Lehigh or Georgetown for pre-law: which is the better choice?

Georgetown is the stronger pick for pre-law. Its Washington, DC location gives you unusually direct access to internships on Capitol Hill, at think tanks, federal agencies, nonprofits, and law-related organizations during the school year, not just in the summer. Georgetown also has a long-standing political and policy ecosystem that naturally overlaps with legal careers, so it is easier to build a resume with relevant experience before applying to law school.

That location advantage is the biggest separator. At Georgetown, students interested in law can plug into nearby courts, government offices, advocacy groups, and public policy centers while taking classes, which matters because sustained involvement tends to be more valuable than a short summer experience. For someone testing out legal interests, DC makes it much easier to see different sides of the field, including public interest, policy, international affairs, and legislative work.

Georgetown also offers a more concentrated pre-law environment. Because so many students are interested in government, policy, international relations, and related fields, there is a deeper culture around debate, public speaking, writing, and current affairs, all of which translate well to law school preparation. That kind of peer environment can push you toward stronger internships, better faculty connections, and a clearer sense of why you want law school in the first place.

Lehigh can still absolutely get you to law school, especially if you would thrive in a somewhat smaller, more contained campus setting and want closer access to professors. But its strength is less tied to the legal and policy world in the way Georgetown’s is. If your goal is specifically to maximize year-round access to law-adjacent opportunities, alumni networks in policy and government, and practical exposure before law school applications, Georgetown has the more obvious edge.