For Jessica Kahn ’08, who took the LSAT test last weekend, Thursday’s law school fair came at a great time.
“It’s great to compile a physical stack of things to look through,” she said. “And any time you can talk to someone in person, it makes life easier. Now I just need to know my scores so I can either cross some schools off my list — or hopefully add some.”
The law school fair, Colgate’s 10th annual, attracted admission representatives from more than 70 schools, including American University, Boston College, Columbia University, New York University, the University of Virginia, and Washington & Lee.
About 150 students attended from Colgate, Hamilton College and Utica College. Most were juniors and seniors, though a few eager sophomores had preliminary questions.
Leslie Garfield, a professor at Pace University School of Law, came to campus to scout for students and to visit with her daughter, Lauren Garfield ’10.
“We get a lot of students from Colgate who want the small, nurturing classroom experience, because they are used to that,” she said. “I tell them it doesn’t matter what your major is. Law school is three years of teaching you to think differently.”
According to Garfield, students’ interests in the law have changed in recent years. “Five years ago, everyone was interested in intellectual property. Today it seems everyone wants international law.”
The fair was cosponsored by the Center for Career Services and the Pre-Law Society.
T.J. Gunerman ’09, the society’s president, was at the fair to network with representatives of area law schools — not just for himself but on behalf of all of the club members who next want to visit the schools in person.
“By visiting, we not only see the university’s unique qualities, we also learn how we should be looking at law schools, what questions to ask, who to talk to, and what classes are like,” said Gunerman.
“You will be in law school for three years so it is important to know that you will be happy with your surroundings.”