| Can I major
in Pre-Law?
Calvin does not offer a "Pre-Law" major, based on the belief that the best preparation for law school is a solid liberal arts
education. The liberal arts expose students to many academic disciplines
and train students to think and write clearly, to organize and manage
time wisely, and to learn how to adapt to a changing world. Law schools
do not want Calvin to teach you the law; they will do that.
Rather, Calvin should help you acquire the necessary skills that will allow you to succeed at a law school.
Some colleges and universities do offer "Pre-Law"
courses and programs, primarily because a professor believes some
courses are particularly helpful in preparation for law school, or because
the school knows that such advertised courses attract students. You can
take similar courses at Calvin as part of your general electives. You
will not have any advantage in applying to law school by enrolling in
a school with a Pre-Law major.
What majors are good for preparing me for law school?
The American Bar Association, the national organization that oversees
legal education, offers the best advice about choosing a major to prepare
for law school:
"Students who are successful in law school, and who become accomplished
attorneys or use their legal education successfully in other areas of
professional life, come to their legal education from widely differing
educational and experiential backgrounds. As undergraduate students, some
have majored in subjects that are traditionally considered paths to law
school such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics,
or business. Other successful law students, however, have focused their
undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music theory, computer
science, engineering, nursing, or education. Many law students enter law
school directly from their undergraduate studies and without having had
any substantial work experience. Others begin their legal education significantly
later in life, and they bring to their law school education the insights
and perspectives gained from those life experiences."
"Thus the ABA does not recommend any particular group of undergraduate
majors or courses that should be taken by those wishing to prepare for
legal education; the law is too multifaceted, and the human mind too
adaptable, to permit such a linear approach to preparing for law school
or the practice of law."
"Taking difficult courses from demanding instructors is the best
generic preparation for legal education."
Though the most common pre-law majors are political science, philosophy, psychology, history, and English, law schools admit students from a wide variety of majors. For the years 1996-2005, for example, the University of Michigan Law School matriculated students from 74 undergraduate majors. A similar variety is found for most law schools around the nation.
Are there any guidelines to help me think about choosing my major
and choosing how to fulfill my core or general electives?
Potential law students can indeed prepare themselves for law school at
Calvin. You can do so by choosing a challenging major which you enjoy
and where your grades will be good. You can develop your skills at writing,
analyzing, researching, organizing and listening. You can take the tough
courses that demand lengthy papers. You can choose the 200 and 300 level
courses over the 100 level courses during your last two years of college.
You can participate actively in campus life and develop a rich and impressive
application.
You should also consider the types of issues you would like to pursue as an attorney. A degree in engineering is an excellent background for a patent attorney, while a degree in social work, sociology, urban studies or international development would be good for future work in the legal problems of the poor. A degree in environmental studies or international relations would be appropriate for future work in international environmental or humanitarian law.
The ABA also suggests acquiring certain basic skills, values and knowledge
for preparing for law school.
- Core skills and values: "The core skills and values
that are essential for competent lawyering include analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading
abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities,
general research skills, task organization and management skills, and
the values of serving faithfully the interests of others while also promoting
justice."
- Basic areas of knowledge: "In addition to these
fundamental skills and values, there are some basic areas of knowledge
that are important to a sophisticated legal education and to the development
of a competent attorney: broad understanding of history, particularly
American history, and the various factors that have influenced the development
of the pluralistic society that presently exists in the United States;
a fundamental understanding of political thought and theory, and of the
contemporary American political system; a basic understanding of ethical
theory and theories of justice; a grounding in economics, particularly
elementary micro-economic theory; some basic precalculus mathematics and
an ability to analyze financial data; a basic understanding of human behavior
and social interaction; and an understanding of diverse cultures within
and beyond the United States, of international institutions and issues,
and of the increasing interdependence of the nations and communities within
our world."
What courses at Calvin would be helpful in developing these core
skills, values and basic areas of knowledge?
