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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Florida

PRE-LAW

Pre-Law Scholars

Pre-Law Scholars
PLS Frequently Asked Questions

PLS Frequently Asked Questions
How to Get Involved with PLS

How to Get Involved with PLS
Register to be a Pre-Law Scholar

Register to be a Pre-Law Scholar
Additional Resources

Additional Resources

“There are important skills, values, knowledge, and experience that you can acquire prior to law school and that will provide a sound foundation for a legal education. If you wish to prepare adequately for a legal education, and for a career in law or for other professional service that involves the use of lawyering skills, you should seek educational, extra-curricular, and life experiences that will assist you in developing those attributes.”

– American Bar Association Pre-Law Resources Website

Pre-Law

The legal profession has a vast presence in our society via legal practice in public and private sectors, government, industries, etc. influencing and supporting the foundation of how we function in today’s world. The path to becoming a legal expert is through completion of a law school degree. Law schools offer a variety of degrees or certificates for individuals to pursue.

  • Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree is for those who wish to practice law and be involved in other career paths as well.
  • Master of Laws (LLM) is for those who already have a JD and want to expand their knowledge to study a specialized area of law and gain international qualification.
  • Master’s Degree (M) are for those who want to study lase but not practice as a lawyer. There are multiple concentrations such as Master of Science in Laws (MSL), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and Juris Master (JM) in addition to others.
  • Legal Certificate (CRT) for those who wish to broaden their knowledge of the law. This will assist those who work in highly regulated industries.

For all law school degrees, the core requirements for admission are a deep and diverse foundation in academics and extensive professional development through extra-curricular experiences.

Professional development for pre-law students is a holistic process that includes academic achievement, practical experience, personal growth, and skill-building. It is not just about preparing for law school but also about developing as a well-rounded individual capable of thriving in the challenging and dynamic field of law.

Professional development encompasses a wide range of activities and experiences designed to build the skills, knowledge, and competencies that will help you succeed in law school and later in the legal profession. These activities are not only important for preparing you for law school but also for creating a strong foundation for your legal career. Personal and professional development as an undergraduate is key to being ready for the next steps of applying and matriculating to the law school of your choice.

According to the American Bar Association (ABA) the Core Skills, Values, Knowledge, and Experience needed are:

  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Reading
  • Writing and Editing
  • Oral Communication and Listening
  • Research
  • Leadership
  • Organization and Management
  • Public Service and Promotion of Justice
  • Relationship-building and Collaboration
  • Background Knowledge
  • Exposure to the Law

Pre-Law Professional Development or PLS Questions?

Book a consultation or email rknicker@ufl.edu.

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Both academic and experiential learning are core to the development of these core entities.

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Watch the ‘Introduction to Pre-Law Professional Development’ video.

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Beyond 120 seeks to provide pre-law students with the resources and support for professional development to acquire these skills and to develop a competitive application for admission to law school.

One of the ways of providing these is by offering the Pre-Law Scholars (PLS) program.

Pre-Law Scholars

The Beyond120 Pre-Law Scholars (PLS) program is designed for undergraduate pre-law students within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS). PLS promotes the professional development of these students through a multifaceted approach, engaging them in the Beyond120 curriculum, shadowing/mentorship opportunities, employment, internship, volunteering, community service initiatives, internships, and global engagements or excursions.

The PLS program fosters professional development for pre-law students through a combination of academic and experiential learning opportunities. These diverse experiences help students establish depth, diversity, and valuable insights into the legal profession, aligning with the American Bar Association’s (ABA) ‘Core Skills, Values, Knowledge, and Experience.’ By engaging in this comprehensive professional development, pre-law students can strengthen their competitiveness for successful law school applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Beyond120 Pre-Law Scholars (PLS) program is designed to help undergraduate pre-law students within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) develop the core skills, values, knowledge, and experience deemed essential by the American Bar Association (ABA) for prospective law students.

PLS promotes this through a multifaceted approach that encourages depth and diversity of engagement, thought, and reflection across both academic and experiential learning opportunities. These include the Beyond120 curriculum, academic research, shadowing/mentorship, clinical employment or volunteering, community service, internships, and global engagements or excursions.

