At the University of Illinois, pre-law is not a major, but rather an educational designation. Students interested in attending law school are not required to complete any specific coursework or major to be eligible to apply to law school in the future. The over 2,000 designated pre-law students at Illinois come from a wide variety of disciplines and majors. Any student with an interest in attending law school is encouraged to become a pre-law designated student and engage in the many resources offered through PLAS.
Choosing Your Academic Major or Minor
Pre-law students are encouraged to make curricular choices that reflect their interests and are best suited for their long-term success. PLAS offers guidance to students each semester on choosing majors and courses that will help support their goals of law school and their individual interests.
Step One: Designate
Add the “pre-law designation” to your academic record. You can add it to your academic record by
- filling out the pre-law designation form, or
- expressing an interest in pre-law during the application/admission process
Be sure to let your academic advisor for your major or minor know about your interest in pre-law to help inform your planning and conversations!
Step Two: Connect
Connect with Pre-Law Advising Services through our many resources, including the listserv, Instagram, Canvas, events & programs, and advising appointments.
Step Three: Engage
Stay engaged with Pre-Law Advising Services by connecting with us at least once a semester through an advising appointment, participating in our yearly and ongoing programs, and staying up-to-date on relevant topics through the blog.
Pre-Law for Prospective Students & Families
How does PLAS help?
PLAS assists students and alumni with every step of the pre-law journey. To learn more about how we supported our pre-law Illini during the 2023-2024 academic year, watch the 1-minute video below!
How do I utilize the website?
The PLAS website is a collection of valuable information and resources. Below is a list of ways to approach the website:
On-Demand Resources: access the Blog, Handbook, and Canvas pages to obtain answers to common questions.
Calendar of Events: explore PLAS recurring workshops and special events through the PLAS Calendar. You can view campus and community events related to pre-law through the Pre-Law Campus & External Events Calendar. Or, explore the Pre-Law Master Calendar to view all events in one place.
One-on-One Appointments: make an individual advising appointment about your specific questions and goals or to receive assistance on your law applications.
How can I connect and engage with PLAS?
You can connect with PLAS through any of our workshops, events, programs, advising appointments, and special initiatives. How much you engage with PLAS is up to you! However, we encourage anyone applying to law school to make an appointment with our office no later than the fall of your junior year. We are here for you every step of your pre-law journey.
Below are additional ways to connect:
Instagram: follow PLAS on Instagram for updates, special announcements, and other great information!
Listserv: if you have the pre-law designation on your account, you are automatically added to the listserv. If you don’t, you may request to join the listserv or to be designated pre-law at any time by filling out the pre-law designation form.
Pre-Law 101: our foundational workshop is the Pre-Law 101 series. This program is a great first step to learning more about pre-law. Visit the PLAS Calendar for upcoming workshops.
I have so many questions! Where do I start?
At PLAS we love questions! We highly recommend starting with the Pre-Law 101 series as it provides an overview of legal education, the law application process, legal careers, and steps to take as a pre-law student to prepare for law school and law admissions.
You are also welcome to make an advising appointment with a pre-law advisor. And, if you are looking for on-demand answers to many common questions, check out the PLAS Handbook and the PLAS Canvas page.