Kalamazoo College offers strong pre-law pathways for students interested in law school or legal careers. Law schools accept students from every major, and they look for applicants who have challenged themselves academically and built strong skills in writing, analysis, communication, and reasoning. K’s writing-intensive and discussion-based curriculum helps students develop these skills in any field of study.
Pre-law students at K are supported by both faculty and the CCPD. Faculty guide students through rigorous coursework that sharpens critical thinking and writing. The CCPD helps students explore the legal profession, connect with alumni in law, find internships, and prepare for the application process. Students can also join student organizations like the Aspiring Law Student Organization or Phi Alpha Delta pre-law society, which create community and offer programs for those interested in legal careers.
If you would like to talk through your interests or next steps, you can stop by the Career Studio for drop-in support or schedule a Careers in Law appointment with a CCPD staff member. This page provides information to help you:
- understand the skills law schools value
- explore law-related career paths
- gain hands-on experience
- prepare strong law school applications

Ways to Explore Careers in Law
- Take assessments in PathwayU and explore law-related careers
- Connect with alumni through KConnect who are practicing law or working in related fields.
- Request a career conversation or job shadow with an alum.
- Apply for internships with law firms, nonprofits, or government offices (see Handshake listings).
- See Recommended Reading and Viewing below to explore the field of law.
- Join the Aspiring Law Student Organization (ALSO) or Phi Alpha Delta (PAD) (pre-law society).
Read about the work of the Aspiring Law Student Organization here: Student Group Seeks Alumni Who Work in Law
Is Law Right for You?
Law can be meaningful and intellectually engaging, but it can also be demanding and a major investment of time, energy, and money. Students exploring a pre-law path should take time to reflect on their motivations and explore the wide range of law-related careers.
Questions to ask yourself:
• Why am I considering law?
• What issues or causes matter most to me?
• Do I enjoy research, writing, and problem solving?
• What type of work environment appeals to me: corporate, nonprofit, government, or international?
The CCPD can help you explore these questions. Visit the Career Studio or schedule a Careers in Law appointment to meet with a staff member.
Law-Related Career Paths
Careers That Require a JD
- Corporate and Business Law: advising companies on contracts, mergers, and compliance
- Public Interest and Nonprofit Law: advocating for underserved communities or causes
- Government Service: working as a prosecutor, public defender, or policy advisor
- Specialized Practice: intellectual property, health, environmental, or immigration law
- International Law and Human Rights: working with NGOs, global organizations, or in diplomacy
Law-Related Careers That Do Not Require JD
Not all law-related careers require law school. Many students discover meaningful paths outside of a JD program:
- Paralegal or Legal Assistant: research, drafting, and case preparation
- Compliance and Risk Management: ensuring organizations follow laws and regulations
- Policy Analysis and Advocacy: shaping public policy in government, nonprofits, or think tanks
- Court Administration and Legal Services: supporting judicial processes
- Mediation and Conflict Resolution: helping people resolve disputes outside the courtroom
- Law Enforcement and Regulatory Agencies: investigative or enforcement roles
Pre-Law Skills and Recommended Coursework
Kalamazoo College prepares students well for law school because it emphasizes strong writing, analytical reasoning, and inquiry across the curriculum. Law schools do not require specific majors or courses; they look for evidence of rigorous academic work and key skills.
Core skills law schools require:
- Critical reading and analysis
- Persuasive writing and oral communication
- Logical reasoning and debate
- Research and information literacy
- Confident self-presentation and collaboration
Pre-Law Course Recommendations
Students do not need a set list of courses to prepare for law school, but some classes introduce questions and frameworks that often appear in legal work. The following courses at K relate most directly to law:
- POLS 225: Constitutional Law
- POLS 229: Race, Law and US Politics
- POLS 320: Democracy and Democratic Theory
- PHIL 210: Classical and Contemporary Social Contract Theory
- PHIL 211: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 215: Human Rights and International Law
- ECON 280: Law and Economics
These courses reflect areas of study that many K students have found helpful as they prepare for law school. They are not required, and students can build strong preparation through many different paths across the curriculum.
How Your Coursework Can Shape Your Path
Students preparing for law school often discover that their strongest foundation comes from exploring widely across the liberal arts. College can serve as a lab for trying out new subjects, testing ideas, and noticing which courses challenge your thinking.
