[ILR] Pre-Law FAQs: Exploring Your Interest

What coursework should I take?

  • There is no pre-law curriculum; focus on taking classes that interest you.
  • Through your ILR and Cornell coursework you will gain analytical, critical-thinking, problem-solving, writing, communication, and other skills pertinent to law school.
  • For more insight, refer to the How do I “test” my interest in law school? page in the Pre-Law module in the Career Development Toolkit.
  • There is one exception: patent law, meaning anything that has to do with bringing patent applications before the USPTO and handling any associated litigation/licensing.
    • You must be eligible to take the Patent Bar Exam, which has some very strict requirements (detailed here; good overview here). To summarize, STEM coursework is required, and a STEM degree is the easiest path, BUT non-STEM majors can qualify with an appropriate distribution of coursework.
    • Students can take the Patent Bar without going to law school and become patent agents. Patent attorneys have both passed the Patent Bar and gone through law school. Check out this overview of the similarities and differences.

Should I have a minor? Which one(s)?

  • Do not help you in the application process; they will see all the classes you take anyway.
  • Take classes because you are interested in them. If the ones you take out of interest fulfill a minor, by all means, register for it.

What should my extracurriculars be?

  • There are no specific campus activities law schools seek; they are building a diverse class and that includes the types of student organizations in which students were active.
  • Consider how you want to spend your time out of class, and get involved in what interests you.
  • Depth of involvement matters; having an active role (you don’t need a title to be a leader or contribute) in 1-3 organizations vs attending meetings for 10 allows you to demonstrate transferrable skills.
    • You can still be a member of other organizations.

How do I find legal jobs/internships? Do I need one?

What should I be doing now?

  • Be a student, explore, have fun.
  • Investigate what it means to be a lawyer: Network with alumni and faculty who are attorneys and with undergrads who have interned in legal positions. Not sure how? Check out the Networking module in the Career Development Toolkit.
  • Be intentional with your actions. Sometimes what seems fun now can be a problem later. Character and fitness are critical aspects of the law school application process.
    • Burning a candle in your residence hall, or drinking while underage can seem harmless at the time. Later, you may need to address such actions in your application.
    • Some law schools are concerned about the use of ChatGPT/AI by students and violations related to use

When should I go to law school?

  • The average age of those in law school is 25-26; law schools really value work experience.
  • Most people, including ILRies, opt to work, travel, or do something else for 1-3 years after graduation.
  • Going straight to law school is a great option for some ILRies.
  • And, yes, some start in their senior year as participants in the Cornell Law School 3+3 Accelerated Scholar Program. NOTE: This program’s structure has changed and will be more selective going forward.

What are some resources for researching and exploring legal careers?

Podcasts & Blogs

What are some law diversity programs? (Sample list; check Accesslex Diversity Pathway directory)