Potential Careers
- Lawyer
- Judge
- Court reporter
- Paralegal, Arbitrator
Pre-Professional Pathway
Pre-Law Program
Our pre-law program provides insider access to Widener’s law schools and prepares you for a rewarding career in law.
At a Glance
Click to Open
Offered as
Pre-Professional
Format
On Campus
College/School
Campus Location
- Chester, PA
Explore the Pre-Law Program
As a pre-law student, you’ll explore the possibilities offered by a career in law from day one. Choose from traditional pre-law majors such as political science or English, or pursue a major of interest to you.
Academic and extracurricular programs, professional advising, LSAT preparation, and special admissions programs to our ABA-approved Delaware Law and Widener Law Commonwealth prepare you for success in law school and beyond.
Pre-Law Program Options
Widener University has two ABA-approved law schools, Widener University Delaware Law School and Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Both law schools, in partnership with Widener University, offer options to undergraduates:
3 + 3 Early Admissions Program
Widener University undergraduate students may earn both a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor degree in six years instead of the usual seven years provided they:
- Major in political science, history, English, psychology or fine arts through Widener’s College of Arts & Sciences
- Complete 75 percent of their bachelor's degree requirements in three years
- Submit a completed application to either Delaware Law School or Widener Law Commonwealth by April 1 of the calendar year in which they plan to begin law school
- Rank in the top 50th percentile of their class and/or attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their undergraduate studies
- Achieve an LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median LSAT score of the most recent entering class
- Satisfy all admissions requirements relating to character and fitness at the law school you're applying to
Students attend Delaware Law or Widener Law Commonwealth in their fourth (senior) year of undergraduate study. Courses fulfill the students' remaining requirements to earn the bachelor’s degree. Students must attend law school on a full-time basis until they have completed their bachelor’s degree. At that time, they may elect to continue their legal studies on either a full- or part-time basis.
Express Admissions Program
Widener undergraduates are guaranteed admission to either law school provided they:
- Submit a completed law school application by April 1 of the calendar year in which they plan to begin law school.
- Rank in the top 50 percent of their class and/or attain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in their undergraduate studies
- Achieve an LSAT score that meets or exceeds the median LSAT score of the most recent entering class
- Satisfy all admissions requirements relating to character and fitness at the law school you're applying to
Widener Legal Scholars Program
Under this pathway, Widener undergraduates in any major who meet certain criteria may qualify for admission to both the Delaware Law School and Widener Commonwealth Law without having to take the LSAT provided they:
- Submit a completed law school application
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, or have a GPA in the top 10 percent of their class, through six semesters of study
- Satisfy all law school admissions requirements relating to character and fitness
- In addition, students admitted to Delaware Law School under this program will qualify for an annual scholarship, renewable for each succeeding year they are a full time law school student. For the 2017–2018 school year, the amount of this annual scholarship was $33,000. Students admitted to Widener Commonwealth Law School under this program will qualify for an annual scholarship, renewable for each succeeding year they are a full time law school student.
If you're interested in Widener’s pre-law program, you have a range of undergraduate majors to choose from as there is no single major that prepares you for law school according to The Association of American Law Schools.
Widener’s pre-law advisors encourage students to choose from the following majors based on their personal interest.
All of these majors are intellectually challenging and will help you develop critical thinking, analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills, which are key to your law school success.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a minor in legal studies and analysis to assist students in preparing for the study of law. The legal studies and analysis minor includes courses that require the kinds of reading and analysis that are critical to success on the LSAT and in law school itself. Since most students will take the LSAT in June after their junior year, they should begin completing the courses in this minor, in consultation with a pre-law advisor, beginning in the second semester of their freshman year.
Loading... requirements for the legal studies and analysis minor.
Career Outlook & Outcomes for Pre-Law Students
Why Study Pre-Law at Widener?
Gain Real-World Experience
Pre-law advisors can help you land internships with attorneys and other legal professionals such as paralegals, legal assistants, and courthouse staff, often for academic credit in majors such as political science or criminal justice.
Benefit from LSAT Preparation Support
You'll find invaluable support when it comes to preparing for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). Access individualized tutoring and take a nationally ranked LSAT review course at a discounted rate. The Mock LSAT is offered each semester free of charge for you to take as many times as you'd like.
Join the Pre-Law Society
You'll practicing attorneys, LSAT preparation specialists, and representatives from Widener's law schools including admissions professionals, students, and law faculty who routinely conduct mock classes. Excursions to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., and the state capitol in Harrisburg deepen your knowledge of law careers.
Experience Mentorship & Support From Day One
Recent News
A Clear Path Ahead: Pre-Professional Pathways Give Students a Head Start
Whether students want a career in medicine or law, Widener’s seven pre-professional pathway programs put them on track to graduate school and one step closer to achieving their career goals.
Admissions & Aid
Our admissions and financial aid teams are here to support you every step of the way. Have a question? Ask away!
Admissions Information
Paths to Savings
Nearly 100% of Undergrad Students Receive Financial Aid
Nearly 100% of new full-time undergraduate students receive significant financial aid offers that reduce out-of-pocket costs and make a Widener education not only affordable, but well worth the investment. In fact, once your total financial aid is calculated, the cost of a Widener education is often equal to if not lower than other competitive universities–but with far superior outcomes for your career and earning potential.
The first step to see how much aid you qualify for is submitting the FAFSA.
Scholarships Start at $100,000 Over 4 Years
(including $20,000 per academic year for transfer students)
Funding you don't have to pay back after graduation? That's a win-win! Scholarships and grants are a way for the university and other organizations to honor the academic, merit, and talent-based achievements of our students.
4+1 Students Save Time & Tuition
In the Accelerated Advantage 4+1 program, you can save up to a year of tuition by pursuing a master's degree—resulting in thousands of dollars in savings. During your fifth year of study, you can also apply for graduate-level scholarships and assistantships to further reduce education costs. To learn more about graduate scholarships and assistantships, please speak with your academic advisor during the spring semester of your senior year.
Undergraduate Admissions Office
-
Muller Hall
University Pl
Chester, PA 19013
- 888-WIDENER
- admissions.office@widener.edu
Pre-Law Pathway
-
Kapelski Learning Center, Room 332
- 610-499-4633
- jwleckrone@widener.edu