Pre-Law Advisor: Rob Rodgers

Above: Rob Rodgers, assistant professor of political science & international studies at the 2023 Academic Convocation, where he was given the Louise F. Hegarty Award for Excellence in Teaching.

As the college’s pre-law advisor, I enjoy chatting with students who are exploring law school as an option, and I relish the opportunity to work with students who are in the process of applying to law school.  My hope is that this collaboration starts early in a student’s time at the college.  My goal for this collaboration is for students to submit the strongest application possible when they are ready to apply. 

My primary role is to provide you with assistance in the following areas:

• Helping you to determine whether a legal education is a good fit for you.
• Advising you on curricular options, e.g., major and courses, as well as co-curricular and extracurricular activities that will allow you to explore your interest in the law while increasing the likelihood of being accepted into law school
• Informing you about the process of applying to law school and explaining what you need to do to set yourself up for success in admissions.
• Encouraging you to get good grades and study hard for the LSAT.
• Reminding you of the timeline to keep you on track with tasks and deadlines.
• Providing a sounding board for your ideas for your personal statement and a critical eye for your drafts.  (I also encourage applicants to seek feedback from other trusted sources.)
• Identifying appropriate persons to write your letters of recommendation.
• Creating the list of law schools to which you apply, and choosing which school to attend from the acceptances you receive.

In my role as pre-law advisor, I also:

• Coordinate APL 300, the LSAT prep course that is offered in both the fall and spring semesters.
• Oversee the college’s mock trial team.
• Facilitate the programming of the Saint Thomas More Pre-Law Society.