Pre-Law at SIU

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Last Updated: Jul 14, 2025, 01:11 PM

Photos of law students and judges at the Intramural Law Moot Court Competition on September 30th, 2023.

Planning to attend Law School?

Students who are admitted as an Undergraduate student at SIU and plan to attend law school after finishing their bachelor's degree have a few options. Law Schools can accept students with any bachelor's degree. However, if you plan to attend law school, you should work with your academic advisor in order to make sure that you are taking courses that are recommended by law schools. You should also choose a major in which you can excel and graduate with a high GPA.

Pre-Law at SIU:

  • Students who apply to SIU as "Pre-Law" are admitted through the College of Liberal Arts (CoLA). 
  • "Pre-Law" admitted students will still need to choose a major. Students are required to choose a major once they reach 30 credit hours. Some Pre-Law students choose a major after they are admitted and before they enroll in classes; others choose a major after meeting with their academic advisor and choosing their first semester classes; and other students decide on a major sometime during their first year. Academic advisors and the Pre-Law advisor for the SIU campus, Dr. Benjamin Bricker, can help students decide which major best suits their career goals.
  • Many incoming undergraduate students who plan to attend law school choose to apply directly to a major rather than applying as "Pre-Law." While law schools do not require a specific major, they do often recommend majors that emphasize strong writing and critical thinking skills. Some majors on-campus have pre-law specializations. These include:

See more on "pre-professional" programs at SIU here.

Dual Degree Options

Currently, four majors at SIU offer a dual degree "3+3 Program" with the SIU Simmons Law School. These programs allow students to finish a Bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S) and a law degree (J.D.) in six years instead of the typical seven years. The dual degree programs include a separate entry process, including applying to the SIU Simmons Law School during junior year. Applicants need a cumulative undergraduate GPA, and a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score, equal to or greater than the median for the previous year’s cohort. The Simmons Law School will notify applicants of an admissions decision in a timely fashion to allow for scheduling senior year courses. 

  • Programs

    Communication Studies

    Criminology and Criminal Justice

    Paralegal Studies

    Political Science

    These programs often work best for incoming first-year students rather than transfer students. Interested students should consult with their advisor about these programs.

  • Simmons Law School

    SIU Simmons Law School offers an affordable, hands-on legal education guided by experienced faculty who care about student success. Founded in the public interest to serve the public good, the school provides real-world training through internships and valuable clinical opportunities that help students graduate ready to lead and serve in their communities.