Preparing for Law School
Is law school your goal? The Huntingdon College Law Track provides the knowledge and skills for success in law school and in your profession.
Challenging coursework, an emphasis on writing and critical thinking, and opportunities for meaningful internships give you a competitive advantage for admission to law school programs. Since your professors will know you well, they’re recommendation letters will strengthen your law school application. As you progress through the track, a dedicated pre-law adviser will meet with you to assess your goals and encourage your progress toward them.
Through it all, the Center for Career and Vocation is there to provide mock interviews and resume preparation experience.
Five Steps to Professional School Admission
- Complete a bachelor’s degree in any major;
- Achieve excellent grades overall, emphasizing writing, communication, and critical thinking skills;
- Earn a competitive LSAT score;
- Get involved as a public service volunteer; and
- Obtain internship or work experience in a law or public service setting.
Law schools do not select students on the basis of major. Huntingdon graduates with majors in English, the natural and social sciences, communication studies, business administration, and a number of other majors have been admitted to law school programs. Choose the major that interests you most. Keep in mind that juris doctorate programs want to see a challenging undergraduate major, rich in depth and breadth in order to demonstrate that you are prepared for your next step.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
The LSAT, administered by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), provides a standard measure of reading and reasoning skills used as one of several factors for assessing applicants. The LSAT tests reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning. You can see why critical thinking and reasoning skills are of great importance to doing well on this test.
Juris Doctorate Program Admission Requirements
Juris Doctorate programs base their decisions on these factors:
- The application for admission and application fee;
- Credential Assembly Service (CAS) law school report or LSAT law school report if the school does not require CAS;
- Letters of recommendation and evaluations; and
- Any additional requirements unique to the program.
The LSAC website provides a helpful LSAT checklist for admission procedures and tips.
Internships
It is important to gain experience in the field to strengthen your resume and application. Huntingdon Law Track students have interned with:
- The Office of the Attorney General, Alabama
- The Office of the Governor, Alabama
- Alabama Legislature Reading and Research Services
- The Office of former U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (Huntingdon Class of 1969)
- Numerous other offices of U.S. and state legislators, both in the state and in Washington, D.C.
- Alabama Law Institute
- Public service and non-profit organizations
- A wide range of legal practices
Placements
Among other programs, Huntingdon graduates have earned degrees in the schools of law at these colleges and universities:
- University of Alabama
- Barry University
- Boston University
- Catholic University of America
- University of Chicago
- Emory University
- Faulkner University
- Florida Coastal School of Law
- Florida State University
- Loyola University
- Mercer University
- University of Miami
- Michigan State University
- Mississippi College
- Rutgers University
- Samford University
- South Texas College of Law
- Southern Methodist University
- University of Tennessee
- University of Tulsa
- Valparaiso University School of Law
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Virginia
- Washington University-St. Louis
Notable Huntingdon Alumni in the Field
- U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions ’69
- James Anderson ’76, Circuit Court Judge, Montgomery, Alabama
- Leura Garrett Canary ’78, former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama; Legal Counsel for the Retirement Systems of Alabama
- Frederick Frost ’81, Chief Attorney, ExxonMobil Chemical Corp., Houston, Texas
- Kristi Dubose ’86, U.S. District Judge for the Southeastern District of Alabama
- Kimberly Keefer Boone ’92, Director of the Legal Writing Program and Legal Writing Lecturer at the University of Alabama School of Law
- Cindy Barnes Hayden ’99, Director of Governmental Affairs for Altria Client Services, Washington, D.C.; former Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jan Shackelford ’85, Judge of the First Judicial Circuit Court, Pensacola, Florida
- William Stone ’78, Administrative Circuit Court Judge, Shalimar, Florida
- Brett Steele ’92, Attorney, Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta
- Dale Segrest ’64, Alabama Circuit Judge, retired
- Marc Starett ’90, Attorney, Criminal Appeals Division, Alabama Attorney General’s Office
- Robert (’92) and Clark (’93) Stankoski, Attorneys, Stankoski, LLC, Fairhope, Alabama
- Brigadier General (Ret.) James Mungenast ’71
- Judge Advocate General Ryan Oakley ’98, U.S. Air Force
- Joe Hubbard ’03, solo-practicing in Montgomery, former member of the Alabama House of Representatives
- Numerous attorneys, partners, and legal firm share-holders practicing in Alabama and around the United States
Huntingdon Law Track Adviser: Elizabeth Hutcheon, Ph.D.