By engaging in this comprehensive professional development, PLS students demonstrate a strong commitment to the personal and professional growth needed to excel in the legal profession. The program aligns closely with the ABA’s guidance on developing a sound foundation for pursuing a legal education, providing students the chance to cultivate the desired skills, values, knowledge, and experience.

Students earn a total of 20 experiential points based on Tiers One through Three as indicated below.

All Beyond120 courses and experiential activities count towards the 20 points required.

  • Beyond120 graduation regalia
  • Recognition of the Beyond120 recognition event
  • Include this accomplishment in your professional school application

The PLS Roadmap form is provided for you to keep track of your activities and points earned. You can use this form to keep track of the experiential learning opportunities you engage with, the program points you earn through them, and to make and monitor goals for future experiential learning. When you have earned the required 20 points for completion, email this form in to Bobbi Knickerbocker at rknicker@ufl.edu.

You may register for the PLS Scholar program as soon as you are a student at UF. However, if close to graduating, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to complete PLS requirements by graduation.

You may finish the experiential learning points in a flexible fashion prior to graduation. Feel free to exercise creative freedom in mixing and matching Beyond120 courses, study abroad programs, excursion, research, shadowing and other approved opportunities that aid in developing an understanding of the human dimensions and competencies in healthcare and the versatility of a CLAS degree.

You will submit your ‘Roadmap’ early in the semester that you graduate. If you have questions, email rknicker@ufl.edu for information on regalia and certificate of completion.

The PHS Professional Development Plan is available for you to get you started thinking of what you want to include in your personalized plan. Download the plan and save it. Follow the directions on the page. If you have questions and/or want to review it, book a consultation.

Beyond120 Pre-Law Courses

This course is for freshman, sophomore, or new transfer students interested in pursuing admission to law school. This course provides information for students to begin personal and professional development in preparation for application to law professional programs. Students are introduced to topics related to holistic preparation including academic and extra-curricular engagement, along with intense self-reflection of strengths, values, and areas of growth.

This course –  is an immersive, interdisciplinary PRE-LAW course designed to provide undergraduate students with an in-depth understanding of the diverse career opportunities within the legal field and the management strategies employed by private legal firms. The course will cover a range of topics, including but not limited to, the structure of law firms, legal specializations, client relations, firm management, and emerging trends in the legal industry. Students will engage in discussions about the various paths available within law, from litigation to corporate counsel, and will learn about the business side of legal practice, including marketing, finance, and firm culture.

Earning Points for PLS

  • Beyond120 courses (3 credit)
  • Completion of LSAC Admission Unmasked in the ‘LawHub’
  • Global engagement – study abroad
  • Internships – pre-law or government related – reflection component – minimum 50 hours
  • Student Legal Aid Research Internship – minimum 50 hours 
  • Student Legal Aid Prelaw Shadow & Professional Mentorship Program
  • University or CLAS leadership role – ex: mentor for First Generation students, Student Conduct Committee
  • CLAS Ambassador
  • Research – full semester – minimum 45 hours
  • Completing an Undergraduate Honors Thesis (for any major) OR the Research Fellows program for CLAS (one or the other
  • PLS Student Podcasts – Produce PLS or other undergraduate law related podcast session
  • PLS Leadership – Student Advisory Team
  • Participate in a summer pre-law program offered by law schools
  • Submission and publication of your writing to the UF Undergraduate Law Review or another undergraduate law review
  • Beyond120 courses (2 credits)
  • Beyond120 excursions
  • Shadowing – minimum 40 hours
  • Legal Volunteering – minimum 50 hours
  • Leadership role in a UF student organization
  • Community service volunteering – minimum 40 hours
  • Present a research paper or poster at conference or fair
  • Post a blog for Beyond120, Florida Undergraduate Law Review, or other UF/professional sites/journals
  • PLS Self Designed Project – Submit a proposal for a self-designed project that relates to humanities and social sciences. multicultural, inclusion, service, etc. This can be diverse in context whether a cultural event, art show, research project, food drive, etc. You will need a mentor to work with. This can be Beyond120 and/or UF faculty or service agency supervisor. Your mentor needs to complete the form for confirmation of project completion.
  • Beyond120 courses (1 credit)
  • CLAS pre-law workshops and events
  • Beyond120 workshops and events or completion of a course in the ‘Learning Library’ in the Law Hub
  • Law school fairs, events, workshops, and presentations
  • Attend court hearings
  • Beyond120 consultations
  • Assisting with Beyond120 events
  • Mentoring consultation through Beyond120 Gator Network
  • Interview of a legal professional
  • Sit in on a law school class
  • Attendance at LSAC Forum

How Do I Get Involved with PLS?

