Brookings Main Campus
“The law must be stable, but it must not stand still,” Roscoe Pound, American legal scholar
The formal academic training for law includes, with few exceptions, a bachelor’s degree and three years of study in law school to earn a Juris Doctorate. Law schools welcome and encourage a variety of educational backgrounds among their students. Breadth and intellectual maturity are more important than study of particular subject matter. However, law schools do recommend that the pre-law curriculum be carefully selected.
No specific subjects are prescribed for law school admission, and thus any undergraduate major available at SDSU can prepare a student to study the law. The pre-law student should be involved in an undergraduate program that is intellectually challenging and requires rigorous academic discipline. Individuals who have chosen a field of study work with their major advisor as well as the pre-law advisor to select courses and create a plan of study.
Is it for you?
This program will be a good fit if you:
- Want to practice law in private or public settings.
- Have an interest in public service, government advocacy or helping others.
- Enjoy thinking critically and analytically about complex problems.
- Possess skills in negotiation, advocacy, writing, and communication.
Internship Opportunities
- State Legislatures & Congressional Offices
- Private Law Firms
- Prosecutor Offices
- Legal Aid Clinics
- Interest Groups & Non-Profits
Suggested Certificates
Suggested Majors
Suggested Minors
Professional Schools Admitting Graduates
- Creighton University
- Drake University
- Lewis & Clark University
- Harvard University
- Marquette University
- Ohio Northern University
- Regent University
- St. Thomas University
- University of Iowa
- University of Nebraska
- University of New Hampshire
- University of South Dakota
- Willamette University
Undecided or still deciding on a major and future career?
If you are uncertain about your major and have questions about career planning, you are not alone. Choosing a major or career can be a very difficult decision. The exploratory studies program may be a good fit if you are unsure of your major and career focus. Entering the university in the exploratory studies program will help you gain confidence and valuable insights on majors and minors available at SDSU and future career choices.
In addition, FOCUS 2 Career, a self-guided assessment, education and career planning program, will help you reflect on your values, interests, personality traits and skills to provide valuable insight as you explore major and career choices. SDSU students may access FOCUS 2 Career by using their student email and password. After completing FOCUS 2 Career, you may find it helpful to discuss your results with a career coach in the Office of Career Development.