyer in demand.](<a href=“become-a-lawyer.com”>become-a-lawyer.com)</p>
<p>[Become</a> a Lawyer, prepare yourself for law school and beyond.](<a href=“become-a-lawyer.com”>http://www.become-a-lawyer.com/)</p>