McKenna Nonnenmann
All pre-law students ask at some point, “How do I get into law school?” As SHSU undergrads ourselves, many of us have the same question. Half of Sam Houston students are first-generation, many of whom have not even met an attorney. That changed last week, when Megan Henson, Associate Dean of Admissions at The University of Tulsa College of Law, came to SHSU to provide pre-law students with an overview of the application timeline, answer questions, and, in general, to help us understand the process.
Professor Yawn introduced PLS President Olivia Discon, who in turn, introduced Dean Henson.
Many factors play into the success of a law school application. Applying to law school is like applying to any other higher educational institution: it is important that you put your best application forward. Apart from a good GPA and LSAT score, law schools are looking for grade progression throughout one’s undergrad years. Megan Henson noted that a good grade progression points out a student’s work ethic and sets them apart from other applicants.
Also important is a strong personal statement, one that reflect a student’s character, writing skills, and their ability to follow instructions.
When applying to law schools, organization is also important; simply listing the schools and their application deadlines allows a student to organize their time instead of scrabbling to put it together at the last minute.
We also gained some insight on the typical law class. Law classes rely heavily on the Socratic Method, which involves reading outside of class and deliberating over the cases in class. We also learned that the American Bar Association requires law students to take a minimum of 6 clinical hours. This helps law students better understand the workings of a lawyer in and out of a courtroom.
In short, we learned “how to get into law school,” but also much more! There are many moving parts that go into practicing law, and many of us are about to take our first step to get there. We greatly appreciate Megan Henson for taking the time to travel to Huntsville, Texas and speak with us about the law school admissions process and to all the students who attended!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 