Pre-Law Advising at K-State

K-State Pre-Law is a non-degree designation that supplements any field of study. This designation is added to your academic plan and will be reflected on your transcript. Pre-Law has no required coursework.

After adding Pre-Law to your plan, you will be assigned a Pre-Law advisor in addition to your major advisor. The Pre-Law advisor will provide you with assistance and support to help create a competetive application for admission into law school. This includes providing a robust program of experiences to expose students to a wide variety of legal career options and help you start building your legal network.

Our interdisciplinary program serves over 300 K-State students each year from a diverse amount of majors. Over 60 K-Staters are admitted to law schools each year, of whom about 25 percent choose to stay in-state. Other students choose one of the almost 200 accredited law schools nationwide. K-State graduates have an excellent track record of receiving competitive scholarships, making their legal education more affordable.

Review the Pre-Law Program Guide for a printable summary of information.

Program Highlights

LEAD Program K-State to University of Kansas Law School 3+3 Program

Mock Trial

Pre-Law Ambassadors

Rural Legal Practice Initiative

Experiential Learning. Pre-Law students learn about possible careers through enriching experiences in the legal field:

• Kansas Supreme Court and Kansas Court of Appeals Arguments. Each fall, a panel of judges from a Kansas appellate court hears oral arguments at the K-State Student Union. Students can read the case briefs, observe arguments, and network with the judges over lunch and special receptions.
• Court observation. Students recently traveled to Wichita, Kansas to observe a criminal trial at the United States District Court in Wichita, KS, had lunch with U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren, and toured the courthouse. We also watched oral arguments at the Kansas Supreme Court, had lunch with the Justices, and toured teh Kansas Judicial Center.
• Law firm visits. Students recently visited Foulston Siefkin, LLP, Wichita, KS, for a reception with attorneys in various practice groups and a young attorney panel about “Life as a Lawyer,”; and Husch Blackwell, Kansas City, MO, to meet attorneys from several practice groups and a tour of the firm.

Legal Speaker Series. Each semester, we invite judges, practitioners, and other relevant speakers to provide insight into a variety of legal careers through roundtable or lecture events. Students are encouraged to ask questions and engage with the speakers about what it’s like to practice law. Recent legal speakers include:

• Kimberly Helvey, Office of Immigration Litigation-District Court Section, Washington, D.C., Immigration Law
• Cole Hawver, Chief Public Defender, Criminal Law
• Professor Lumen Mulligan, KU Law, Mock Law Class & Mock Moot Court Class
• Marshall Honeyman, Erise IP, Intellectual Property and Patent Law
• Audrey Mross, Munck, Wilson & Mandala, Dallas, TX, Labor & Employment Law
• Mikel Stout, Foulston Siefkin, LLP, Wichita, KS, Environmental Litigation
• KSU-Institute for Commercialization, Intellectual Property and Internships
• Elsbeth Magilton, Space, Cyber, and Telecommunications Law at Nebraska College of Law, International Space Law

Legal service projects. By partnering with local practitioners to provide legal service to the community, students gain practical experience, network with local attorneys, and serve our community. Recent service projects include:

• Students volunteered at Clean Slate Day, a free expungement clinic sponsored by the Riley County Bar Association and Kansas Legal Services to help community members remove barriers on their records to affordable housing and employment
• Pre-Law students assisted local law firm Addair Thurston Chtd., which hosted a Free Immigration Clinic to assist community members with U.S. citizenship paperwork.

Law School Networking.

• Law Fair. In early September, K-State invites over 50 law schools from across the nation to the K-State campus. Pre-Law students have the opportunity to meet with representatives and ask questions about applications and programs.
• Washburn Law School Dean’s Reception. Every fall, Dean Carla Pratt of Washburn Law School, faculty members, and alumni host students and help them learn more about law school, the application process, and the legal profession.
• KU Law Dinner with the Dean. In April, Charlie and Julie Hostetler host the Dean of KU Law School, faculty, alumni, and current students to meet with K-State pre-law students for a cocktail hour and dinner to learn more about KU Law.
• One-on-one appointments. Each spring semester, we invite admissions deans from Washburn Law School, KU Law School, and Nebraska Law School to talk one-on-one with our students.
• Visits to law schools. Join a sponsored trip to visit regional law schools. Students tour the schools, sit in on law classes, have lunch with admissions personnel, talk with career services teams, and receive advice from panels of current law students.

LSAT Preparation. We are committed to helping you prepare for the LSAT.

• Practice proctored LSAT administrations. Every semester, the Pre-Law office proctors at least one full-length practice LSAT for students to get experience in exam-like conditions.
• UFM LSAT Preparation Course. Each spring, our students have the opportunity to enroll in a non-credit UFM course to prepare for the LSAT.
• LSAT study group. Students studying for upcoming LSAT administrations get together to take practice exams and review answers in small groups.
• Logic Workshops. The K-State Philosophy Department helps students learn the basics of logical reasoning in workshops geared toward LSAT preparation.
• Resource Library. The Pre-Law office has a library of test prep materials, LSAT practice tests, and advice for using digital materials. Come check it out in the Berney Family Welcome Center!
• For more information about how to prepare for the LSAT, see our page here.

Law school admissions assistance. Attend Law Fairs, personal statement/resume workshops, one-on-one meetings with admissions representatives, and many other opportunities!

Alumni Mentoring. Connect with our alumni network through alumni events and mentorship opportunities. Distinguished K-State alumni who have attended law school have included a chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court, a federal district judge, a dean of the University of Kansas Law School, and a number of Kansas legislators.

Dedicated one-on-one advising. Meet with your Pre-Law Advisor as often as you need for personalized advice regarding relevant coursework, LSAT preparation, and law school applications.

2020-2021 Assessment Report