You will develop many of these areas through meeting Calvin's core requirements,
which is one of the reasons that the ABA suggests pre-law students attend
a college or university with a strong liberal arts curriculum. However,
there are also other courses that you could take as general electives
that may also be of help. Remember: these are recommendations, not
requirements, and no student will take all of these courses.
Core Skills and Values:
- Analytic and Problem-solving Skills: Philosophy 171- Philosophy of Logic
(particularly useful course to help you prepare for aspects of the LSAT
exam).
- Critical Reading Skills: Any upper divisional course in one of the Humanities
or Social Science programs.
- Writing and Researching Skills: ENGL 101-Written Rhetoric, ENGL 201-Academic and Professional Writing, ENGL 265-Business Writing, ENGL
275-The Craft of Writing, and any upper divisional course in one of the Social Science programs.
- Oral Communication and Listening Ability: CAS 211- Argumentation and
Advocacy
Basic Areas of Knowledge
- General and American History: HIST 152-World History II, HIST 229-U.S.A.,
HIST 252-The American Republic 1763-1877, and HIST 355-American Intellectual
History.
- American Government and Political Theory: POLS 101-American Politics,
POLS 314-The President and Congress, POLS 240-Political Ideas in Historical
Perspective, POLS 306-History of Modern Political Thought, and POLS 320-Twentieth Century Political Thought
- Ethics and Theories of Justice: PHIL 205-Ethics, PHIL 202-Philosophy
of Law, PHIL 365-Ethical Theory
- Economics: ECON 151-Principles of Economics or ECON 221-Principles of
Microeconomics, ECON 222-Principles of Macroeconomics
- Mathematics and Financial Analysis: MATH 100-Mathematics in the Contemporary
World or MATH 110-Precalculus Mathematics; BUS 203-Introduction to Managerial
Accounting and BUS 204-Financial Accounting.
- Human Behavior, Social Interaction and Diverse Cultures: PSYC 151-Introductory
Psychology, SOC 151-Sociological Principles and Perspectives, SOC 306-Deviance, or SOC
250-Diversity and Inequality in the United States.
- Law-related courses: POLS 310-Constitutional Law and Judicial Process,
POLS 309-International Organizations and Law, POLS 312-Men, Women and the Law, BUS 350-Law in Business, and SOC 210-Criminal Justice Process.
Are there any courses that would help me see whether I would like
to attend law school or be a lawyer?
Several courses may assist you in deciding whether
you want to go to law school or be a lawyer. Constitutional Law and Judicial
Process (POLS 310) covers the structure of our constitutional government
and examines the major decisions of the Supreme Court in interpreting
the Constitution. Men, Women and the Law (POLS 312) explores how ideas about men and women affect the way public policy is made by examining recent legislation and court opinions.These courses are typically taught using a modified form of the
"case method" that is used in law schools. You may also consider
Law in Business (BUS 350), which surveys several of the more important
commercial areas of the law and typically uses the case method. International
Organizations and Law (POLS 309) focuses on interaction among inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international law.
Are there
any internship experiences available at Calvin?
Internships and summer jobs in law offices may be helpful to you in deciding
about a possible legal career. Internships are typically not paid and
involve 8-10 hours of fieldwork ("shadowing" and assisting a
practicing attorney) and a couple of hours of class and course work. You can sometimes work out an independent study with
the Pre-Law advisor. Some departments will award academic credit for internship experience. Summer jobs in law firms are difficult to obtain
because firms tend to hire first, second and third year law students.
However, you may be able to get a job as legal assistant or as a messenger.
Law schools do not either recommend or discourage such experiences. The
primary advantage of an internship or summer job is for you to discern
your sense of calling to become a lawyer. Such
internships can be coordinated through the Career Development Office. If you are interested, contact the Experiential Education Coordinator, Beth Cok. Additional information is also available on our Internships web page.
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