Undergraduate Timeline  

Freshman Year

• There is no Pre-Law major, so choose something you love and can excel in.
• Take courses with in-depth reading and writing: see list of recommended Pre-Law courses.
• Focus on academics and develop good time management skills.
• Sign up for the NAU Pre-Law email list by contacting prelaw@nau.edu
• Meet with a Pre-Law advisor and attend a Pre-Law workshop
• Build rapport with faculty and advisors for future letters of recommendation and/or evaluations.
• Start keeping a notebook to record your thoughts about why you want to be a lawyer and the experiences in your life that have influenced that decision. It will be useful later when you write your personal statement.

Sophomore Year

• Continue to focus on academics and building a strong GPA
• Take courses in logic and those that develop your critical thinking skills: see list of recommended Pre-Law courses.
• Meet with a Pre-Law advisor and attend a Pre-Law workshop
• Consider joining Phi Alpha Delta (PAD), the pre-law fraternity
• Become familiar with the Law School Admissions Council website: www.lsac.org
• Continue adding to your notebook and building rapport with faculty and advisors
• Learn more about the legal profession through informational interviews and shadowing
• Attend the Career and Graduate School Fair and meet Law School representatives

Junior Year

• Meet with a Pre-Law advisor
• Create an account on the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website: www.lsac.org
• Prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and take practice tests
• Take a mock LSAT and register for the June LSAT
• Research and visit Law Schools and attend the NAU Career and Graduate School Fair
• Gain legal experience through internships or volunteer work

Summer before Senior Year

• Take the June LSAT and receive score in July
• Start working on your personal statement and have it critiqued at the Gateway
• Consider modifying your personal statement for each school you apply to
• Ask for letters of recommendation and/or evaluations
• Finalize School choices
• Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) at www.lsac.org
• Send official transcripts to CAS using transcript request forms
• Obtain law school catalogs, applications, and financial aid information

Senior Year

• Retake LSAT in fall if necessary
• Make Pre-Law advising appointment
• Check Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report for accuracy
• Formally request letters of recommendation and/or evaluations be sent to CAS
• Send thank you letters to those who wrote your LOR
• Complete and submit applications in Fall
• File your financial aid applications, including FAFSA after Jan. 1^st
• Expect to receive admissions decisions from Dec. through the Spring
• Meet with your Pre-Law advisor to discuss your options
• Be sure to pay your seat deposit on time
• Finalize NAU Coursework for graduation