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By the Juris Education Interview Team
Erick Murillo is the President of the Pre-Law Association at Indiana University Bloomington.
The Pre-Law Association at Indiana University sets itself apart by functioning as a one-stop shop for everything pre-law related that an undergraduate could need on their journey to law school. While most on-campus societies focus on one topic, skill, or theme related to law and legal studies, we aim to be more of a central hub for every student interested in law school, whether they’re just curious or fully committed. Because we cover such a wide range of topics, we’re also able to collaborate with other student organizations to create events that reach as many pre-law students as possible. As president, I’ve focused on building those partnerships and keeping our events as inclusive and useful as possible for everyone, whether they’re just curious about law or already studying for the LSAT.
In high school I was not your typical extroverted, involved in every club, class president kind of person you would expect to pursue a leadership position in the pre-law community of a university. I wanted to learn for myself the valuable leadership and communication skills that I would need to pursue a legal career. The life skills I have learned being the president of a pre-law society with over 400 members have been invaluable.
LSAT prep looks different for everyone so we try to offer flexible support. In our organization, we’ve had student-led study groups that work really well as accountability spaces for students who want to stay focused and consistent with LSAT prep. Aside from that, we do everything we can to connect our members with top-quality resources, including partnerships with LSAT prep organizations and access to helpful materials. We’re also expanding our own LSAT library so students can borrow books without having to buy them. A lot of our members prefer to study on their own, so we try to support that by making sure they have access to what they need.
Our initiative to prepare students for the law school application process has had a huge impact on our members. We do our best to make sure students feel confident and ready to build a strong application. That includes hosting panels with admissions officers from a variety of law schools, resume workshops, and, of course, LSAT prep support. This has been one of the most popular parts of what we offer, and it was actually the reason I joined the executive board in the first place. Seeing the difference it made for students early on inspired me to help build on that momentum.
Students can gain a ton of skills by joining a pre-law organization like ours. At our events—like the Admissions Panel, LSAT Webinar, and Awards Ceremony—members build communication and networking skills just by engaging with professionals and peers. I think the best value for aspiring law students comes from being in a leadership position in an on-campus pre-law association. Being on the board, you learn how to organize events, raise money, work as a team, and lead others. It is an experience that I can not recommend enough if you are thinking of going to law school.
I’ve learned that being a leader doesn’t mean having everything figured out—it’s more about showing up consistently, listening to people, and creating space for others to thrive. Leading this org has shown me that I’m capable of more than I thought, especially when it comes to managing a big group and keeping everyone motivated and connected. It’s taught me that leadership is more about service and support than having all the answers.
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