Pre-Law
THE SKILLS TO SUCCEED
Your path to law school starts here.
Law schools want students who can ask sharp questions, think critically and lead ethically. At Whitman, you’ll practice all of that from day one. Our liberal arts education is broad and bold. Through our innovative General Studies Program and our wide choice of majors, minors and concentrations, you’ll learn to connect ideas across fields, tackle complex issues with insight and empathy, and communicate with clarity.
That’s exactly the kind of preparation law schools look for—and exactly what will set you up for success. In recent years, 95% of Whitman applicants were accepted to one or more law schools, including top-tier schools like Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, New York University and Georgetown University.
3 Reasons to Study at Whitman
Pursue Any Major
There is no “best” major for law school—any of Whitman’s 60+ majors will give you the rigorous academic training to set you up for success in law school. So you can pursue a major that you are genuinely interested in studying.
Mentors & Role Models
At Whitman, you will have small classes and opportunities for collaborative work with accomplished faculty who know you and can write thoughtful letters of recommendation. Plus, Whitman students have access to a mentoring network of alums with law degrees who are now leaders in their fields.
Impactful Internships
Whitman students can apply for a Whitman Internship Grant to support a law-related internship anywhere in the country—or world. Recent students have completed internships focused on immigrant rights, tribal law, public defense and more.
“Whitman let me explore everything from economics to politics, chemistry, computer science and psychology before I committed to English. The availability of professors ... to meet and discuss potential opportunities with me and how those might work with my law school application has been super helpful for making decisions about how I spend my time outside of class.”
Sasha M., English major
Interested in Pre-Law?
We’d love to send you information, including more about our academic majors, scholarship opportunities and student life on our beautiful campus in Walla Walla, Washington.
Resources for Pre-Law
Whitman will surround you with resources to help you prepare for law school.
Law School Admission Guide
Law school admission committees look at your undergraduate GPA, LSAT score, academic trajectory, personal statement and letters of recommendation. Students interested in law school should schedule a meeting with Whitman’s pre-law advisors by the end of their second year at Whitman. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) also provides an excellent set of resources about the admission process.
Get Ready for the LSAT
Your score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) will have a significant impact on your admission to law schools. We recommend that you begin preparing for the LSAT several months prior to the exam. Check out these resources, including more about the test, how to register, practice tests and prep courses.
Pre-Law Summer Programs
As you get ready to apply to law school, you might consider a pre-law summer program to sharpen your skills and prepare for the study of the law. Here are a few programs that Whitman’s pre-law advisors think may be of interest to Whitman students.
3-3 Program with Columbia Law School
Whitman is one of a select group of undergraduate institutions to participate in a 3-3 Bachelor of Arts/Juris Doctor program with Columbia University. If you’re considering pursuing a 3-3 dual-degree program, here’s what Whitman’s pre-law advisors recommend you keep in mind.
Internships & Alumni Mentors
Every year, Whitman pre-law students intern in law-related organizations around the country, often supported by a Whitman Internship Grant, which helps open up opportunities at nonprofits, law firms, government offices and more. Students also have access to mentorship opportunities with Whitman alums who have already earned their law degrees.
Undergraduate Pre-Law Timeline
Ready to dive into the pre-law track? Here’s what you should know about when to meet with an advisor, declare a major, seek out internships, take the LSAT and more. Whitman’s pre-law advisors will help you stay on track every step of the way.
What Our Graduates Are Doing
While at Whitman, Noah Stern ’16 majored in Economics, a degree he says prepared him well for graduate school—at NYU School of Law—and its demanding legal reasoning.
“The law is applied humanities. So much of my job is writing and thinking through problems in an analytical way. These problems aren’t scientific—they are more abstract and more human than that.”
—Noah Stern ’16
Your Questions Answered (FAQ)
Yes. In recent years, 95% of Whitman applicants have been admitted to one or more law schools, including top-tier schools like Stanford University, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, New York University and Georgetown University.
Students from any major can successfully pursue the law as a profession. So you should enroll in courses and select a major that genuinely interests you.
Yes. Faculty in many departments teach courses that engage with the law, and Whitman offers a minor in Law, Culture and the Humanities. The college also offers several courses taught at the Washington State Penitentiary, which include both Whitman students and incarcerated students. Whitman also regularly brings to campus nationally recognized scholars, lawyers and judges for visiting lectureships, including the annual William O. Douglas Lecture.
Whitman does not offer a separate “pre-law” major because our General Studies program and the richness and rigor of all our majors are excellent preparation for law school.
Yes. In 2024, the American Bar Association reported that two-thirds of law students delayed law school for a year or more. One possible route would be to complete a postgraduate fellowship, such a Truman Scholarship, Fulbright or Watson Fellowship before applying for law school. Students interested in postgrad opportunities like these can reach out to Whitman’s Fellowships and Grants team.