Which Extracurriculars Actually Matter for Admission to College Pre-Law Programs?

Planning to become a lawyer? Great news— students interested in pursuing a legal career don’t need to follow a single academic path. In fact, there’s no official “pre-law” major. Instead, aspiring attorneys typically study disciplines like political science, economics, history, psychology, philosophy, and English, all of which sharpen analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills in preparation for law school.

In high school, you can start sharpening those same skills by engaging in extracurricular opportunities that provide leadership & public speaking experience, exposure to the legal system, and access to current lawyers and law professionals who can serve as teachers and mentors. Let’s dive into what that could look like.

DURING HIGH SCHOOL, HOW CAN I SET MYSELF UP FOR SUCCESS DURING THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS?

While maintaining a strong academic record is most important, your extracurricular involvement can help signal your seriousness about a pre-law path. However, this
doesn’t mean that you need to sign up for anything and everything law-related! Instead, you should aim for deep involvement—or involvement that showcases long-term commitment, growth, and impact—in 2-4 activities total, including 1-2 pursuits directly related to your interests in law.

Ideally, these law-related pursuits will:

1. Provide real-world exposure to law and/or policy.
2. Help you build necessary soft skills, like leadership, advocacy, public speaking, writing, and critical thinking.
3. Teach you how to collaborate and communicate with others.

WONDERING WHERE TO BEGIN? WE RECOMMEND CHOOSING SEVERAL ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE FOLLOWING TIERS:

1st Tier: Competitive activities that result in a tangible award, publication, public accolade, or other special distinction in your area(s) of interest. Attempt to engage in at least one 1st tier activity if possible.

2nd Tier: Activities that allow you to earn college credit, demonstrate mastery of relevant skills, accrue relevant job experience, and/or assume a leadership role or
significant responsibilities over tasks that are directly related to your areas of interest.

3rd Tier: Activities that ultimately do not result in an award or leadership position, but that still allow you to accrue knowledge, skills, and/or experiences that have some connection to the field(s) you are considering. Though not as impactful as first or second-tier activities, these pursuits can still yield admission-related benefits.

1ST TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Compete in regional, national, or international academic or debate competitions, such as: Model UN or the Yale Invitational.
• Enter work into regional, national, or international writing or documentary competitions, such as: the National High School Essay Contest.

2ND TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Pursue a shadowing opportunity or internship that introduces you to law or policy, such at a law or legal aid office, through your state’s bar association or Innocence Project, as a senate page, or with a local, state, or national campaign.
• Join a well-established club at your high school (ideally with a number of chapters throughout your state or the U.S.), such as student government/council, debate, high school mock trial, Model UN, We the People, Young Democrats/Republicans, or Junior State of America, with intentions to pursue a leadership role over time.
• Take a college-level course in a subject that directly relates to your college interests but is not offered at your high school, such as international relations, public policy, economics, etc. If you opt to take a course, keep in mind that the prestige of the college matters far less than the course’s alignment with your academic interests. Therefore, don’t hesitate to prioritize course offerings that are affordable and convenient. Institutions offering college-level courses to high school students include: Cornell University or the University of Washington.
• Serve on a teen court or youth court if offered in your area.
• Serve on a local youth board or committee.
• Serve on your school’s honor council.

3RD TIER ACTIVITIES:

• Join one of the above-mentioned clubs, regardless of whether you intend to pursue a leadership role.
• Volunteer with an advocacy, civic, or community outreach organization, particularly if related to social justice or legal aid.
• Join student government/student council.
• Write for your school’s newspaper.
• Participate in a reputable pre-law, policy, or leadership-focused summer program, such as: Economics for Leaders or the US Senate Page Program.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Aspiring law students set themselves apart by demonstrating curiosity about the legal system, a commitment to advocacy, and the ability to think and communicate clearly. By engaging deeply in a small number of law- or policy-related activities that build leadership, public speaking, and real-world exposure, students can signal readiness for both rigorous college study and future legal training. Admissions officers value sustained involvement and meaningful impact far more than checking every possible box.