Pre-Law Studies at Russell Sage College

Each year, well-regarded law schools accept able Russell Sage graduates. Undergraduate study at Sage fosters students’ special interest in law and the courts, and provides a sound foundation in the liberal arts. There are various aspects to Pre-Law Studies at Russell Sage College:

Minor in Pre-Law Studies

The 18-credit minor in Pre-Law Studies can be completed by students in almost any major. It is recommended for all students interested in going to law school after graduating from Russell Sage. It would also be helpful for students who are interested in a law-related career after college, such as jobs in government or in the courts.

The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar's statement on preparation for legal education has guided the formulation of this minor. According to the ABA, no specific major is or should be required for admission to law schools in the United States. However, undergraduate coursework is recommended that develops skills that can help students prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and that builds a skills and knowledge base that can help students once they reach law school.

The skills referred to by the ABA include: analysis and problem solving; critical reading; writing; oral communication; listening; and, legal research. The knowledge base includes: contemporary political systems; history, political theory; ethics and theories of justice; economics; and, human behavior.

Coursework

According to the American Bar Association, no specific major is or should be required for admission to law schools in the United States. However, undergraduate coursework is recommended that develops skills that can help students prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and that builds a skills and knowledge base that can help students once they reach law school. Each semester, Pre-Law students at Russell Sage are offered courses in business, communications, criminal justice, economics, English, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology, among others, to build that skill and knowledge in a broad-based undergraduate program.

Advisement

Students interested in law and government have many career options. Sage’s Pre-Law Advisor is available to talk with students and prospective students about law schools and law careers. Pre-Law students at Russell Sage are encouraged to do law-related internships to help them narrow their focus and make contacts in the community. Law students and lawyers visit the campus during the year to talk with students about attending law school and working in business, the legislature, and a variety of other settings. Albany Law School welcomes student visitors to their classes and, like Sage, is a member of the Hudson-Mohawk Association.

Once a student decides that she is interested attending law school, there is a great deal of planning and preparation. Registration and preparation for the LSAT; determining where to apply to law school; applying to law school; selecting a school to attend; and more. The Pre-Law Adivsor assists students along the way, helping to direct them to LSAT preparation materials and law schools that are right for them. Orientation programs for Pre-Law students are supplemented by individual advisement.

Pre-Law Club

There is an active Pre-Law Club on campus where students sharing common goals and aspirations come together. Some recent acitivities of the club include a trip to Washington, D.C. and a visit to Georgetown University Law Center; a visit to Albany Law School, including sitting in on a class and visiting with an RSC graduate; hosting speakers including a representative from an LSAT preparation center, a New York State Assemblyman, the President of the New York State Women's Bar Association, among others.