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PRE-LAW ADVISING REPORT

MEET THE PRE-LAW ADVISOR

ENGAGED, NARROWLY-TAILORED ADVISING DELIVERING SUCCESS

A lifelong learner, Furman’s pre-law advisor is passionate about education and the doors a legal education opens for students. Whether the goal is financial security, service to community, or the pursuit of justice, Maya gets to know her students so that she can connect them with best fit law schools and programs. Drawing on her 20+ years in the field, Maya teaches students how to advocate for themselves in the law school application and scholarship process.

Maya’s nearly decade of practicing law coupled with over a decade successfully advising students preparing for law school make her one of the most experienced pre-law advisors in the profession

Maya’s leadership roles include:

Chair, National Pre-Law Advisory Council

President, Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors

Co-Chair, American Association of Law Schools Pre-Law Education and Admission to Law School Pre-Law Advisor Committee Advisory Board Member, AccessLex Advisory Board Member, JD-Next

These leadership roles have enabled Maya to build strong relationships with law school admissions teams and leaders in the profession and help her shape key changes in the law schools admissions field. Maya makes sure her students understand these changes and works with students to build competitive applications to law school.

On campus, Maya serves as the Advisor for Pre-Law Society, and as Co-President of Quaternion Senior Order.

JD, UNC Chapel Hill

MA, University of Montana

BA, New York University

Bar Admissions: Washington, Colorado, Wyoming

Maya works with applicants to make sure they are familiar with the state specific bar requirements, the Uniform Bar Exam, and the NextGen Bar adoption schedules.

Maya Russell

FURMAN’S PRE-LAW TRACK

21% of the FU Class of 2028 indicated a Pre-Law Interest

OPPA supports current students and alumni from every major. Last year, the pre-law advisor advised more than 170 students and alumni, conducted nearly 500 individual meetings, and hosted weekly law admissions events.

CONNECT WITH OPPA SUPPORT WE PROVIDE

Furman’s robust liberal arts education provides the perfect foundation for students to develop key strengths in problem solving, critical thinking, research and writing, and communications. Strengths in these skills helps Furman students thrive in law school and in their careers.

While law schools do not prioritize any majors or require any classes, law schools seek students whose records demonstrate academic excellence and rigor, strength in leadership, and professionalism and maturity.

Furman’s pre-law track is an investigative track that allows students to harness their passions and build an individualized path to law. Students are encouraged to participate in activities and leadership roles that help them build the necessary soft skills to thrive at law school and beyond.

1on1 Advising Meetings

Course Selection

Career Exploration

Law Internship Selection

Diversity Pipeline Connections

Network Building

Admissions Test Selection

Test Preparation Selection

Law School Exploration

Law School Application

Paying for Law School Resources

Merit Aid Reconsideration

Waitlist Navigation

Law School Transfer Applications

CLASS OF 2024 ACCEPTANCE RATES AND MERIT AID

Pictured right: Hannah Nodar, FU ‘22 Math/Econ & Politics, Georgia State Law ‘25 OPPA supports students and alumni

Law School Acceptance Rates

100% of Furman seniors and 100% of graduates 1-3 years out were accepted to law school!

88% of all Furman graduates (seniors plus alumni) were accepted to law school, far surpassing the national acceptance rate of 69%

Aid/Scholarships

100 % of Furman students reported receiving merit aid for law school in OPPA’s 2024 Rising 1L (fist year law student) Survey. Merit

Law School Satisfaction

86 % of students reported being satisfied, 14% reported being somewhat satisfied, and 0% reported that they were dissatisfied with the law school they chose to attend

Former President of FU’s Pre-Law Society, Hannah received a full-ride scholarship to Georgia State Law where she also receives a stipend as Professor Mo Ivory’s Sports & Entertainment Law TA. Her GSU law class attended the ‘25 Paris Olympics to study the legalities of hosting the Olympics.

3 countries

29 states

WHERE DO FURMAN STUDENTS ATTEND

LAW SCHOOL?

In the last 5 years, Furman graduates have attended law schools in 3 countries, 29 US states (shaded in purple above), and attended 4 law schools in Washington, DC.

TOP 20 LAW SCHOOLS ATTENDED

In the last 5 years, FU students have attended

#1 Stanford #1 Yale #4 Duke #4 Penn #4 UVA

#9 Michigan

#12 Berkeley #14 Georgetown #16 Minnesota #16 Texas

#19 Vanderbilt #20 UGA #20 UNC #20 Notre Dame

PRE-LAW ADVISOR ADVICE

Engage with your advisors early and use the resources Furman offers to determine what drives you and how you can harness this passion to become a competitive law school applicant and land a satisfying career.

Pictured left: Visiting Ben Hartman, FU ‘18 Music/MathEcon, NYU Law ‘21, before he started his career with the law firm of Davis Polk.