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Register to be a Pre-Law Scholar
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Watch the Pre-Law Scholars Information Session
Join the Pre-Law Scholars “GroupMe”

Additional Resources to Meet PLS Requirements

Central hub for everything related to law school admissions

Includes registration, test dates, and preparation materials

Service for application materials

Prep materials

Local and online forums where students can meet with law school reps

Resources aimed at increasing diversity in the legal profession

Guides to help in the application process

Information about legal education, accreditation, and the legal profession

Stats on law school employment statistics and career resources

Become deeply and diversely educated by taking a diverse breadth of challenging courses to prepare for the rigors of law school.

Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. Choose a major that interests and challenges you. Focus on developing the ‘Core Skills, Values, Knowledge, and Experiences.’ 

In academics, this includes problem solving, critical thinking, reading, research and analysis, writing and editing, oral communication and listening, and gaining foundational/background knowledge regarding people, the profession and issues.    

Areas of knowledge that might be beneficial are:

  • A broad understanding of history, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of our society in the United States.
  • A fundamental understanding of political thought and of the contemporary American political system.
  • Some basic mathematical and financial skills, such as an understanding of basic pre-calculus mathematics and an ability to analyze financial data.
  • A basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction.
  • An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues, of world events, and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within our world. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/pre_law/

Subject Areas:

  • Logical and Critical Thinking: Courses such as in philosophy, especially those focusing on logic, help develop critical reasoning skills. Computer science courses that will connect legal education with national and international institutions.
  • Writing and Communication: Strong and precise writing skills are essential for law students. Courses in English, rhetoric, or communications will assist in the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
  • Public Speaking: Courses in speech, debate, or rhetoric to enhance oral communication skills, which are crucial for the practice of law.
  • Political Science and Government: These courses offer insights into the structure and function of government systems, legal processes, and political theory.
  • History: Aid in the ability to comprehend historical contexts of legal systems, constitutional history, and influential legal cases.
  • Economics: Provides an understanding of economic principles and policies, useful, especially in areas regarding corporate or tax law.
  • Sociology and Psychology: Courses provide help in understanding human behavior and social systems, helpful in areas such as family, criminal, and civil rights law.
  • Ethics: Courses in ethics or morals are valuable for analyzing and discerning ethical dilemmas, common to legal disciplines.
  • Criminal Justice: Provides insight into legal system, criminal laws, and the justice process.
  • Pre-Law Studies: Beyond120 and UF offer specific courses in legal studies or pre-law, which provides foundational knowledge regarding the legal profession.
  • Research Methods: Provides the opportunity for acquiring the skills of research methods, critical thinking and decision making.
  • Constitutional Law: Offers insight into the content of the Constitution, which is fundamental to all areas of American law.

                 (Adapted from: Pre-Law Requirements: A Guide for Law School Preparation | Bold.org)

UF Courses 

Undergraduate Catalog Courses Website

Some courses may have prerequisites and may not be offered every semester. Please check the Schedule of Courses and Course Descriptions for more information. General Education and Writing designations are always subject to change. Always check for designations when you are registering.

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Non-UF Research Opportunities

Labs and Research Groups by Department

  • African Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Astronomy
  • Biology
  • Bob Graham Center for Public Service
  • Classics
  • Chemistry
  • Economics
  • English
  • European Studies
  • Gender, Sexualities, and Women’s Studies
  • Geological Sciences
  • Geography
  • History
  • Jewish Studies
  • Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Political Science
  • Religion
  • Sociology, Criminology & Law
  • Spanish and Portuguese Studies
  • Statistics

UF does not endorse any programs other than the study abroad programs approved through the UF Beyond120 and the International Center. Private programs should be carefully researched. Students participate at their own risk and should be fully aware of the ethical issues involved in international volunteer programs.

Other options: