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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2026-2027

Pre-Law (advising track)

VCU Student Success

 
Program description

Students interested in a pre-law track may pursue any undergraduate major as there are no particular prerequisites or specific majors necessary for entrance to law school.


Because students cannot earn a specific pre-law degree,  students with an interest in preparing for law school must declare an academic major.  Pre-law students are encouraged to major in fields of  interest to them and develop their reading comprehension, writing, research, and analytical skills.  Students wishing to specialize in a particular area of law may choose majors from academic disciplines as diverse as art, music, computer science, engineering, nursing, education, business or social work. Taking a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors is excellent preparation for a legal education. 


VCU Career Services supports aspiring law students by offering career advisory services regarding the law school admissions process.  Pre-law advising through Career Services does not guarantee admission to law school. Students must apply separately to law schools of their choice at the appropriate time.

Career opportunities

Lawyers or attorneys represent and provide legal advice to clients, participate in legal proceedings, and may draft legal documents or oversee legal transactions.  They work for law firms, private businesses, government agencies, and public interest organizations.  Lawyers may choose to specialize in a particular area such as criminal law, corporate law, intellectual property, family law, or environmental law or may be general practitioners.


A lawyer should be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; strong writing skills are required to prepare briefs and other legal documents.  They may be required to identify risks and effectively communicate the same to clients and represent them during litigation.  In addition, lawyers must be able to work independently with strong attention to detail with the ability to organize and prioritize a heavy workload, conduct research, critically analyze information, review contracts, evaluate evidence, and interpret previous court findings.

Change of major requirements

None.

Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Congressperson
  • Judge
  • Lawyer
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • No
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • Focus on achieving a high GPA for more likely acceptance into law school: a 3.0+ cumulative GPA is recommended.

Contact information

Department name:
VCU Career Services
Building/room location:
University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Avenue #143, Richmond, VA 23284
Phone:
(804) 828-1645
Email:
careers@vcu.edu
https://careers.vcu.edu/majors-and-careers/career-pathways/law/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
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Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
  • Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
  • Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
  • Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
  • Prioritize your grades since GPA is an important factor for law school admission.
  • Pursue a major that interests you and focus on developing your reading comprehension, writing, research, and analytical skills—there are no required majors or prerequisite classes for law school.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Connect with a VCU alumnus, faculty or staff member, or someone in your personal network who attended law school for an informational interview.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Meet with VCU Career Services to discuss your interests and plans for law school.
  • Review the pre-law pathway on the Career Services website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Look for writing-intensive classes within your major or consider writing-focused classes outside of your major.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Volunteer with vulnerable or underserved communities, focusing on depth of experiences instead of breadth and reflecting on the challenges various populations might face within the legal system.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Apply for the Virginia Capitol Semester program to develop exposure to the legislative process.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Review resources on the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Review the pre-law pathway to help you choose a law-related class to confirm if you enjoy this type of coursework.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • If considering time off before law school, talk to your career advisor about your plans for your gap year(s).
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Draft your personal statement and have it reviewed by your career advisor.
  • Research and contact law schools that interest you, make a list of minimum LSAT scores, and get ready to take the LSAT.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Ask your mentors and other potential recommenders to write a letter of recommendation.
  • Most law schools have rolling admissions with fewer seats left as the final deadline approaches so try to apply early in the cycle before December 1.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2026-2027

Pre-Law (advising track)

VCU Student Success

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
  • Map out a 4-year course plan in DegreeWorks' Student Educational Planner.
  • Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to start goal planning, and choose electives.
  • Sharpen your study skills in Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
  • Prioritize your grades since GPA is an important factor for law school admission.
  • Pursue a major that interests you and focus on developing your reading comprehension, writing, research, and analytical skills—there are no required majors or prerequisite classes for law school.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Connect with a VCU alumnus, faculty or staff member, or someone in your personal network who attended law school for an informational interview.
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Meet with VCU Career Services to discuss your interests and plans for law school.
  • Review the pre-law pathway on the Career Services website.
Experience Year 2
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your major advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Look for writing-intensive classes within your major or consider writing-focused classes outside of your major.
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Volunteer with vulnerable or underserved communities, focusing on depth of experiences instead of breadth and reflecting on the challenges various populations might face within the legal system.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Apply for the Virginia Capitol Semester program to develop exposure to the legislative process.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach at the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Review resources on the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website.
Year 3
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Review the pre-law pathway to help you choose a law-related class to confirm if you enjoy this type of coursework.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • If considering time off before law school, talk to your career advisor about your plans for your gap year(s).
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Draft your personal statement and have it reviewed by your career advisor.
  • Research and contact law schools that interest you, make a list of minimum LSAT scores, and get ready to take the LSAT.
Excel Year 4
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Read scholarly articles about internationalization in your field.
  • Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Ask your mentors and other potential recommenders to write a letter of recommendation.
  • Most law schools have rolling admissions with fewer seats left as the final deadline approaches so try to apply early in the cycle before December 1.