Best UC for Pre-Law

Are you an aspiring lawyer wanting to prepare for law school and beyond during undergrad? The UC system has several schools with great programs that will help you understand how to get into law school and how law works in the world today.

Best Overall

UC Berkeley has one of the widest ranges of offerings for students looking to get involved in the law. They have a large pre-law advising program at their career center, and they have both a pre-law society and a pre-law (coed) fraternity. There are also many events on campus hosted for pre-law students, and even more that host guests involved in the legal field who can answer your questions. Berkeley also has special interest groups for pre-law students, including one for women, on for Latine/Latinx students, and one for Black students. For extracurriculars that aren't directly pre-law, the American Constitution Society at Berkeley and the Undergrad Political Science Association are popular options. Moot court and mock trial are also encouraged for students who want to understand how a court "feels" before deciding on law school. Berkeley also hosts a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union for students interested in the advocacy side of law. UC also offers a legal studies major for students looking to work as paralegals or policy researchers before going to law school.

Runner Up

UCLA also has a strong pre-law program, with similar career advising resources to Berkeley, and they also have a large pre-law society for students. While Berkeley has a handful of special interest pre-law organizations, UCLA boasts even more with groups such as the Armenian Pre-Law Student Association, AAPI Pre-Law Society, Association of Muslims in Politics and Law and more. They also offer more organizations for specific branches of law including Aspiring Real Estate Attorneys, Business Law & Investing Society, Innovation Law Society, and Pre-Law Litigation Club @ UCLA. UCLA does not have an undergraduate legal studies major, but they have a paralegal certification program, and they have a Legal Fellows program where students can receive mentorship from law school faculty. Both UCLA and UC Berkeley have prestigious law schools that undergraduates can visit and get information from.

Other Options to Consider

UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC San Francisco all have law schools and some resources for undergraduates interested in a pre-law track. UC Davis has a dedicated program called the González Pre-Law Academy, a yearlong program for 30 select students to learn about law and receive the following benefits:

Another similar program they offer is the UC Davis - School of Law King Hall Outreach Program, which connects students from underrepresented groups to law faculty and lawyers to prepare for success in the legal field. They also have a pre law society and advising offices, but they do not have a legal studies major.

UC Irvine offers a Pre-Law Outreach Program (POP) for underrepresented students during summer sessions; POP offers workshops, panels, and free access to an LSAT prep course. They have a pre law society and coed fraternity, and their offer advising meetings through career services as well.

Finally, UCSF has an interesting opportunity for students dead-set on law school: an accelerated Bachelor's/Juris Doctorate in 6 years. You can find more information here, as it is a collaboration with Cal Polytechnic, but it is a great program for students highly interested in law. UCSF also hosts a yearly Black Pre-Law Summit in conjunction with their law school, offering virtual and in person events to learn more about life in law.

Overall, many UCs offer a variety of programs and extracurriculars for all types of students interested in law, from the curious to the highly invested. If you're ready to start putting together your applications, sign up for a session with one of our counselors today!