Pre-Law News

Please feel free to share your news, photos, inspiring stories, and upcoming events for a future issue. Please send your articles to Dr. Beverlin rmbeverlin@loyola.edu and Sophia Capone sgcapone@loyola.edu

Hello Loyola Pre-Law people! I hope you’re having a great start to the semester. Or is it finish to the semester? Time has really flown by this fall.

If you’ve been reading the Pre-Law newsletters the past few years I probably sound like a broken record at this point, but the headline is law school applications remain way up. Four years ago, about 60,000 people applied to law school. Last year that number was north of 80,000 and early returns this year point to another hefty increase. While this tremendous growth seems to be stabilizing, the year over year increase in applications has made getting into law school as competitive as ever.

Despite this volume trend of people asking to get into law school, the schools remain historically steady in how many they enroll. That number is about 42,000. All of this is to say, you best get on the ball and keep your eye on it as you work toward admission. I offer up this brief guide on where you should be with things based upon your class year:

Senior Year – You should be applying now – as in today - if you plan to matriculate next year. If you plan on a gap year, or a longer delay, you could adjust accordingly and read the timeline for the classes below.

Junior Year – The end goal is to hit the apply button in the LSAC portal between mid-October and Thanksgiving. With that in mind, you can better work backwards to craft your plan. The most popular dates to take the LSAT are in early fall. I know, right? It’s generally terrible timing with the semester starting. That’s why you are best served studying during a good portion of your junior year. Everyone is different in how they approach this arduous task, but minimally you will want to study during the spring semester and through the summer. Trying to defer all of the test prep for the summer after junior year is not advisable. Toward the end of junior year, you can pivot to the nitty-gritty of the application process. That includes writing a personal statement, gathering transcripts, and requesting two recommendation letters. Beyond test preparation and the final steps of applying, continue to build out your resume. If you need a refresher on that see below.

Sophomore Year – This is the prime time to build out your resume. As a professor, I have to say, and indeed want to say(!), that the focus should be on academics. You will learn more this way, which will ultimately make you a better applicant and attorney. You will also earn the requisite grades needed to gain admission if you keep a strong academic focus. Regarding extracurricular activities, I will avoid using the phrase “arms race,” but it is incumbent on you to mark your resume with activities that show off you qualities as a student. The activities can take many forms and include leadership positions, publications, athletics participation, ROTC, part-time jobs, internships….You get the idea. Pick your spots and look for a few things that are law related.

Freshman Year – Explore your curiosity. During the first year of college, you have the luxury of time. You can listen to attorney speakers visiting our campus, such as Abbie Flanigan who is coming by on Tuesday, November 2nd. You can also take law-related courses and engage in the myriad service and event opportunities Loyola has to offer. It’s a time to assess what path you want to take and there’s no reason to commit to one just yet. Try out the idea of being a lawyer in your head, ask questions, and talk to people.

As always, I’m around to answer questions. I want to end with this thought: despite the selectivity involved in law admissions they aren’t just choosing you. You are also choosing them. Visit a campus or two and get a feel for the place. Major cities can have multiple law schools, such as with D.C.. Note where the campuses are within the metro area and what the cost of living and transportation situation is. I think your assessment of them allows you to take some of the power back during the admissions process. Ask them questions about class sizes, bar passage rate, journals, and cost. Look under the hood similarly to how you did in choosing Loyola.

That’s it for now. May your classes and tests go well, and I’ll see you around campus.

On October 25th, the Loyola Pre-Law Society hosted its Fall 2026 Criminal Records Expungement Clinic in partnership with Maryland Legal Aid. Greyhound volunteers worked alongside legal professionals to assist members of the Baltimore community seeking to clear their criminal records and remove barriers to housing and employment. Together, we served 37 individuals, assisted 23 clients with criminal record expungement, and prepared 51 expungement petitions, saving low-income clients a total of $1,170 in court fees. We are incredibly grateful to Maryland Legal Aid, our student volunteers, and everyone who contributed to making this event possible. We look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership and providing opportunities for our students to make a positive impact in the Baltimore community!

1. How did your undergraduate experience at Smith College prepare you for law school, and what advice would you give students choosing a major?

Dr. Kennedy emphasized that students should focus less on choosing a major that looks impressive to law schools and more on studying something they genuinely enjoy. At Smith College, she designed her own Urban Studies major, allowing her to explore her interests in housing issues and labor rights. What matters most is not necessarily the major itself, but what students choose to do with it. By taking courses she found meaningful, she developed a stronger understanding of her interests and carried that same approach into law school. Her advice to students is to avoid feeling pressured to double major or follow a traditional pre-law path and instead make intentional choices about their education.

