Recently decided that I would like to pursue a career in law instead of a career in medicine. However, I don’t know if it’s to late. Some background info on me, i’m currently a junior majoring in medicinal biochemistry at Arizona State University. My cumulative gpa is a 3.84 and my science gpa is a 3.8. I am currently finishing my first semester as a junior. I’ve recently had a change of heart and want to go to law school. Is it to late to take the steps to get in? Is it possible to get into law school as a science major? What additional classes would I have to take? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance
It is absolutely not too late. Law schools care about gpa and LSAT scores. Problem solving and critical thinking and analysis, as well as good written and communication skills are important attributes for a lawyer. It does not matter what you major in. In fact, applying with your science background will be a benefit because law schools like to have a well-rounded and diverse class. They don’t want everybody majoring in political science and pre-law! Lol so you actually will have an edge over other applicants by virtue of your science major. There are many fields in law where you will be able to utilize your science background—health & pharmaceutical law, patent law, medical malpractice and insurance defense. Of course there are so many other areas of law that you can fall into. You will figure out your interests in law school. Good luck!
@ChemNerd365: Law schools don’t care about your major. Your GPA is solid. With a good LSAT score, you can absolutely get into law. A better question is whether this change is one you’ve made while fully informed. Have you spent time in a law office? Have you researched the various jobs a lawyer does?
@Demosthenes49 Although I haven’t spent time in a law office, my sister is a bankruptcy lawyer and I have general knowledge of what a lawyer does day to day. Any recommendations on how I can make sure this is something I want to do? Considering I am currently a junior, when would I have to take the LSAT to guarantee that I would be able to apply to law schools and get a response towards my application before I finish my undergraduate requirements?
@ChemNerd365: First, you should get some work experience before going to law school. To that end, there’s no reason to try to do the LSAT before you graduate. Legal employers (and some law schools) skew towards work experience. Plus, a year or two in the job market helps you understand what working is really like.
Second, you have two years to intern/extern in a law office. Use them. Your sister may have connections in other practices (do you want to litigate? work on big deals? do family work? handle immigration? prosecute crimes?) and you should take advantage. You should also look into your university which probably also has connections (pre-law advisers can be helpful here). DA/PD/Legal aid also often have programs by which aspiring college students can get some hands-on experience.