Different fields build different skills:
- Literature, languages, and writing-intensive humanities: close reading, interpretation, and persuasive writing
- Mathematics, computer science, and data-oriented fields: structured and logical reasoning
- Psychology, anthropology-sociology, and social sciences: understanding people, communities, and social systems
- Theatre, media studies, and performance-based courses: confidence in public speaking and clear expression
Exploring across the curriculum can also help you notice areas of law that interest you. For example, work in:
- Sciences → environmental, health, technology, or patent law
- Theatre, music, art, media → entertainment or copyright law
- Critical Ethnic studies, anso, political science, international studies → civil rights, immigration, human rights, international law
- Economics or business → corporate, tax, or regulatory law
- Religion or philosophy → ethics, justice, constitutional questions
- English, classics, world languages → advocacy, interpretation, international work
These examples are not the full range of possibilities. Pre-law students are encouraged to pay attention to the questions that stay with them and follow those paths more deeply.
Building Your Pre-Law Plan
A strong pre-law plan grows out of taking courses that make you think harder and communicate more clearly.
- Close reading of complex texts
- Frequent writing
- Analytical or problem-solving work
- Group discussion and collaboration
Use your coursework as a place to experiment, challenge yourself, and follow your curiosity. Law schools care far more about the skills you develop than about specific classes. The habits you build by engaging deeply across the curriculum will serve you well in law school and beyond.
Preparing for Law School
Law school applications require careful planning. Start early and make use of CCPD support to keep on track.
A typical law school application includes the following:
- LSAT or GRE (most schools prefer the LSAT)
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS) through LSAC
- Personal Statement explaining your motivation and story
- Letters of Recommendation from faculty who know your work
- Résumé that highlights academics, leadership, and work experience
Timeline tips:
- First & Second Years: Explore majors, take writing- and analysis-heavy courses, connect with alumni, consider law-related internships
- Junior Year: Begin LSAT preparation (and/or GRE, as some law schools accept GRE), research schools, continue gaining experience
- Senior Year: Complete the LSAT (if needed), request recommendation letters, write your personal statement, apply
How the CCPD supports pre-law students:
- Feedback on résumés, personal statements, and application materials
- Practice interviews
- Connections with alumni and professionals in legal careers
- Guidance on understanding law school costs
Resources and Tools
Kalamazoo College Resources
Law School Application Resources
- Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
- LSAT Dates
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- XploreJD to help match your goals with schools
- Law School Transparency for employment and cost data
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
- Equal Justice Works for public interest careers
- Ms. JD for women in law
Recommended Reading and Viewing
Books, films, documentaries, and podcasts can give you an honest look at law school and the legal profession. Start with a few of the core picks, and explore more if you want different perspectives.
Core Picks (most accurate and widely recommended)
- Law School Confidential (Robert H. Miller) — practical, insider’s guide to surviving law school
- 24 Hours with 24 Lawyers (Jasper Kim) — real-life snapshots of different legal careers
- The Bramble Bush (Karl N. Llewellyn) — a classic on how to think like a lawyer
- Getting to Maybe (Fischl & Paul) — how to approach law school exams
- One L (Scott Turow) — memoir of a first year at Harvard Law School
- Double Billing (Cameron Stracher) — candid look at corporate law
Films and Documentaries
- The Paper Chase (1973) — depiction of 1L life and the Socratic method
- On the Basis of Sex (2018) — Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s early career
- RBG (2018) — documentary on Justice Ginsburg’s legacy
- A Civil Action (1998) — environmental law and corporate accountability
- Erin Brockovich (2000) — legal advocacy and social justice
Entertaining but Insightful
These are dramatized but still raise valuable questions about law, ethics, and advocacy:
- Legally Blonde (2001)
- A Few Good Men (1992)
- 12 Angry Men (1957)
- The Firm (1993)
- Marshall (2017)
Documentaries on Justice and Reform
- Hot Coffee — tort reform and corporate influence
- Making a Murderer — wrongful convictions and systemic flaws
- The Staircase — a murder trial and defense strategy
- The Innocence Files — stories of exoneration and justice reform
Podcasts for Aspiring Law Students
- The Law School Toolbox Podcast — practical tips for law school success
- I Am The Law — real lawyers share what their jobs are really like
- Strict Scrutiny — deep dives into Supreme Court cases
- ABA Law Student Podcast — exams, career advice, and law school life
- The Lawyerist Podcast — the future of law practice and innovation