Pre-Law

Through CSUMB Pre-Law, students are supported throughout the law school admissions process. From understanding application timelines and preparing for the LSAT to crafting personal statements and securing letters of recommendation, this page offers guidance and resources to help you prepare with confidence.

Preparing for the LSAT

Preparing for the LSAT is an important element of the application process. Whether doing so on your own, through the official LSAC partnership with Khan Academy, or through a commercially available course, these resources may help you develop the capacity to do well and improve over time. A good LSAT score can mean the difference between admission to your preferred choices or not, as well as access to scholarships.

These LSAT preparation options are shared as a starting point and are not endorsements of any particular program. Take time to research and choose the approach that aligns with your needs and learning preferences.

Khan Academy

Khan Academy and the Law School Admissions Council have teamed up to produce an official--and free--preparation course for the LSAT.

LSAT Test Dates

The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website includes test dates for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) required by most law schools for admission.  Make sure to check out the Getting Ready for the LSAT page for more details about the remotely proctored LSAT, the modality of the exam for the time being. 

LSAT and Admissions

The LSAC search engine lets you search for American Bar Association (ABA) approved law schools by LSAT, GPA and location as you explore options.

 

Selecting Where to Apply

Choosing where to apply is an important part of the law school admissions process. As you research programs, consider factors such as bar admission requirements, bar passage rates, cost, location, employment outcomes, and overall fit.

If you plan to practice law in California, review California specific bar admission requirements and recent bar passage statistics to better understand how graduates from different law schools perform on the exam.

Research Resources

State Bar of California

Bar admission requirements and bar passage statistics, including a list of California law schools.
https://www.calbar.ca.gov/

California Law Schools (State Bar list)

List of California accredited law schools.
https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Admissions/Law-School-Regulation/Law-Schools

Law School Admissions Council (LSAC)

Official guide to American Bar Association accredited law schools, admissions data, and application resources.
https://www.lsac.org/

American Bar Association (ABA) Standard 509 Disclosures

Required reports from ABA accredited law schools, including admissions data, bar passage rates, and employment outcomes.
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/statistics/

XPloreJD by AccessLex

AccessLex is a nonprofit organization that provides free resources to pre-law and law students as they investigate ways to finance a legal education. This includes one-on-one financial counseling. Some of their programs include:

  • MAX Pre-Law: Includes worksheets, checklists, webinars and other resources for you to plan how you will pay for law school and beyond.
  • AccessLex Student Loan Calculator: helps you estimate the costs for law school, including tuition, living expenses, and bar preparation, as well as the cost of borrowing.

Interactive law school comparison tool based on location, cost, enrollment, diversity, curriculum, and outcomes.
https://www.accesslex.org/xplorejd

Law School Transparency

Independent nonprofit resource with reports, data dashboards, and tools to help students make informed decisions.
https://www.lawschooltransparency.com/

Other Resources
  • U.S. News and World Report articles on Paying for Law School
  • The Association of American Law Schools has a helpful website with additional resources on scholarships and grants.