It is never too early to begin searching for potential law students and the University of School at Dakota School of Law.
The Law School will hold its Discover Law Day Feb. 27 on the campus of USD.
Assistant Dean Thomas Sorensen, who helped foster the idea behind Discover Law Day, said the event welcomes in high school juniors and seniors as well as college first-years.
“We think students should start early if they are thinking about law school in their future,” Sorensen said. “There needs to be quite a bit of preparation, and this event is the first step in that process.”
Throughout the day, prospective students will be given a tour of the building, sit in on a class and speak with professors and current students about what it takes to be a law student.
Sorensen said the law school open its doors to prospective students individually each day, but Discover Law Day allows the school to reach out to a mass of students at one time.
“We want to admit people in law school for people who will succeed,” Sorensen said. “And the admissions process is very important in doing that.”
Law professor Thomas Horton said recruiting processes like Discover Law Day have been beneficial for both the law school and prospective students.
“We found that here at the law school that bringing in high school students and such and showing them things like mock trial practice gets them really excited about becoming a law student,” said Horton.
Horton said that excitement then fosters keeping in contact with students throughout their collegiate career.
“It is very important to keep that contact for the law school,” Horton said. “It is also beneficial for the students.”
Sorensen said he hopes students will take the knowledge gained at Discover Law Day and use it to help them in admitting for law school, preferably at USD.
“There is no traditional pre-law major anymore, they need to show they have been apart of a rigorous collegiate pathway,” Sorensen said. “They need to know what to study up on and add to their law background, and be able to offer a diversity.”
Discover Law Day will run from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m Feb. 27.
