Preparing for Law School

Preparing for Law School
Preparing for Law School
Preparing for Law School
The world needs a new kind of lawyer. People from communities without equal access to legal representation who are highly-effective, creative, and want to make a difference. We want to help them navigate their legal education.
Module 1
Why Law School?
There are lots of ways to lead, advocate, and make change, but only a few ways to bring all those things together. Becoming an attorney is one of them.
In this module, you’ll learn what a U.S. legal education looks like, what you can expect in the first year of law school, what foundational skills and knowledge you’ll develop as a student (and why they matter), how you get hands-on training in law school, and how you can make your legal training interdisciplinary.
Start Module 1
Module 1 Overview
Welcome and Overview
Watch
Why Law & Why Law School
Watch
What is your “Why” for coming to law school? How will you stay connected to it through your first year?
Reflect
What is Lawyering (Beyond Arguing)?
Watch
Complete the Self-Study Worksheet on Lawyering Skills
Task
What Will You Study? (An Overview of the 3 Years)
Watch
Required Coursework
Watch
Get Familiar with Law School Terminology
Resource
A Tour of the First Year Curriculum
Watch
Foundational Skills: Reading a Case
Watch
Read a Case: Watts v. Watts
Task
Foundational Skills: Overview of Sources of American Law and the American Court System
Watch
Discussion on Democracy at Risk: Presidential Power and Democracy
Watch
What to Expect in Years Two and Three
Watch
What Courses Should You Take in Law School? (UVA)
Read
Core in Context: Criminal Law with Professor Andrea Roth
Watch
Core in Context: Business Law with Professor Abbye Atkinson
Watch
Core in Context: Civil Procedure with Joy Milligan
Watch
The Challenges of Governing AI: Dean Erwin Chemerinsky
Listen
Trump Administration & The Environment: Professor Eric Biber, Professor Holly Doremus, Professor Dan Farber, and Professor Sharon Jacobs
Watch
Teaching Constitutional Law in a Changed Landscape
Listen
Enhancing Your Law School Experience
Watch
What helped you be academically successful in the past? How will you build and sustain those supports in law school?
Reflect
Former Berkeley Law Student Insia Zaidi ’24 on Wellness, Happiness, and Stress Management
Watch
Read the Profiles of Law Students Engaged in Pro Bono (Volunteer) Work While in Law School
Task
Life Outside the Classroom – 2025 James Patterson McBaine Honors Moot Court Competition
Watch
Keynote: 2024 Racial Justice Act Symposium at Berkeley Law
Watch
Free Speech on Campus: Dean and Professor Erwin Chemerinksky
Listen
A Law Student’s Guide to Being a Happy, Healthy and Honorable Lawyer
Read
Module 2
Why You? (Yes, You!)
Maybe you’re the first person in your family to go to college, let alone the first to consider law school, but the world needs lawyers like you!
In this module, you’ll learn about others like you who are on the path to becoming lawyers, develop an understanding of the law school application process, uncover how to decide where to apply and what it means to apply strategically, zero in on key components of the application that will tell your story and help law schools say yes, and explore ways to make law school affordable.
Start Module 2
Module 2 Overview
Being the First (Erwin Chemerinsky)
Watch
First Impressions of the Incoming Class of 2024: Largest Class Since 2021, Top-Line Diversity Is Level, More Research Needed and the Work Continues (LSAC)
Read
Read About Real People’s Journeys to Law School
Task
Michelle Obama’s Message to First Gen Students for Go College! Now
Watch
When it Comes to the Application Process: What are you most excited about? What are you most nervous about?
Reflect
Register with LSAC’s LawHub (Free)
Task
Review “Who are the Players, and How Do I Start?”
Task
How to Be An Applicant (Navigating Law School Admissions with Miriam and Kristi)
Listen
Download and Review LSAC’s Application Checklist
Task
What is Rolling Admissions? Why Does it Matter?
Watch
“To BED or Not to BED?” Download and Review the Pros and Cons of Binding Early Decision Programs Handout
Task
The Cost of Applying to Law School
Watch
Review the Handout: “LSAT, GRE, and Other Tests”
Task
Take a Practice LSAT (Free within LawHub – Registration Required)
Task
Which Law School Admission Test is Right for You, and Why?
Sign Up With the Khan Academy’s FREE LSAT Prep Program
Task
Explore the LSAC “Official Guide” to Law Schools
Task
What are your personal priorities? What are your deal-breakers?
