Pre-Law
at UMass Dartmouth

Open to all UMass Dartmouth undergraduates, pre-law advising helps students in any major explore legal careers, plan coursework, and prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Advisors offer year-round guidance selecting classes that build critical reading, writing, and analytical skills, as well as support with law school applications, internships, and networking. UMassD alumni are also welcome to access pre-law advising services.

Students majoring in crime and justice studies, philosophy, or political science can pursue a concentration in pre-law, choosing electives designed to strengthen skills in argumentation, logic, and legal reasoning—key areas for success on the LSAT and in law school. Each concentration blends a strong liberal arts foundation with courses that connect theory to legal practice.

Through UMassD's multidisciplinary studies major, students can design a personalized program that combines coursework across disciplines. Create a unique focus area—such as blending accounting and crime & justice studies to explore tax law, combining philosophy and marketing to study copyright and media law, or pairing political science and sustainability to examine environmental policy and law. With guidance from a faculty advisor, you'll shape an academic path that aligns with your interests and prepares you for law school or a legal career.

Students in any major can add a minor in legal studies to gain a deeper understanding of legal systems, public policy, and the role of law in society. The minor complements a range of majors—from business and science to engineering and the arts—while building critical thinking and communication skills valued in the legal field.

First-year students interested in law are encouraged to apply to the Pre-Law Living Learning Community (LLC) if they plan to live on campus. This community connects students with peers who share similar interests, as well as faculty mentors and pre-law events throughout the year. Members often participate in the Pre-Law Society and UMass Dartmouth Mock Trial Team, gaining teamwork, communication, and advocacy experience.

Qualified students in UMass Dartmouth's College of Arts & Sciences or Charlton College of Business can earn both a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctor (JD) in just six years through the accelerated 3+3 program. Students complete three years of undergraduate study at UMass Dartmouth, then transition directly into UMass Law for three years of professional legal education. Early planning is key—students should meet with a pre-law advisor as soon as possible to stay on track for this accelerated option. Learn more about 3+3 advantages, eligibility, and more.