Pre-Law
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Pre-Law
at UMass Dartmouth
UMass Dartmouth offers several pathways for students interested in pursuing a career in law. Through pre-law advising, students in any major can explore legal careers, prepare for the LSAT, and receive support with law school admissions. Students may also choose a pre-law concentration within crime and justice studies, philosophy, or political science majors, or minor in legal studies. Qualifying business, humanities, and social sciences majors may apply to UMass Law's accelerated 3+3 program.
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Build your pathway to law school
No matter what you choose to study, you can prepare for law school at UMass Dartmouth.
Law schools seek students with strong critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills—qualities that can be developed through a wide range of academic and extracurricular experiences. UMass Dartmouth provides multiple options and resources to help every student build the foundation they need for law school and a future in the legal profession.
Explore your pre-law options at UMass Dartmouth
Students interested in law can choose from a range of academic pathways and support services. Whether you're looking for individualized advising, a concentration within your major, a customizable multidisciplinary program, or an accelerated route to law school, UMass Dartmouth provides multiple ways to prepare for law school and a career in the legal profession.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
UMass Law students guaranteed clinic or internship placement
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And yes—we have a law school.
UMass Law, the only public law school in Massachusetts, offers UMassD students unique advantages, including the accelerated 3+3 option and access to pre-law resources right on campus.