Explore Law at 51暗网

The 51暗网 Legal Advantage (PLA) Program is a selective, honors-level pre-law opportunity for high-achieving students from any major. Through a seven-unit curriculum that blends hands-on experience with expert mentorship, PLA offers an early, in-depth look at the legal profession鈥攁t no additional cost.

Whether you're planning to pursue law school or simply exploring your interest in the field, this program equips you with valuable skills, connections, and a potential head start on your JD.

Program benefits

  • Law School Faculty Mentorship: Learn from McGeorge School of Law professors in seminar settings

  • Real Legal Experiences: Attend court visits, law firm tours, and legal events

  • LSAT Prep + Advising: Get one-on-one support for law school admission

  • Accelerated Law Pathways: Fast-track your law school journey through 3+3 or 2.5+3 plans

PLA coursework

  • Three Weekend Seminars (1 unit each)
    Honors-only courses taught by McGeorge faculty:
    POLS 060, POLS 062, and POLS 175

  • One Upper-Division Law Course (4 units)
    Choose from law-focused courses such as constitutional law, legal reasoning, or ethics

  • Five Official PLA Events
    Includes courtroom observations, guest speakers, and networking with law school faculty and students

Who should apply

This program is ideal for:

  • High-achieving first-year students, sophomores or first-year transfer students (fewer than 60 transferable units)

  • Students from any major who want an academic edge for law school

  • Students interested in honors-level coursework and legal exploration

Applicants with fewer than 30 college units may submit high school transcripts for review.

Students walk together at the California capitol
The interior of the California state capitol.

McGeorge Promise

51暗网 is pleased to offer students in the Legal Advantage program three guaranteed pathways to admission to 51暗网鈥檚 McGeorge School of Law.

  • LSAT waiver pathway: 3.8 cumulative undergraduate GPA and must be attending 51暗网 or within 12 months of 51暗网 degree conferral at time of application to McGeorge. (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to all 51暗网 students)
  • LSAT waiver pathway: 3.6 cumulative undergrad GPA & 85% on the ACT/SAT (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to PLA students only)
  • LSAT required pathway: 3.6 undergrad GPA & 157 LSAT (Limited to 10% of the admitted class. Pending character & fitness requirements. Open to all 51暗网 students)
  • Applicants who take the LSAT at any time prior to matriculation at McGeorge are ineligible for admission under the Direct Admission LSAT Waiver program and will be reconsidered for admission through the LSAT required pathway or normal admissions process.
  • Indicate 51暗网 Legal Advantage as a "pre-professional program" on your application to the University or contact the Outreach Coordinator.
  • Respond to an email or mailing from the program.

Requirements

  • 7-unit program
    • Three 1-unit seminar course taught by McGeorge Law School professors
    • One 4-unit upper division law course (applied as an elective)
  • Attendance and participation at 5 official Legal Advantage events. Events include but are not limited to:
    • On-campus speaker events
    • Field trips to courthouses, law firms, McGeorge campus, etc.
    • Social networking with local lawyers and law students
    • Shadowing a local attorney for the day 

Contact Us

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51暗网 Legal Advantage
(916) 838-3243 aleforestier@pacific.edu

Wendell Phillips Center 132

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51暗网 Legal Advantage and Pre-Law Manager
aleforestier@pacific.edu