Selecting a Major

Select a major that you enjoy, that challenges and engages you, and one in which you have an aptitude to excel GPA is one of the two data points (the other typically being an LSAT score) that students use to build school lists

Building a Network

It is never too early to start building your network of mentors. Students should work with their faculty and advisors to connect with current students, alumni, and other professionals in their fields of interest.

5. Applying When Ready

Gaining Experience

Although there is no required experiences before law school, students typically want to have some exposure to the legal field to determine whether it is a career they will enjoy Students will want to collect this information well in advance of paying for law school

Preparing Early 4.

Law school applications open around September 1 each year. Because it is rolling admissions and rolling extension of merit aid, it is important to prepare thoroughly and early. Talk to your pre-law advisor about tests and timelines well in advance of wanting to start law school.

The majority of Furman students apply to law school 1-3 years after graduating Don’t be afraid to take time to gain professionalism and build your most competitive application

Meet Attorney Mentors

PLS helps students build community by organizing social events, hosting a Lunch with a Lawyer speaker series, organizing alumni networking events, sponsoring CLP events to explore hot topics in law, and supporting law career treks

Pictured right: Students on the DC Career Trek meeting with attorneys on the Hill.

above: Students touring Atlanta

PRE-LAW SOCIETY (PLS)

BUILD COMMUNITY NETWORK LEARN

Pictured left: Noel Francisco, 47th Solicitor General of the United States and partner at Jones Day, speaks to students on representing the US and careers in law.

Connect with Law Schools

PLS invites law schools to meet students through mock admissions panels, admission Q&As, law fairs and forums, diversity and law symposiums, and sponsors law school tours

Students use these opportunities to build relationships with law schools and learn about the schools and their application preferences and nuances

Pictured

law schools.

HARNESSING YOUR PASSION ON THE PATH TO LAW

Ellie arrived at Furman knowing she wanted to serve her community. After interning at the Solicitor’s Office, Ellie learned she wanted to find a way to help victims. At Furman, she pursued internships at the rape center and with the SC Victim Assistance Network. After graduating, Ellie worked in an advocacy center housed in a courthouse where she could assist clients in court.

Her diligence paid off and she earned a full-ride to UGA Law where she staffed the Jane Wilson Family Justice Clinic. Now an attorney, Ellie serves as the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Justice for Incarcerated Survivors Program Legal Director.

Students work with Furman’s Internship Office and the pre-law advisor to explore and prepare application materials for law and law-related internships.

Popular Law Internships

Law Firms

Solicitor’s Office

Public Defender’s Office

US Attorney’s Office

Upstate Medical Legal Partnership

SC Legal Services

Judicial Clerkships

Congressional Offices

Capitol Hill

Businesses

Non-Profits

Pictured left: Ellie Williams, FU ‘18 Spanish and Sociology, UGA Law ‘23

Pictured right: Former PLS VP Blake Harris, FU ‘23, Politics and International Affairs. While at Furman, Blake interned with FU alumni at Wyche Law and the US Attorney’s Office, and with the US House of Representatives. Applying to law school this cycle, Blake plans to pursue a litigation career.

ATTORNEY ALUMNI

ON UTILIZING OPPA PRE-LAW

Furman graduates perform well during law school and upon graduating, secure law jobs across the country.

Jerome Felton, FU ‘07 Political Science, Emory Law ‘24

Associate, Alston & Bird, GA

“As someone transitioning from a previous career and returning to school after time away, I appreciated the guidance from OPPA on navigating the law school application process, from LSAT preparation to personal statements, their help was truly invaluable. Special thanks to Maya Russell for her exceptional support throughout the journey.”

Christy Litz, FU ‘20 Biology, UofSC Rice Law ‘23

Associate, Parker Poe, SC

“Until the middle of my junior year, I was planning to go to medical school, but when I made that switch, Maya didn’t miss a beat. She counseled me through the LSAT preparation and law school applications seamlessly despite the condensed timeline, and I am grateful for her steady guidance and reassurance throughout the process. ”

Meredith

Dixon,

FU ‘18 Music, Berkeley Law ‘22

Staff Attorney, Impact Fund, CA

“After minoring in Poverty Studies at Furman, I realized I wanted to pursue a career as a civil rights lawyer. Maya from the Office of Pre-Professional Advising helped me make that dream a reality by giving me endless technical advice and supporting me through the law school application process. I graduated from Berkeley Law in 2022 and have been working in civil rights impact litigation ever since!”

Gabby Schmidt, FU ‘19, Vanderbilt Law ‘22

Associate, Baker Donelson, TN

“Maya, the pre-law advisor, goes above and beyond to assist Furman students in applying to law school. She helped me to put my best foot forward in the law school admissions process by guiding me in putting together a thoughtful application package. She is also incredibly well connected with admissions offices across the country and has great insight and advice for navigating the law school admissions process. ”