University of Michigan-Flint

With almost seventy majors and sixteen graduate programs, the University of Michigan-Flint is strategically positioned to prepare its students for the challenges and rewards of a legal career.

When thinking about the legal profession, great scenes from the judiciary often come to mind, with imagery of drama and high stakes. From literature and plays to televised series about law firms and celebrity court cases, the courtroom has dominated the public perception of what it is to be a lawyer. Lawyering, though, is far more complex, because lawyers fill important roles across many sectors, including public, private, academic, government, entertainment, and nonprofit. In this way, the diversity of opportunities one has as a lawyer is immeasurable and range from—among many others—starting a practice, writing law, or teaching; to advising politicians, reviewing movie scripts, or practicing criminal law.

Whether you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer or only recently have discovered your calling, you have an entire built-in support network at UM-Flint ready to guide you and push your development potential to the next level. Our core methodology of law school preparation emphasizes the functional approach recommended by the majority of law schools, instead of a structurally predefined approach—and, as such, it is flexible in regard to your ambitions and pliable to your needs. Since our pre-law advisors have advised successful applicants for many years, our advice to you is not only based in developmental theory, but also grounded in practice.

Getting into law school will be difficult. As you may already know, you will be competing for limited spaces against your peers, and a third up to a half will not get in. Understandably, this might make your goals seem unapproachable at times, but if you’re willing to study hard, come to class prepared, become involved in student life, and approach law school preparation as though your future depended on it (which it does), then our faculty and staff will empower your decisions and support your ambitions with sound advice and a True Blue education.

The good news is you don’t need to know constitutional case law, like Gideon v. Wainwright or Miranda v. Arizona, to get into law school (but, if you want to, we encourage you to take POL 380). You don’t need to work in a law firm or clerk for the public defender’s office on your summer break, either—although having these experiences wouldn’t hurt your chances. What matters most are your hard work, solid grades, a good LSAT score, and a well-written personal statement. The entire process to get into law school takes determination. It also takes a sincere conviction—one demonstrated through solid academic preparation and a practical approach to the admissions process.