Among
the biggest topic of discussions for pre-law advising are ongoing changes to
the law school admission process and the administration of the LSAT (Law School
Admission Test). Starting with the July administration, the LSAT is moving to
an all-digital format. July administration sites will be randomly assigned
either the traditional pen-and-paper exam or the digital exam (administered on
a Surface Pro tablet). Digital test-takers will be given scratch paper and a
pen-stylus) and a brief orientation on how the tablet and its functions. The
writing sample process has also changed and is now administered by LSAT Writing
is a proctored, on-demand writing exam that is secure proctoring software that
is installed on the candidate’s own computer.
Starting
with the September 2019 test administration, there are now limits on how many
times individuals may take the LSAT (no more than 3 times in a single year or
five times within the current and five past testing years, and no more than 7
times over a lifetime). Additionally, any person who scores a perfect (180)
within the current and five-year period is not permitted to retake the exam.
These limitations are not retroactive and can be appealed for exceptional
circumstances.
Among the
other changes to the law school admission process is the importance of the non-required application materials
(interviews, addenda, and points of contact) and the increasing expectation for
applicants to address why law school (and why now) as well as how they expect
to use their legal training – all of which make the non-LSAT part of the
application process increasingly important.
Changing
too, is the way in which law schools deliver their curriculum with an
increasing focus in many on the development of practical and experiential
training so that law graduates are client and practice ready. This shift in
focus makes in even more important that students come into law school with a
broader base of knowledge and strong skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking.
Law schools are additionally recognizing the need for greater support of law
student (and attorney) well-being. Law is a competitive and demanding
profession and more law schools are providing more student support (a factor
that applicants should add to their list of considerations when applying to law
schools).
What has
not changed is what law schools are looking for in prospective applicants.
There is no single pathway or major that is desired by way of undergraduate
preparation. Indeed, surveys of law school faculty continue to rank majors like
English, Philosophy, History, and Political Science higher than pre-law or legal studies (i.e., law-oriented majors) in
terms of desired undergraduate preparation. What law schools desire most are
students with strong writing skills, strong analytical abilities, the ability
to closely-read text, and excellent time-management. Increasingly, admissions
recruiters are interested in life-experience and diversity of interests and
academic backgrounds which is why more schools are accepting the GRE in lieu of
the LSAT to attract more STEM-major applicants, and why non-traditional
applicants, or those who have gap-years with employment and professional
experience, are attractive applicants.
Bringing it Back to Daemen
Whatever
you major, pre-law advising offered through the History and Political Science
Department, can help you navigate the application process and point you toward
helpful resources. Career Services offers substantial support in building your
resume, interviewing, and self-promotion (marketing) skills. You can find
information and links about the law school application process, items of interest
(including LSAT workshop, prep courses, and discount offers) and a variety of
useful links on the Daemen College PLSA website: https://sites.google.com/a/daemen.edu/daemen-college-pre-law-student-association-plsa/. You
can join the PLSA through DC Link or Daemen Connect for information about the
club and its related activities.
Reflections from the ICON-S and the
National/International Context
When public
law scholars convened at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago
last summer for the ICON-S, the International Society of Public Law’s, annual
Conference -- one of the largest gatherings of international legal scholars
from a range of academic disciplines (political science, law, history) -- the
conference centered on an overarching question, what is the role of “Public Law
in Times of Change?” The theme recognized the unique challenges confronting
democratic regimes committed to the rule of law given global political
developments, including the rise of populist nationalism and authoritarianism around
the world. Is constitutional democracy under threat, why are so many nations
experience grappling with constitutional crises? What role does the legal
community play in preserving the rule of law and ensuring democratic health?
Public law, which includes the branches of both constitutional and
administrative law, has always grappled with these “big questions,” but
consensus is growing that the questions are increasingly urgent and the role of
legal scholars in helping to shape democratic reality is more important than
ever.
The theme
secondarily captured the evolving landscape of public law as experts shared key
research findings on a wide array of constitutional topics and engaged in
robust debate. Public law encompasses both legal theory and political practice,
engaging with issues of key significance in both the legal and political
systems. The depth and breadth of contemporary legal scholarship, encompassing
new methodologies, positivist and post- philosophical approaches, was on full
display as leading experts addressed how to adapt both the study and practice
of law to contemporary needs and expectations.
Bringing
it Back to Daemen
The ICON-S
Conference perfectly demonstrates why a liberal arts education, including
training in History and Political Science, is vital to democratic and political
health. Law and legal systems do not exist in a political or social vacuum. Many
students gravitate toward law as an avenue by which they can help change the
world. To shape the world, you must first understand it – and Daemen offers majors
which can give you a solid foundation of knowledge and multiple pathways into a
law or law-related career.
