Questions

Calvin's Pre-Law Program

• Can I major in Pre-Law?
• What majors are good for preparing me for law school?
• Are there any guidelines to help me think about choosing my major and choosing how to fulfill my core or general electives?
• What course at Calvin would be helpful in developing these core skills, values and basic areas of knowledge?
• Are there any courses that would help me see whether I would like to attend law school or be a lawyer?
• Are there any internship experiences available at Calvin?

Calvin's Pre-Law Program

Can I major in Pre-Law?

The simple answer is NO. Recently, a professor from the University of Chicago Law School told Pre-Law advisors that "there is no such thing as pre-legal education." Indeed, most law schools tell potential students 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. The law schools will do that. Calvin should help you acquire the necessary skills such that you can succeed at a law school.

Nevertheless, some colleges and universities advertise "Pre-Law" courses and programs. They may do so because a professor believes some courses 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."

Law schools admit students from a wide variety of majors. For the years 1996-2005, the University of Michigan Law School matriculated students from 74 undergraduate majors. The Michigan State University College of Law matriculated students from 54 majors in the fall of 2004. 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.

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 course 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, and ENGL 275- The Craft of Writing.

• 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

• 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, 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?

There are a couple of courses that 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. It is 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 or International Organizations and Law (POLS 309) which focuses on the United Nations and other international legal organizations.

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. If you already have a sponsoring attorney, 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 recommend such experiences one way or the other. 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, Laurie Lemmen (laurie@calvin.edu).