Hundreds of students filled the Grand Ballroom Wednesday to get a glimpse of more than 100 of the nation’s most elite law schools.
Florida A&M’s 22nd Annual Law Day, hosted by the FAMU Pre-Professional Law Program and the Hatchet Pre-Law Society, was designed to help develop interest and present students with information about the opportunities available in the legal profession.
“The main purpose of the Law Day is to give students who are interested in the field of law a chance to meet and network with different law school representatives,” said Joshua Thomas, secretary of the Hatchet Pre-Law Society. “Students can find out about GPA waivers and requirements. Every law school requires different criteria.”
Mostly juniors and seniors who were concerned about securing a spot as prospective candidates for FAMU College of Law were in attendance for Law Day.
“Everything FAMU does, they have their students best interest at heart,” said Shaniqua Durant, a third-year political science student from Pensacola. “As students, we have to take the opportunities that we are given, and Law Day was an opportunity for me to network with law schools I’m interested in.”
Brianna Dunlap, an administrative assistant of the Pre-Professional Law Program, said the size of the event shows the future contributions that FAMU students present to the law community.
“I hope that students can become acquainted with the different schools that are here,” Dunlap said. “By more than 100 law schools registering to attend Law Day, it shows the value and potential that FAMU students have.”
This year’s tables were represented by some of the nation’s leading law schools, including FAMU College of Law; Columbia University School of Law, ranked No. 4; Duke University School of Law, ranked No. 11; Cornell University School of Law, ranked No. 14; Emory Law School, ranked No. 24; University of Florida Law School, ranked No. 48; Brooklyn Law School, ranked No.49; and University of Miami School of Law, ranked No. 50 in the nation.
Although most law school programs take three years to complete, each school has specific requirements for its program.
“University of Southern California School of Law is ranked nationally No. 18 and requires prospective students to have a minimum of a 3.51 GPA for their applications to be considered,” said David Kirschner, USC assistant director of Admissions. “And for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), we require a minimum score of 165 for applicants.”
Durant said the chance to meet with top recruiters is an opportunity students should take if law is the career they want work in.
“Law Day was very beneficial,” she said. “It was important that I get my questions answered from the schools I plan on applying to. When an opportunity presents itself, you have to take it.”