Interested in a legal career?
Pre-law at Southern Arkansas University prepares you for law school — with any major — through faculty mentoring, real-world experience, and a guaranteed-admission pathway to Arkansas’s William H. Bowen School of Law.
What is Pre-Law?
Pre-law is not a major — it’s a pathway that helps you prepare for law school while completing a bachelor’s degree. Students interested in law school may pursue any major while completing coursework and experiences that develop the skills law schools value most: critical thinking, research, writing, communication, and ethical decision-making.
Pre-Law Advisor
Why Study Pre-Law at SAU?
- Small class sizes
- Faculty mentoring
- Leadership opportunities
- Strong writing and communication preparation
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Internships and experiential learning opportunities
- Guaranteed-admission program with the William H. Bowen School of Law at UA Little Rock
4+3 Pathway: Guaranteed Admission to Bowen School of Law
Through SAU’s 4+3 partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, qualifying SAU graduates earn guaranteed admission to law school: four years of undergraduate study at SAU followed by three years at Bowen — with no separate law school application required for eligible students.
To qualify, students must:
- Earn a bachelor’s degree from SAU
- Achieve a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.40 or higher
- Score 154 or above on the LSAT (within five years of law school enrollment)
- Demonstrate good character with no impediments to bar admission
“This is a great opportunity for our students. This provides students with a clear understanding of the requirements for admission to law school and should motivate them throughout their time at Southern Arkansas University.” — Dr. Paul Babbitt, Pre-Law Advisor
Recommended Majors & Minors
Any major can lead to law school. These programs are especially strong at building the skills law schools value.
Government systems, policy analysis, legal institutions, research, writing
Legal systems, courts, public safety, research
Research, evidence evaluation, persuasive writing
Writing, textual analysis, argumentation
Human behavior, research methods, statistics
Public speaking, media law, advocacy, writing
Public speaking, business law, financial systems
Students can choose any major or academic discipline! These are simply strong starting points for building law-school-ready skills.
Get Involved: Pre-Law Club
SAU’s Pre-Law Club connects students interested in legal careers through guest speakers, law school visits, and peer support. More details are coming soon — students interested in joining or helping lead the club are encouraged to reach out to the pre-law advisor.
Request Information
Have a question about pre-law or the 4+3 pathway? Send us your info and we’ll follow up.
