For students considering law school, the journey can feel overwhelming — but the Pre-Law Club at Arkansas State University is working to ease the transition from undergraduate to law school. 

The Pre-Law Club’s mission is to gather students from all majors interested in pursuing a legal career and prepare them for the next step. 

“It’s about creating opportunities, providing guidance and fostering a strong sense of community among future legal professionals,” Levi Seward said. 

Seward, a junior political science major from Blytheville, Arkansas, is the club’s president. He said he initially joined the Pre-Law club because he wanted to surround himself with “like-minded” people who were serious in their pursuits in law. 

“As I became more involved, I saw the potential for the club to be more than just a meeting space—I wanted to help turn it into a true resource for aspiring law students,” Seward said. 

He said his dedication to helping his peers navigate the path to law school regarding offering mentorship and hands-on experiences and networking motivated him to step into a leadership role.

“I pursued the presidency because I saw an opportunity to push the club forward,” Seward said. “I wanted it to be a hub of real preparation for law school and a network that students could rely on.”

The Pre-Law Club has seen major growth in recent years, allowing the club to expand its outreach and event planning.

“The club has grown from a small group to a real force on campus, with bigger events,

more networking opportunities, and a stronger presence,” Seward said. “I see it continuing to expand and becoming a key resource for pre-law students at A-State.”

The club provides students LSAT prep resources, networking opportunities and a chance to develop leadership and public speaking skills.

“The club is for anyone interested in law, regardless of major,” Seward said. “One misconception is that you have to be a certain major to join or that only political science students can go to law school. In reality, law schools accept students from all majors, and our club is open to anyone interested in law, no matter their academic background.”

Seward said the club has given him a sense of direction, a strong network of peers and the confidence to pursue law school with a clear path. He said he encourages students interested in joining to connect with pre-law advisors, to current students and to attorneys for a better understanding of the journey. 

Jada Sumpter, a political science major from West Helena, Arkansas, is the club’s vice president. 

She joined the club in her first-year after encouragement from advisors. Initially, she was not involved in student organizations, but she said she decided to take a chance and participate — eventually running for secretary before stepping into her current leadership role.

“The club has helped me solidify my future of becoming an attorney,” Sumpter said. “It opened my eyes and helped me become more serious about my goals.”

She said the club has been an eye opener to the possibility of what her future in law could hold.

“I have a clearer picture of what it takes to become the attorney I want to become,” Sumpter said. 

She said her personal goal for the club is to increase the active membership, hoping to reach as many prospective students as possible.

“I want to leave the lasting impression that our club welcomes everybody and is a resource to anybody that wants it,” Sumpter said. 

Lauren Rush, a senior political science and criminology  major, from Manila, Arkansas, is the club’s public relations chair. She said she always knew she wanted to attend law school, and the club has provided her with valuable insights and leadership opportunities.

“Considering law school can be daunting and the Pre- Law Club exists to make it easier,” Rush said. “It helps students build connections and gain access to helpful resources.”

She said one of the club’s biggest benefits is the connections you create with other members. 

“It’s really nice to know people who are studying for their LSAT or applying to law school at the same time as you. It makes the process way less scary,” Rush said. 

Another benefit is the law school tours and guest speakers the club provides. The Pre-Law Club traveled to the University of Arkansas in the fall semester, offering members a chance to expand their connections and opportunities.

At its most recent meeting, the club invited Craighead County District Court Judge Tommy Fowler to speak with the members. Rush said the club’s access to the speakers has been pivotal in understanding what her legal career might look like. 

“These discussions have really helped me understand the realities of the legal field and have benefited me immensely,” Rush said. 

The Pre-Law Club is open to students of all majors, including those unsure if law is their future career or those interested in the justice system but not necessarily as lawyers.

“The club is really open to anyone who wants to understand more about the legal field whether they end up taking that route or a different one,” Rush said. 

She said the club is working on bringing in more speakers and dedicating time to showing members — and future participants — what law school and the legal field looks like post-graduation.  

“As our PR chair, my main goal is to reach as many potential members as I can and to make our current members feel welcomed and comfortable,” Rush said. “Law school and law school applications are a difficult process, and I want to make sure that we’re helping students as much as we can.”

Rush said being a part of Pre-Club has been such a pivotal part of her law school journey.

“It’s given me such special opportunities and it’s where I’ve met so many of my college friends,” Rush said. “It’s been such a helpful organization for me and I’m so glad to have been a part of it!”

The Pre-Law Club meets every Wednesday at 5 p.m., at the Phelps & Womack Pre-Law Center in the College of Liberal Arts and Communication.

Categories: Life