Pre-Law

Alumni and students connecting at the 2016 Ole Law event sponsored by the Piper Center.

The Piper Center is pleased to support students and alumni interested in careers in the public or private sectors of the legal profession, such as environmental, civil rights, corporate, and criminal law. Through individual coaching appointments, workshops, and opportunities to explore the field, Oles build knowledge of the profession, strengthen professional skills, and build the foundation for a competitive application and a successful future career.

out of the top 20 law schools accepted St. Olaf graduates between 2014 and 2019 (U.S. News and World Report 2019).

95%

of St. Olaf graduates were accepted to law school in 2018 compared to the national average of 74%.

160

Average St. Olaf law applicant LSAT score in 2017-18 compared to the national average of 152.

Why Pre-Law?

Applying to Law School

Screen Shot 2019-08-14 at 3.02.40 PM — Paul Svoboda ’81 (center) at a gathering this spring with past participants of St. Olaf’s Svoboda Legal Scholars Summer Program: (back row, from left) Alexander Screaton ’19, Wael Awada ’19, Julia Valero ’18, Sydney Spreck ’18, (front row, from left) Yishu Dai ’18, Elise Steichen ’18, and Samuel Rahn ’18. Svoboda’s generous support makes this program possible.

Minnesota Pre-Law Scholars Program
Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Programs
ABF Undergraduate Research Diversity Fellowships in Law and Social Sciences
Public Defender Service Criminal Law Internship Program
Harvard Legal Service Center Undergraduate Internship
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau Program Assistant
Cornell University Pre-law Program in New York City
MN Capitol Pathways Program
Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
The Advocates for Human Rights
ACLU Minnesota
Gender Justice
International Institute of MN
The Legal Rights Center
Urban Scholars (City of Minneapolis)
Met Council Internships – paid internships in the Twin Cities
Legal Organizations in the Twin Cities
Explore more internships, research opportunities, and fellowships.

Seek out opportunities to explore your interests, gain valuable professional experience, and develop new skills through Student Employment.

What types of roles are there for students?

Check out the Student Employment Guide to learn about roles students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. There are a wide variety of opportunities!

Here are a few examples:

Leadership roles including Junior Counselor/Resident Assistant positions in Residence Life, Peer Educator in the Wellness Center, Peer Advisor in the Piper Center, TRIO Upward Bound summer staff, teaching assistant and tutor positions with the Center for Advising and Academic Support
Gain experience in professional communication with stakeholders as a Student Development Officer in Annual Giving or as a Tour Guide with Admissions
Program or Office Assistant roles in Human Resources, Financial Aid and Student Accounts, the Government, Foundation & Corporate Relations Office, and through community-based work study with local nonprofit organizations.

Student Employment Resources

Student Employment Job Board – this is the best resource for identifying current openings on campus. Occasionally, departments will also share opportunities on Handshake.

Student Employment Guide – this guide includes many of the positions that students currently or have previously held at St. Olaf. If you see a position you are interested in, but do not see it posted as a current opportunity on the Job Board you may wish to reach out via email or by stopping in to the office to learn more about the role and hiring process.

Handshake

How-To Guides Resumes • Cover Letters • Interviewing • Networking • LinkedIn • Personal Statements

Where Can I Find Funding?

Coaching and Resources

The Piper Center is eager to support you in finding pre-law internships and opportunities. Please stop by the Piper Center anytime during business hours to have an initial conversation with a Peer Advisor. When you are ready to go further and meet with our pre-law career coach Katie Hughes, please schedule an appointment through Handshake.