Year Off Before Law School
Name: Hank Graham
Major (s): Political Science
Minor (s): English
Certificate (s): None
My Pathway:
Freshman year:
- Came in undecided
- Chose English major
- Switched to Journalism major
- Began work-study job at the Political Science department
Sophomore year:
- Switched to PSCI major and began lower division PSCI requirements
- Joined Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity)
- Joined Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)
- Continued completing English minor requirements
Junior year:
- Completed lower division PSCI requirements
- Began studying for LSAT
- Lightly started working on Honors Thesis
Senior year:
- Completed upper division PSCI requirements
- Completed English minor requirements
- Completed Honors Thesis in PSCI Department
Year Off:
- Looking to do an internship at under a public defense office in Colorado
- Saving money
- Applying in early fall for multiple out-of-state law schools
I spent my first summer as an intern for the Loveland Reporter Herald. The following summer I worked in construction to save up some money. My last summer as an undergraduate was by far the busiest. I studied for LSAT and worked on my Honors Thesis.
Being a defense attorney has long been a dream of mine. The high stakes, daily challenge, and ability to work with a vast array of people really appeals to me. I read an article on Judy Clarke when I was starting out my undergraduate career, and I think that helped me definitively decide I wanted to be an attorney.
I really want to emphasize the importance of taking a good chunk of time to study for the LSAT. This test is not easy, but anyone can do well if they properly prepare. I also recommend that students dedicate themselves to their grades as much as possible. Take any chance you have to boost that GPA. Getting into law school is difficult but you'll see good results if you give it as much effort as possible.
I would have made more effort to relax and enjoy what CU has to offer. I really enjoyed attending sporting events and club activities, but I don't feel like I did that enough. Academics are the main reason we are here, but there is also a lot of fun to be had.
Multiple programs at CU Boulder were incredibly helpful in my preparation. The PSCI Constitutional Law class gave me a glimpse of legal logic and showed me what law school may look like. We were given the chance to present original written and oral arguments. I also was given an interesting look at the history of important legal decisions. Completing an Honors Thesis in the Political Science Department also gave me great preparation. I got to complete my own in-depth research and really grow my writing skills. This project also directly showed me how to deliver professional, high-level work.
I was in Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity, as well as Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society).
Don't overthink it and don't doubt yourself. Some people have the misperception that this path is scary or too difficult. Just do the best you can preparing for the LSAT and working on your grades, and you'll be in in great shape. You can do this!
Name: Rick Zorce
Major (s): Political Science
Minor (s): Philosophy
Certificate (s): None
My Pathway:
Freshman year:
- Got a job off-campus in food service
- Joined Phi Alpha Delta (Pre-Law Fraternity)
- Added Philosophy as a minor
- Finished intro classes to PSCI
Junior year:
- Got an on-campus job at the Wolf Law School in the Career Development Center
- Applied and accepted to take the Designing 4 Defense graduate course (Interdisciplinary Capstone with the Department of Defense)
- Began upper division PSCI requirements
- Continued completing Philosophy minor requirements
Senior year:
- Completed upper division PSCI requirements
- Completed Philosophy minor requirements
- Completed Honors Thesis in PSCI Department
- Began studying for LSAT
Year Off:
- Looking to do internships on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
- Taking LSAT in summer
- Applying in early fall for multiple out-of-state law schools
During my first two summers of my undergraduate studies, I interned at the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta, Georgia for Chief Judge Christopher S. Brasher. The third summer of my undergraduate study I took a Maymester course called “Intro to American Law”. It was offered by Wolf Law School.
Legal logic and oral argumentation had always appealed to me. After interning at the Fulton County Superior Court, I knew 100% this was going to be my path. The experience of seeing trials and hearings really inspired me to want to pursue a legal career.
There is really no true way to know if you’ll enjoy a career in law or studying law until you get to Law School. For that reason, I think it's super important for those who are interested in going down this path to get as much exposure to the legal realm as possible. Whether it be listening to oral arguments, going to a courthouse to watch a hearing, or just reading court opinions, it helps you see what a day in Law really is.
If anything, I think I would have gotten more involved in campus activities. Most of my attention during my undergraduate career was on maintaining my grades. Of course this is important, but I feel like I missed out on networking opportunities possible in campus activities.
The Designing 4 Defense course really helped my oral speaking and presentation skills. It focused on presenting weekly updates on the policy proposal that your group was working on throughout the Capstone. In addition, completing an Honors Thesis in the Political Science Department was super helpful. There is a lot of research that you’ll have to do in Law School and a legal career. Being able to complete my own research project through my Honors Thesis helped further improve my research skills and my ability to take the important information from relevant literature.
I was a part of the Phi Alpha Delta pre-law fraternity. We had weekly talks with admission officers from different Law Schools.
At times, it's going to seem like a long journey just to get through your Undergraduate studies with an appropriate LSAT and GPA. Remind yourself this is just the beginning of everything and a small setback will seem meaningless at the end of your journey.
Name: Sarah Emmanuel
Major (s): Political Science
Minor (s): Journalism
Certificate (s): None
My Pathway:
Freshman year:
- Transferred in during sophomore year
Sophomore year:
- Took intro classes in PSCI to fulfill degree requirements
- Joined Phi Alpha Delta
- Joined Alpha Chi Omega
- Participated in mock trial
- Added journalism as a minor.
Junior year:
- Joined Pi Sigma Alpha
- Finished PSCI undergraduate requirements, continued to work on Journalism minor
- Interned on a political campaign during the fall (Margaret Good for Congress)
- Interned as a court monitor (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).
Senior year:
- Finished Journalism minor
- Joined senor class council
- Wrote an undergraduate honors thesis in political science
- Started to regularly meet with pre-law advisor and tutor for the LSAT
Year Off:
Freshman, Junior, Senior: Held a variety of roles at a summer camp (counselor, tennis instructor, various director roles)
Sophomore: Due to COVID, I stayed at home and took classes to work through degree requirements
After participating in Mock Trial in high school, I knew this was the career field I was passionate about. It was after working at the summer camp, I knew environmental law was for me.
Start preparing for the LSAT early, but also don't overcommit yourself. Doing a thesis and studying for the LSAT was extremely difficult, space out your time!
I would have been more active in Phi Alpha Delta. The Tuesday Talks are so informational and are really helpful in getting an idea of what law school is like.
By far, my favorite part was writing my Undergraduate Honors Thesis. It was an incredible experience to write about a topic for a year that I was so passionate about.
Phi Alpha Delta (pre-law society) and Mock Trial are very helpful for preparing for law school. I also enjoyed being in Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honors Society) and Senior Class Council.
Alpha Chi Omega, Senior Class Council, Phi Alpha Delta, Pi Sigma Alpha, and being involved with my summer camp during the off season
Get involved! CU has so many incredible clubs and organizations that allow for essential growth. I loved being in a sorority to meet different people, while also involving myself with other clubs and honors' societies.