Legal Futures Resources

Arizona Judicial Branch

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2023 Resources

It is never too early to start planning for what type of law you may want to practice and preparing for a career in the legal profession.

*Resources and information cited from URLs below for Legal Futures 2023, Arizona Supreme Court, Commission on Diversity, Equality, and Justice in the Judiciary.

Arizona Legal Paraprofessional

A Legal Paraprofessional is a professional with specific education and experience who is licensed to provide legal services in limited practice areas. This professional is often compared to a nurse practitioner in the medical field.

LP PROGRAM

National Prelaw Resources

Check any college/university website for a pre-law program and find scholarships/programs for undergraduates at AccessLex.

ASPIRING LAW STUDENTS

University of Arizona

University of Arizona offers a Bachelor of Arts in Law degree.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LAW

They also have a pathway to graduate from law school.

3+3 BACHELORS / JURIS DOCTOR

University of Arizona Cont.

Pre-Law Advising is an advising support program for students and alumni of the University of Arizona. The goal of this program is to offer you information and resources on the law school admission process and to help you design your pathway to law school.

PRE LAW ADVISING

Northern Arizona University

NAU’s pre-law advising and support prepares Lumberjacks considering law school—whether on day one of your freshman year or deciding later in your undergraduate career.

NAU PRELAW

Arizona State University

Prelaw advising supports all current students and alumni interested in pursuing a career in law and the application to law school.

ASU PRELAW

Arizona Paralegal Association

Arizona's largest paralegal association.

AZPARALEGAL.ORG

Law Fraternity

P.A.D.’s prelaw program assists undergraduate students in making an informed decision about pursuing a legal career, deciding which law school to attend, and preparing for law school.

PHI ALPHA DELTA (P.A.D.)

Law School Admission Council (LSAC)

The Prelaw Undergradulate Program (PLUS) is specifically aimed at undergraduate students and prospective law school applicants one year away from applying who are from minoritized groups that are underrepresented in the legal profession. There is no cost to apply or to attend the program if selected.

PLUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

American Bar Association (ABA) Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund

The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship grants 10 - 20 incoming diverse law students with $15,000 of financial aid over their three years in law school.

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Law School Admission Test Options

The LSAT is the most trusted test in law school admissions and the only test accepted by all ABA-accredited law schools.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION TEST

Some schools accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test for admission.

Arizona Attorney Magazine

Beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act - authored by CODEJ member, Honorable Randall Howe.

READ ARTICLE

Checklist for Success: High School
✔	Focus on developing your critical thinking, reading, research, and writing skills.	✔	Become involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer within your community.
✔	If possible, it’s beneficial to gain early exposure to the legal field by volunteering or shadowing a lawyer at a local law firm.	✔	Maintain good grades throughout high school.
✔	Study for and take either the SAT or the ACT. Be sure to plan when you are taking the test to ensure that you have enough time to retake it if needed.	✔	Research colleges and universities you are interested in and begin thinking about what you want to major in. There isn't a specific major that is required for law school, so choose something that interests you.
✔	Apply for college. If you don’t plan on taking a gap year, apply during the first semester of your senior year of high school.

Checklist for Success: College
✔	Once you begin your undergraduate degree, strive to maintain a good GPA.	✔	Study for and take either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This test is only offered four times a year, so plan to take the exam early enough in case you need to retake it.
✔	Similar to high school, continue participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering, and applying for internships that you are passionate about.	✔	Continue developing critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills in your undergraduate curriculum.
✔	Research what type of law you are interested in and what law schools would be best for you and your interests.	✔	Develop professional relationships with professors and faculty members for strong letters of recommendation to use for your law school applications.
✔	Work on your personal statement for your law school application. Be sure to give yourself enough time to revise if necessary.	✔	Obtain a four-year undergraduate degree at a college or university.
✔	Determine if you want to take a gap between your undergraduate degree and law school. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break, and many individuals opt to gain professional working experience before attending law school.