Reflect
Download and Explore the School Selection Tool
Task
Review Alternative Tools for School Selection: The LSAC/Law School Transparency Personal List of Schools
Task
Review Alternative Tools for School Selection: The AccessLex XploreJD Law School Search Tool
Task
Compare Eight Schools Using Analytix by AccessLex
Task
The Personal Statement
Watch
The Personal Statement (2)
Watch
Download and Review the Sample Personal Statement Prompts
Task
Getting Personal With Personal Statements (Podcast: Navigating Law School Admissions with Miriam and Kristi)
Listen
Begin Statement Drafting – Download and Complete Personal Statement Brainstorming Tool
Task
Admissions Deans Reflect on the Resume and Letters of Recommendation
Watch
Download and Review “Tips for Creating an Effective Law School Resume”
Task
Do’s and Don’ts for the Law School Resume
Watch
Download and Review “LOR Request Letter Template and “Ask Packet” Instructions”
Task
Who would be your strongest letter writers? What do you hope each will say, and why do you think they are the right people to say it?
Reflect
GPAs, Test Scores, and Related Addenda
Watch
How Comfortable Are You with Taking on Student Loans to Earn a JD? What are your worries about borrowing?
Reflect
Financing a Legal Education: Berkeley Law Example
Watch
Explore the AccessLex Student Loan Calculator
Task
What is LRAP and How Can it Help Me Repay my Loans?
Watch
Download and Explore the Net Cost Calculator
Task
Schedule a Meeting with an AccessLex Financial Advisor
Task
Explore Outside Scholarship Opportunities
Task
Review the Requirements to Apply to J.D. Programs
Task
Module 3
Why Now?
The world is changing fast. Today’s big issues challenge us to come up with even bigger solutions.
In this module, you’ll learn how lawyers use their degrees to effect change in areas like criminal justice, environmental protection, immigration, racial justice, healthcare policy, and scientific advancement. You’ll hear about the journeys of attorneys who came from underrepresented backgrounds and are now judges, policy makers, elected officials, community organizers, and educators.
Start Module 3
Module 3 Overview
What is the Bar Exam?
Watch
Read the California Bar Association’s Report Card on the Diversity of California’s Legal Profession
Read
Read Tips and Samples for a Legal Cover Letter (Georgetown Law)
Read
Explore and Review A Guide to Government Background Checks (Yale Law)
Task
Types of Lawyers
Watch
Choosing the Right Employer for You
Task
Trump Administration & Work Law: Professor Fisk, Professor Reddy, and Professor Aneja
Watch
Learn More: Explore the “I am the Law” Podcast
Listen
The History Makers: The Honorable Thelton E. Henderson
Watch
Equal Justice Society
Watch
Justice Sonia Sotomayor: More Just Podcast
Listen
Defending Human Rights: Dean and Professor Erwin Chemerinsky
Listen
Law and Sociology: Professor Jonathan Simon
Watch
Music and Copyright:
The Happy Birthday Song
(Stuff You Missed in History Class)
Listen
Trump Administration & Immigration Law: Professor Leti Volpp and Professor David Hausman
Watch
Why Racial Justice Matters: Professor Erwin Chemerinsky “More Just” Podcase
Listen
Race and Reproductive Justice: Professor Melissa Murray
Listen
Bankruptcy, Environmental, and Labor Law:
How Enron Fooled the World
(Stuff You Should Know Podcast)
Listen
Analyzing Another Consequential Supreme Court Term
Listen
Read the ABA Guide to Pro Bono Work
Read
What are some other places where law and society intersect? Has anything changed about the areas of law you find most interesting?
Reflect
Review AccessLex’s “Road to Zero” on Student Loan Repayment
Task
Explore Insights into the Science of a Meaningful Life
Read
Read the report from the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
Read
Take the Mindfulness Quiz
Task
Find Your Path Through Law School
This website offers free, on-demand educational modules that introduce the importance of law school, explain why it matters to have you in the legal profession, and demystify the application process.
Start Your Journey
Picture yourself as an attorney and get the information you need to apply to law school. All materials are FREE and include:
On-demand content to help you navigate the application process.
Easy to follow charts, checklists, and tools to stay organized.
Access to invitation-only virtual and in-person events.
Register for Free
The Benefits
The possibilities for law school are endless with the right information. Explore all the benefits you’ll gain access to upon registering.
Free Educational Modules
Get valuable and professionally-created educational content at no cost.
Downloadable Tools
Receive access to checklists and organizational tools so you can customize and track your personal progress.
Self-Paced Content
All content is on-demand, so you can move through the modules at your own pace.
Advice on Affording Law School
Hear from those who have made the journey before you, and get advice on how to make law school affordable.
Professional Guidance
Our materials are created by attorneys and law school academics who offer their expert advice.
Invitation-Only Events
Receive invitations to our FREE invitation-only virtual and in-person events:
Fall 2025
The University of California Law Schools
Virtual
Panel on
October 31st, 2025.
Pre 1L
In-Person
Career Planning Overview on
November 21st, 2025.
Spring 2026
Coming soon!