Pre-Law

See the more in the Course Catalog.

What is Pre-Law?

The term “pre-law” refers to a course of study intended to prepare students for law school. Top law schools prefer strong subject area majors in their applicants. You can major in any subject and still enter law school, as long as you successfully complete your bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT (the law school entrance exam).

Rigorous Liberal Arts Formation

Law school is academically intensive, involving a heavy load of reading, understanding complex written material, and a generous dose of logic, history, rhetoric, writing, research, and critical analysis. Use your undergraduate classes to explore the liberal arts; enroll in courses that focus on reading, writing, and critical thinking.

The point of a liberal arts education is to develop analytical and communication skills that have broad application. You need to be able to understand information through oral and written forms, to respond to that information morally and imaginatively, to analyze arguments, examine and evaluate evidence, and to communicate cogently.

Best Pre-Law Majors

There are no specific courses you have to take to be admitted to law school; there is no set list of “prerequisites.” A major that will prepare you for law school is one that is rigorous. Some examples of pre-law majors that can help students prepare for law school include philosophy, English, economics, history, and political science.

According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), the most common major among 2015-2016 law school applicants was political science. English is among the top five most common majors, and philosophy majors tend to be top law school applicants.

Outside the Classroom

Your post-graduation plans—whether that means law school, graduate school or full time work—will be impacted by the activities you engage in outside the classroom. Jobs, internships, community service, student organizations and leadership experiences can help you prepare for the future. They are also an invaluable investment in yourself, and can aid the process of building virtuous habits and a mature outlook. Get involved in student clubs, academic groups, arts, activities, and study abroad—take advantage of what college has to offer!

Letters of Recommendation

Law schools expect you to produce letters of recommendation, vouching for your academic aptitude and overall motivation. From the beginning of your college experience, take advantage of professors’ office hours, introduce yourself, and dive deeply into academic questions. Get to know your professors—building relationships is a life skill that is key to both your happiness and your future success.

Suggested Pre-Law Activities

1. Engage intellectually
   1. Take challenging classes, with writing emphasis
   2. Attend lectures & academic discussions
   3. Be well-read; follow current events that have a legal angle or debate element
2. Familiarize yourself with the practice of law
   1. Shadow a lawyer
   2. Make courtroom visits
   3. Volunteer for a law firm
   4. Interview lawyers about the nature of their work
3. Develop your skills
   1. Logical reasoning
   2. Analysis / Synthesis
   3. Writing
   4. Speaking
4. Perform volunteer and service work
   1. Engage the community
   2. Show empathy and explore causes you are passionate about

Law Schools Attended by Recent Benedictine Grads

• *Notre Dame Law School
• University of Nebraska College of Law
• University of Saint Thomas Law School (MN)
• University of Denver Strum College of Law
• University of Missouri Kansas City
• Loyola University of New Orleans College of Law
• University of Kansas School of Law
• *Washburn University School of Law
• Baylor University School of Law
• University of Wisconsin Law (Madison)
• Saint Louis University School of Law
• University of Iowa College of Law
• Ave Maria University School of Law

Be sure to take advantage of the post-graduate support and guidance provided by Benedictine College’s Student Success Center.

Contact

Request Info

Faculty

• Kimberly Shankman, Ph.D.
  Professor and
  Dean of the College

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Freshmen Year

POLS-1000 or POLS-1500 or POLS-1750	Introduction to American Government or Amer. 20th Cent. Pol. History or Leadership Matters	3
–	Foreign Language	4
THEO-1100	Introduction to Theology	3
ENGL-1010	English Composition	3
PSYC-1000 or SOCI-1000	General Psychology or General Sociology	3
GNST-1000	BC Experience	1
	Total	17

ECON-2090	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
–	Foreign Language	4
–	Historical Foundation	3
–	Aesthetic experience	3
–	Skills & perspectives course	3
	Total	16

Sophomore Year

POLS-2010	Comp World Government & Politics	3
EXSC-1115	Wellness for Life	1
–	Faith foundation	3
PHIL-1750	Principles of Nature	3
ACCT-2090	Principles of Financial Accounting	3
	Elective, preferably in political science	3
	Total	16

POLS-2750	Public Policy Analysis	3
POLS-2500	Research Methods	4
–	EXSC Fitness course	1
–	Aesthetic Experience	3
–	Faith Foundation	3
–	Understanding the Nat. World Found. (w/ lab)	4
	Total	18

Junior Year

POLS-3800	Development of Political Thought	3
–	Elective courses (Political Science or non-departmental) upper-division	10
–	Philosophical inquiry	3
	Total	16

–	Understanding the Nat. World Found. (w/ lab)	3
–	Constitutional law class	3
POLS-4010	International Relations	3
POLS-4790	Internship	3
	Total	12

Senior Year

POLS-4950	Capstone Senior Seminar	3
POLS-COMP	Senior Comprehensive Exam	0
–	Elective courses (Political Science or non-departmental) upper-division	12
	Total	15

POLS-4600 or POLS-4700	Public Administration   or Policy Implementation	3
–	Political Science elective	3
–	Elective courses (Political Science or non- departmental) upper-division	10
	Total	16

Other Department Offerings

• Minor in Political Science
• Minor/Concentration in Pre-Law
• Minor in Economics and Politics