Washburn
University
Henderson Learning Center
Room 215
Topeka KS 66621
785-670-1737
Department
Chair
Dr. Mark
Peterson
Prelaw
Admission to law school requires that an applicant score at or near the national average on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The LSAT ranges from a low of 120 to a high of 180 and has a national average of 152. The successful applicant to law school also needs to maintain good grades. The higher the quality of law school applied to, the higher the LSAT required. Law schools generally advise prospective applicants to prepare for the LSAT before taking it and urge prospective law students to pursue broad undergraduate curriculum rather than a narrow one.
While the specific procedure varies from law school to law school, initial admission decisions are based on a statistical index that has each applicants LSAT score and GPA in the formula. The formula places more emphasis on LSAT performance than on GPA. Hence, it is possible to gain acceptance into law school with less than a "B" average (3.0) if the LSAT approaches the upper limit but the reverse is not true. One can almost never gain acceptance to law school with an "A" average (4.0) but an LSAT substantially below 152. Often students pursue the misguided strategy of taking easy courses in order to get good grades. Easy course do not help your mind to think in ways that are tested for on the LSAT.
There are no prelaw majors left at American universities. Law Schools recommend that you major in a field that excites you. There is no single major that is more appropriate for law school than any other major and law schools will teach you all that you need to know about the law.
Washburn University has a unique prelaw program. First, while many colleges and universities place prelaw advising duties with an administrator often located in the administration building, Washburn utilizes a number of faculty to advise prelaw students. Those faculty prelaw advisors are found in the disciplines most commonly majored in by prelaw students:
| School of Business | Professor Rosemary Walker |
| Communications (speech) | Professor Sarah Ubel |
| Criminal Justice | Professor Mike Mansket |
| English | Professor Tom Kennedy |
| History | Professor Tom Prasch |
| Mass Media (Journalism) | massmedia@washburn.edu |
| Philosophy | Professor Harold Rood |
| Political Science | Professor Steve Cann |
| Professor Loran Smith | |
| Professor David Freeman | |
| Psychology | Professor Barbara Bowman |
Because scoring
well on the LSAT is so important if you want to attend law school, Washburn
offers a free diagnostic LSAT in both the fall and spring semesters. Students
take a simulated LSAT and receive an individualized consultation session to
learn how to improve your score.
Washburn also offers an LSAT prep course that is priced well below the market
competition.
Washburn is one of only a few colleges in Kansas to compete in the National Mock Trial competition. Mock Trial is good preparation for law school because it sharpens your communication skills, your analytical ability and your ability to solve problems quickly (i.e. to "think on your feet"). Washburn Mock Trial teams earned an Honorable Mention at the National Tournament in St. Paul, MN., in 2000, 2001 and 2005 and earned a 5th place in 2002 and 3rd place in 2004 and 6th place in 2006.
Washburn University also sponsors the Prelaw Club. As prelaw students are spread across colleges and departments at Washburn, the Prelaw Club is the only vehicle for all students interested in prelaw to meet. The prelaw club often invites leaders from the Kansas legal community to meet and speak to the club.