Analytical and Problem Solving skills

Seek courses and other experiences that engage you in critical thinking about important issues, challenge your beliefs, and improve your tolerance for uncertainty and criticism, and those that teach you to think analytically within a logical framework. Courses in philosophy, logic, ethics, math, the sciences, and computer science can help you develop these skills.

Critical Reading Skills

As a law student and lawyer, much of what you will do involves careful reading and comprehension of judicial opinions, statutes, documents, and other dense written materials. Opportunities to develop critical reading skills can be found in a wide range of experiences, including the close reading of complex material in literature, political or economic theory, philosophy, or history.

Writing and Editing Skills

Language is the most important tool of a lawyer. Fundamental writing skills—the ability to express yourself clearly and concisely in writing—must be acquired and refined before you enter law school. Seek as many experiences as possible that will require rigorous and analytical writing, including preparing original pieces of substantial length and revising written work in response to constructive criticism.

Oral Communication and Listening Skills

The ability to speak clearly and persuasively is important for success in law school and the practice of law. You must also have excellent listening skills if you are to understand your clients and others with whom you will interact daily. Develop these skills through activities such as engaging in debate, making formal presentations in class, or speaking before groups in school, the community, or the workplace.

Organization and Management Skills

To study and practice law, you will need to organize large amounts of information, identify objectives, and create a structure for applying that information in an efficient way in order to achieve desired results. You can develop this skill through undertaking school projects that require substantial research and writing, or through the preparation of major reports for an employer, a school, or a civic organization.

There are certain basic areas of knowledge that will be helpful to you during your legal education and your development as a competent lawyer. Types of knowledge that will maximize your ability to benefit from a legal education include a broad understanding of the following:

• History, including the various factors (social, political, economic, and cultural) that have influenced the development of our society in the United States.
• Political thought and of the contemporary American political system
• Economics (particularly micro-economics and an understanding of the interaction between Economic theory and public policy)
• Basic mathematical and financial skills, such as algebra, statistics, and an ability to analyze financial data
• Human behavior and social interaction
• Diverse cultures within and beyond the United States, International institutions and issues, world events, and the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities

• Online Courses--Online sections of semester based university classes, or online/in person hybrid sections of semester based classes will usually be accepted. Online courses which are not university semester based (independent study with flexible start and completion) will generally not be accepted.
• Withdrawals--W’s should be used only for emergencies, although W’s will not affect your GPA, and are better than low grades. One or two is not a concern, but more than that could require an explanation.
• GPA—While GPA requirements vary from school to school, a competitive GPA for a wide range of schools is generally in the 3.5 or higher range. GPAs lower than this can limit the number of schools to which you can apply.
• Repeated Courses—All grades from ALL attempts at a class are counted in your GPA when you apply for law school. (This is different from the U of U’s policy to only count the most recent attempt.)
• CR/NC grades: A CR grade will not be included your GPA when applying to law school (the same as the U of U policy). However, unlike at the U of U, an NC grade will be converted into a failing grade (an E) by This includes exercise and activity classes, so it is important to participate and avoid receiving NC grades.

Law schools vary on their view of classes taken at Community Colleges. Some look on them with some disfavor, other schools readily accept them.  Students should be aware of this when planning their education.

There are a number of very good reasons for students to begin their college education at a Community College, but you should transfer up to a university as soon as is practical. Certainly you should not take more than 2 years of a 4 year degree there.