How Our Senior Mentors Help Students Develop Their Hook in Law: Q&A with Ethan

Ethan: There is no one-size-fits-all path to law school, which in turn means that there is no singular path to standing out. A common misconception is that students need to focus exclusively on the humanities—such as English or history—to be competitive. However, the landscape has changed significantly—law schools today are looking for students with interdisciplinary interests who have braided together their niche interests to bring a unique perspective to the field. For example, a student passionate about law and STEM with a demonstrated background in research related to the ethics of biotech will stand out to pre-law programs and law schools more than a student who has taken rigorous English and History courses but lacks a clear focus.

Regardless of your interests, what truly makes an applicant stand out is their ability to translate their passion into real-world engagement. Students drawn to constitutional law could make a direct community impact by working with their local government on humanitarian initiatives, while those interested in criminal justice reform advocacy could start a book lending program for incarcerated individuals at a nearby corrections facility. Law schools want to admit students who have thought critically about legal and ethical questions within their areas of interest and taken action to explore these issues in depth.

Ethan: One of the most simple yet critical things that a student can do to begin establishing their specialized interests within the legal field is to pay attention to what is going on around them. Read the news—whether your local newspaper or The New York Times. If there is an important legal issue unfolding at a local or national level, do your research—what’s at stake in the conflict? What type of lawyers are working on the issue? Where did they study? What steps are they taking to address this particular issue—are they going to court? Filing paperwork? Advocating in the community? Not only will this develop your skills as a reader and researcher (which are critical for anyone intending to study law), but noticing what types of cases and legal actions most interest you should be your first indication of the kind of law you might want to pursue. The earlier you start actively engaging with legal issues—even in the small ways such as reading case briefings or legal write-ups from high-profile cases that may affect those around you—the sooner you can develop your hook, hone your interests, understand what law looks like in action, and begin practicing the principles you observe. The same principle applies in law school applications as well—if you are a college student anticipating attending law school in the future, hone your interests as soon as possible!

Ethan: There are classic extracurriculars that many pre-law students pursue: Mock Trial, Model United Nations (MUN), Speech and Debate, Youth in Government. All of these allow students to engage with complex topics related to the field in an engaging environment amidst their peers. At the same time, students should note that almost every applicant entering a pre-law track will have one or more of these extracurriculars listed on their Activities List, so these activities will not distinguish you from other applicants.

To explore their interests more deeply, students can seek out real-world experiences to apply their skills and have a direct community impact. Looking at statewide or local issues is critical for demonstrating engagement and identifying ways to apply your interest in law. If you’re a student from Georgia, how might recent statewide voter legislation impact you? Even if you’re not eligible to vote yet, what impact does this legislation have on young voters? Are there public service organizations you can get involved with to highlight this issue? Alternatively, Connecticut recently passed a law limiting the use of solitary confinement in carceral facilities. What organizations were most fervently involved in this decision? How have their goals changed since the law was passed? Are there related events for you to attend, connections to make with the directors, internships to apply for? As yet another example, New York state is currently* being sued by local educational advocacy groups for unequal treatment of students and educators across public high schools. How might you make a difference in this fight?

Once you have identified and researched important issues in your region, aim to identify your particular sub-interests and find opportunities to apply your theoretical knowledge. Consider, for instance, participating in Youth Courts, which would allow you to engage in real-life juvenile cases as an advocate or jury member. Running for an advisory position on a town council or school board would allow you to actively participate in making important decisions that affect your community. Likewise, shadowing a local attorney would provide you with exposure to specialized legal fields like intellectual property, environmental law, or criminal law.

Ethan: Rather than thinking about what subjects align best with a pre-law hook, students should consider what skills a given class will help them to foster that will prepare them for a career in law. In particular, they should focus on courses that develop critical thinking, analytical writing, and ethical reasoning. Advanced English and History courses can help students refine their ability to analyze complex texts and build strong arguments; philosophy and ethics electives allow students to explore moral reasoning, logic, and the foundations of justice; economics and political science classes help students develop an understanding of legal structures and policymaking. With this in mind, students should also note that they will get out of any class what they put into it—the more they can actively seek to build these skills with their legal ambitions in mind, the more they will benefit from taking an array of advanced courses offered by their schools.

Ethan: I generally advise students not to focus too heavily on “pre-law” programs in their college search. While these programs can introduce students to the discipline and may help them make important connections in the legal field, they can often be too general and may not encourage the kind of specialization that top law schools are looking for. If you do intend to pursue pre-law, pay particular attention to schools that offer early acceptance or matriculation into their law school programs, such as Georgetown’s Early Assurance Program, UPenn’s JD/BA program, or University of Tennessee’s 3+3 Program. Alternatively, students can look for programs in their area of specialization (whether History, Engineering, Communications, or Political Science) that offer a certificate or minor in law or a related field. There are a variety of ways that you can demonstrate your skillset to top law schools in the future, whether you are a pre-law major or not.

Additionally, take note of whether a university offers opportunities for undergraduates to take graduate-level courses—many top schools such as Yale and Columbia offer these opportunities. Some law professors teach law school-style classes specifically designed for undergraduates. Taking these classes can be a great way to both engage with complex legal topics early on and network with faculty in the field.

Finally, seek out programs that offer flexibility in choosing a major. Since law schools value specialization, it helps to attend a college that allows you to explore different subfields related to the law without being locked into a single discipline. Being able to pivot from one area to another can provide students with more options when applying to law school in the future.

Ethan: Since law is such a diverse field, it has many entry points for students. We work with students from beginning to end to discover their unique entry point, find the right program for their individual goals, craft a standout application, and get into their target school. I always start by encouraging students to think about how their passions can be translated into high-level conversations regarding ethical implications, regulations, and real-world applications, then apply them in hands-on contexts. This means selecting rigorous coursework, engaging in extracurriculars that develop legal reasoning skills, and developing passion projects that demonstrate a unique angle on the law. Wherever students are in the process, we meet them there and help them craft the most eye-catching and distinctive application possible.