2. What influenced your transitions from union organizing to corporate law, Capitol Hill, and ultimately academia?

Dr. Kennedy's career was shaped less by a specific plan and more by a willingness to explore unexpected opportunities. After graduating from Smith College, she deferred her admission to Berkeley Law to work as a union organizer, traveling across the country to help low-wage workers organize. She eventually attended law school, where she developed an interest in public defense before exploring corporate law through a summer associate position. Although she initially expected to pursue litigation, she discovered that transactional law was more engaging and went on to work on major financial deals, including financing involving the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets. An opportunity to work with Senator Edward Kennedy later introduced her to the legislative process and the relationship between lawmaking and its real-world impact. Her transition into academia was equally unexpected. After receiving an email about a teaching position at Loyola, she initially dismissed the opportunity but reconsidered with encouragement from her husband. Following her campus interview and teaching experience, she knew Loyola was somewhere she wanted to be. Looking back, Dr. Kennedy emphasized that her career transitions were not necessarily driven by dissatisfaction, but by remaining open to possibilities and being willing to say yes to new experiences.

3. How did your experience as a union organizer influence your approach to legislative advocacy while working for Senator Edward Kennedy?

Dr. Kennedy explained that her organizing experience was essential to her work in the Senate and believes she may not have received the position without it. Working directly with individuals affected by labor policies gave her a deeper understanding of how legislation impacts people's everyday lives. She emphasized the importance of including the voices and lived experiences of those most affected by the laws being developed. While research and policy analysis are valuable, personal stories can be especially powerful in influencing lawmakers. Her experience reinforced the importance of public testimony, contacting elected officials, and ensuring that legislative advocacy reflects the realities of the communities it is intended to serve.

4. How have you balanced the demands of your legal career with your personal and family life?

Dr. Kennedy explained that finding a sustainable work-life balance became especially important after starting her family. While working at a corporate law firm, she struggled to envision a career that would allow her to balance the demands of legal practice with raising children. Transitioning into academia offered greater flexibility, although balancing her career and family responsibilities was still challenging. She emphasized that genuinely enjoying her work has been essential to maintaining that balance. Equally important was building a strong community of friends and support after moving to Baltimore, where she initially knew very few people. Having people she could rely on helped her navigate the responsibilities of being a professor, mother, and wife. Today, she finds fulfillment in teaching about racial and economic inequality and justice in Baltimore, issues that connect closely to her earlier advocacy work.

Advice for Future Legal Professionals

5. What skills and experiences should undergraduates prioritize if they hope to use a law degree to advocate for social change?

Dr. Kennedy strongly encouraged students to gain grassroots experience and engage directly with the communities and issues they hope to advocate for as future attorneys. She emphasized that developing meaningful human connections and understanding people's lived experiences are essential skills that cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. While technology can quickly complete tasks such as drafting policy briefings, effective legal advocacy requires the ability to communicate, build trust, and understand the people affected by legal decisions. Ultimately, she believes being a successful attorney goes beyond understanding the law; it requires recognizing clients' needs and knowing how to advocate for them effectively.

Hello, my name is Megan Iwuoha. I’m a junior studying political science and economics, and this summer I was a member of the 13th Discover Law Summer Internship at the University at Buffalo Law School. Over the course of four weeks, I had the opportunity to take 1L classes such as contract law, adjudication, and legal analysis & writing taught by Law school professors, and prepare for the LSAT, network with established guest speakers and law professionals in the Buffalo community, and visit various courts in the city of Buffalo such as Buffalo City Court, Buffalo Court of Claims, Erie County Family Court, and Erie County Court. Upon visiting the Erie County Family Court in Buffalo, I observed a court proceeding led by the Honorable Judge Jeffrey M. Harrington. At the end of the four weeks, I presented an oral argument in front of a judge using the CREAC formula I learned in my legal analysis & writing course.

I am grateful to have participated in a program dedicated to providing immersive experiences, developing critical thinking skills, and fostering a professional environment that promotes diversity, equity, and a sense of belonging. The Discover Law Program gave me the space to challenge myself in ways I never had before, all while receiving guidance from career professionals in a field I look forward to being a part of.

Due consider applying to this internship if you or curious in pursuing a career in the legal realm. It is a great opportunity to enhance your reading and analytical skills, writing and oral advocacy skills, test taking skills, and familiarize yourself with the traditional and non-traditional career paths available. Applications open in the spring, good luck!

rmbeverlin@loyola.edu

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