| Pre-Law Program |
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Calvin's Pre-Law Program
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| Calvin's Pre-Law Program 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."
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.
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.
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? |
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