What do Law schools look for in an undergraduate degree?

I am currently an undergraduate at an online school. I hope to enroll in a law program upon completion of my undergraduate degree.

It was my hope that you could give me some advice, information, and guidance on admissions to a law program.

Aside from a high GPA from a properly accredited university, and a high LSAT score what do law schools look for in prospective students? What makes a candidate stand out, both in a good light and a poor one? I have been told that Law schools do NOT like to see any undergraduate law classes on a transcript. Is this true? What areas of study are recommended or frowned upon?

My current degree program is, Security Management with concentration in both Information Security and Workplace Security, and a dual minor of Intelligence Studies and Homeland Security.

Will this type of focus hinder my appeal or likelihood of acceptance to a good Law program?

Any advice, pointers, tips, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Law schools don't really have a specific undergraduate major requirement. They just want to see that you've studied something that will develop / strengthen analytical skills. They want to see classes with heavy reading and writing as well. A candidate's academic potential is important.

Things that would make a candidate stand out, from what I've read in various law school view books, include outstanding community service / volunteering, extracurriculars that show leadership. Also, some undergraduate majors can stand out more than others. Since they get alot of political science majors, someone with an undergraduate degree in physical / life sciences or engineering (for example) would stand out. Biology majors can make use of that degree by going to law school and a career in environmental law.

I think your major will stand out too. They'll see something really in demand these days, something that will help society fight the terror threats. You have security studies that cover a local and national level. Also, learning information security would definitely sharpen the analytical skills, because of scrutinizing systems to look for breaches or areas where an information system is most vulnerable.

Proficiency in a foreign language will be useful, as well as a diverse group of humanities anywhere in your undergraduate education.

Personality traits such as integrity and love of learning are great for law school as well.

Good luck with everything!

The bottom line for law schools is whatever formula they have worked out generally involving your GPA to some "root base" and your LSAT to some "root base" multiplied by whatever-value-the-school-has in order to arrive at a total. Those above the total, automatically in. Those below are then scrutinized to more or less degree, with the higher GPA/LSATS getting first crack. The only way admissions offices can keep up.

They may mention other factors, and indeed those can help, but primarily, you're looking at the LSAT/GPA formula.

That being said, find those schools where the median LSAT/GPA most mirrors your own, and apply to several. Then shoot "above the board" with those schools that look just out of reach...then focus on your other attributes to distinguish you against the more formidable scores. Finally, get a couple of sure-shots to accept you in case the others don't.

Law Schools are getting more competitive every year. I just graduated this past May, and my from four years ago wouldn't get me into the school I just graduated from. Also, the cost of law school is rising higher, and has been through the roof for years. Count on at least $90,000 in tuition over the course of your J.D., plus living expenses, books, auto, insurance, etc...

They really don't care what your undergrad was in anymore. There is no longer a "pre-law" routine, and the one they recommended years ago was just so much bullshit anyway, another way of making a Political Science degree sound more interesting and less vague. Take what suits you, but a major in Economics, Business, or Engineering would be great as something to complement your J.D. or at the very least something to fall back on.

Finally, think about if you really want to go to law school, and if so, why? Nothing you can do will prepare you for law school, you bring everything, the totality of your personality, to a field that many folks are fascinated with but know nothing about and one that allows the most significant doors to be opened...

They don't care as long as it is a degree from an accredited 4 year insitution. Whether or not you took an undergrad law class doesn't matter. What's going to make you or break you is a good gpa, LSAT score, and a kick butt personal statement. Don't write about your mistakes in the personal statement, you'll have your chance to explain yourself later...good luck