Pre-Law at UVM | The University of Vermont

The political science department is especially strong in American constitutional law and legal issues—we have four full-time faculty whose research and teaching focus is the law field and a rigorous pre-law program. Many of our graduates have advanced to law school and moved on to careers as attorneys, judges, law enforcement, public advocates, policymakers, corporate legal counsel, and professors.

The University of Vermont (UVM) and Vermont Law School (VLS) offer a unique dual-degree program leading to a bachelor’s in three years and a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in two years. The Vermont 3+2 Program enables highly focused students to earn both degrees in less time and at less cost from two distinguished institutions. Students may choose to enter the program from selected majors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Pre-Law Advising

We provide pre-law advising to all departmental majors and minors. While there is no pre-law major or certificate program, the political science department's pre-law initiative is available to help students in the following areas:

helping students decide whether they wish to pursue a legal career;
academic preparation for law school, including guidance on course selection and developing faculty mentoring relationships;
professional preparation for law school, including helping students secure employment or internships in law offices, so as to expose students to the day-to-day lives of lawyers;
locating sources for training to take the Law School Admissions Test;
exploring alternatives to law school for students who are interested in the study of law, but not interested in becoming practicing attorneys.

Questions and Answers About Law School

Is law school really for me? This is just a start—the political science department's pre-law advisors can help you decide whether law school is an appropriate destination. We can also connect you with practicing legal professionals who can offer valuable insights to help guide your decision.

Read FAQs About Law School (PDF)