Overview

There is no prescribed major or minor for students planning to attend law school. Calvin students with a variety of majors are accepted into outstanding law programs across the country. With the help of your academic adviser, the classes you select will prepare you for the Law School Admission Test. Recommended courses include those which help you develop core skills in writing, critical thinking and public speaking.

Careers in Pre-Law

• Judicial Clerk
• Lobbyist
• State or Federal Legislator
• Nonprofit lawyer
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Spend a semester studying in Washington D.C.; Get a summer job as a legal assistant or messenger; Be paired with attorney mentors working in the legal field.

Course Requirements 2012-13

Pre-Law

Although law school applicants must have a college degree, there is no prescribed program or major specifically designed for students planning to enter law school. Prospective law school applicants should complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree as prescribed in the core curriculum, taking advantage of the opportunities provided therein to acquire skills, knowledge, and insights useful for the practice of law.

The pre-law advisor, J. Westra of the Political Science department, can help students to plan programs and select courses that provide good preparation for law school. The pre-law advisor also can help to guide students through the processes of identifying law as a calling, preparing for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and applying to law schools.

Pre-law students should declare their interest in the pre-law specialization during academic advising and should plan to attend the pre-law information sessions that are held at the beginning of each fall semester. Pre-law students normally take the LSAT In the spring of their junior year and should apply for admission to law school during the fall of their senior year.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 academic year.

Bere' Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $900
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.50+
• planning to attend law school; financial need secondary factor; Christian character, motivation, potential for service as a lawyer
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Thomas F. Caldon, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,050
• first-year
• HS GPA 3.3+
• financial need required
• automatic consideration

Honorable John Feikens Memorial Pre-Law Scholarship

• award amount: $3,600
• junior or senior
• financial need considered; pursuing a pre-law program or a degree in political science;planning to attend law school
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Kenneth L. Ryskamp Scholarship

• award amount: $4,400
• sophomore, junior or senior
• GPA of 3.3+
• financial need required; demonstrate Christian faith and indicate how their Christian faith will be used in the practice of law and how they plan to use their law degree to benefit the Kingdom
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Jacob and Rena Van Dellen Scholarship

• award amount: $2,500
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Wallace (Dutch) and Olive Waalkes Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $2,800
• junior or senior
• GPA 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to seniors
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Johan and Wilma Westra Scholarship

• award amount: $1,000
• junior or senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need required; preference to those who are active in volunteer work and with a career goal in public service
• apply through the political science department

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty