Undergraduates at Florida State University who have been accepted into the Honors Program may apply for the College of Law’s Honors Legal Scholars (HLS) program. Unlike other honors programs geared toward undergraduates, HLS is administered solely by the College of Law. The program is open to students who are interested in exploring or attending any law school, but is also designed to showcase the College of Law and encourage honor students to consider remaining at Florida State. Participants who remain in good standing are automatically admitted to the College of Law if they maintain a 3.6 grade point average or higher, receive a score of 162 or higher on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT), and stay out of trouble.
As a program alumnus, I would recommend that anyone who is interested and eligible to submit an application. HLS provides participants who are exploring the possibility of attending law school with access to the College of Law’s students, facilities, faculty, and staff. Individuals who participate, and do more than the minimum required by the program, will get the most out of the program. By the time one is ready to graduate they should have a firm idea of whether or not they want to attend law school.
Shortly after I was selected, I was assigned a mentor who was a current student at the law school. Being a freshman at the time, this gave me the opportunity to comfortably ask the silliest questions about law that only a freshman could come up with. Through my entire time as an undergraduate, I was sent invitations to countless panels and events, which for me included an event with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. We were also invited to study in the “lawbrary”, more properly named the Research Center, and were encouraged to sit in on classes.
Every month the HLS program also holds “members only” law-oriented events with admissions officers and law professors. I remember arguing the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act with Professor Seidenfeld at a round table discussion before the law was passed. Looking back now, that was probably one of the first times in my life that I was questioned on the mechanics of laws.
College of Law staff and faculty also provided me guidance as I applied to law schools throughout the Southeastern United States. First, they gave our group advice on how to prepare and when to take the LSAT. Then they gave us advice on actual application questions and offered to review our personal statements. I even had the opportunity to sit down with a professor, after I received my LSAT scores, who gave me an honest perspective about which schools I was interested in applying to and where he felt I could excel.
With an open mind I toured a few out-of-state schools and gave a second look at schools that made me offers. For me it ultimately became clear that Florida State had been my best option all along. As a current 3L, I could not be happier with my decision and I appreciate all of the help that the HLS program provided me during my journey. Since becoming a law student I have also been honored with the opportunity to mentor others who have become part of the program.
If you are a Florida State undergraduate, in the Honors Program, and have ever considered eventually attending law school, the Honors Legal Scholars program might be just right for you. If you have any questions about the program you should check out the HLS Web page at http://honors.fsu.edu/University-Honors-Program2/Honors-Legal-Scholars-Program or contact the Florida State University College of Law Office of Admissions at 850-644-3787 or admissions@law.fsu.edu.