Advising & Mentorship
At ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ, you do not have to navigate the path to law school alone. Our pre-law advising supports you from your first semester through your law school acceptance letter. Pre-law advising appointments are open to any ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ student — regardless of major, classification, or certainty about law school. Whether you are exploring the idea or deep in the application process, Dr. Van Erve can help.
What pre-law advising offers
One-on-one advising sessions are available throughout the academic year and typically run thirty minutes. During a session, Dr. Van Erve can help you:
- Decide whether law school is the right path for your goals
- Identify courses and experiences that develop reading, writing, and analytical skills
- Build a realistic and well-paced timeline for LSAT preparation and applications
- Understand how to request and cultivate strong letters of recommendation
- Evaluate law school fit, including programs, geography, and scholarship opportunities
- Draft and revise your personal statement
- Build a résumé appropriate for law school applications
- Connect with internship, research, and leadership opportunities
- Discuss career paths within law and law-adjacent careers that don’t require a J.D.
- Navigate waitlists, deferrals, and scholarship negotiation
How to schedule an appointment
Students are encouraged to meet at least once per semester, and more frequently during the application year. Advising is free and available to all enrolled students, and alumni should feel free to reach out as well.
Appointment link:
A note on timing
There is no single ‘right’ time to start pre-law advising. Some students arrive in the first year knowing they want law school; others discover the interest as juniors or seniors; many apply after taking time away from college. Research from Ohio State University finds that approximately 40% of their law school applicants start law school right after college, 40% start one to three years after graduating, and 20% start four or more years after. The pre-law advising office at ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ supports students at every point along that spectrum.
Peer mentorship
The Barrister’s Club connects pre-law students with peers who have already navigated the preparation and application process. Peer mentors can offer practical insight on LSAT study strategies, course selection, campus involvement, and life after ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½¹ÙÍøÏÂÔØ.
Page last updated 10:57 AM, August 27, 2026