Notes from the Pre-law Advising Interest Group meeting

October 6, 2005

NACADA National Conference, Las Vegas, NV

Attendance:

There were 35 people in attendance at the meeting. Introductions were made and those present indicated they were in attendance from the following advising areas: criminal justice, business, exploratory, undecided, transfer students, assistant to the dean, justice studies, hotel management, a desire to go into the profession of law, psychology, pre-law, academic coordinator, professions coordinator/advising center, college of engineering, government and politics, university college, pre-majors advising.

History and accomplishments of the Interest Group:   

The history of the pre-law advising interest group was presented. The following interest group goals have been accomplished:

• Growth of the interest group is now 120+.

• A resource web-site has been established.
• A list-serv for members has been established.
• Building collaborative relationships with associations such as wapla is on-going. The goal is not to duplicate what other associations are doing but to work together.
• An increase in presentations and publications from the interest group has been accomplished and is on-going.
• New leadership for the group has been identified. Peter Baxter will be our new chair.
• Discussion of what is working well for advisors in the field and what is needed by advisors in the field.

What is working well for and from advisors in the interest group?

• Externships - giving one-two day shadowing experiences to students so they will understand the profession.
• Using the written expression of interest for law school on law school applications as a motivator for students to come for advising.
• Holding law school "fairs".
• Having law school "fairs" also promote alternative careers for those who won't be admitted to law school.
• Informing students about combination or joint degrees such as JD/MBA/.
• Encouraging students to get information from law schools in the state where they want to attend law school since each school and state emphasize various areas of the application.
• Informing students that some school like "pre-law" as a major, others don't.
• Advisor's ability to get data from LSAC regarding those accepted to law school is helpful for use in pre-law advising.
• Encouraging students to select a major with a "plan B" in mind in case they are not accepted to law school.
• Use of advising skills to help students through the rejection process.
• Advisors doing career preparation within pre-law studies advising sessions.
• Availability of pre-law as a minor.

Needs from advisors in the interest group:

• Many students don't shadow lawyers. How can advisors help change this?
• Many students don't understand the reality of the field. How can advisors help to change this?
• Many students are encouraged by parents to get the law degree as "a good thing to have" without the student understanding what it is or desiring it for themselves. How can advisors help to change this?
• Many students don't understand the commitment it takes to succeed in law school and as a lawyer. How can advising impact this?
• Combination or joint degrees such as JD/MBA are not always in the student's best interest. Often students have a difficult time finding employment because the student is "over educated" but has no work experience. How is this impacted by advising?
• There is a need for students to do values clarification before coming to advising, or during advising.
• The level of pre-law studies as "prescripted" by various Universities. However, this may or may not be what law schools see has desirable in a candidate. How can advisors mitigate this?
• Parents of pre-law students can be over-intrusive into the advising process.
• Once students select "pre-law" as a major they think their career exploration is done. How can the advisor show them the need for continued career exploration?
• Law schools are NOT consistent in who they admit or what qualifications they look for in admissions. This makes it hard for advisors to advise effectively. How can this be improved?
• Students see the law school admission process as "black/white". They need to understand that they can try multiple times and pursue multiple paths to admission. Advisors need to include this in advising sessions.
• Need for pre-law fairs to be more representative of various law schools' actual admitting policies.

Discussion of resources: 

The members in attendance were encouraged to browse a table full of resource materials for pre-law advisors including lists of websites, books, pamphlets, etc. These are referenced on the interest group web site.