Law and Change

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.