Pre-Law
Advisors: Brian Buckley, Melissa Donegan, James Kelley, Diana Morlang, Lawrence Nelson, Terri Peretti
Santa Clara University provides a wide range of opportunities for undergraduates to build a strong pre-law foundation. Early in their undergraduate program, pre-law students should consult not only with their major advisor but also with one of the designated pre-law advisors to help determine whether or not a career in law matches their particular interests and strengths. Consultation with a pre-law advisor familiarizes the student with the rigors of law school, the practice of law, the burden of law school debt, and the means to best secure employment as an attorney. Advisors will help formulate a program to prepare students for the complexity of the application process, including preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). There is no specific major or curriculum required to qualify for law school admission. Successful law school applicants come from a diversity of majors such as anthropology, philosophy, communication, political science, physics, English, history, biology, and economics. However, to successfully prepare for the LSAT, students are advised to select courses that deepen reading comprehension and promote logical reasoning. Law school admissions officers generally recommend undergraduate preparation by selecting courses that demand discipline, analytical ability, research skills, close reading of texts, creativity, verbal skills, and precision in written and oral work. The departments of Philosophy and Political Science offer a pre-law emphasis within the major (in philosophy, it is also available within the minor). Elective courses also provide valuable training and breadth of academic and analytical experience. Some elective courses strengthen specific abilities, while others provide perspective on legal issues and topics. Possible electives include, but are not limited to, the following:
Business Courses
BUSN 85. Business Law
Communication Courses
COMM 20. Public Speaking
COMM 170A. Communication Law
Economics Courses
ECON 126. Economics and Law
English Courses
ENGL 115. Argumentation
Environmental Studies Courses
ENVS 120. Introduction to Environmental Law and Regulation in the United States
ENVS 122. Environmental Politics and Policy
ENVS 124. Water Law and Policy
Experiential Learning for Social Justice
ELSJ 50. Law and Social Justice
Philosophy Courses
PHIL 17. Informal Logic
PHIL 30. Ethics and the Law
PHIL 108. Special Topics in Applied Ethics: The Moral and Legal Status of Prenatal Humans
PHIL 117. Bioethics and the Law
PHIL 118. Ethics and Constitutional Law
PHIL 119. Ethics and Criminal Law
PHIL 123. Philosophy of Law
Political Science Courses
POLI 45. Criminal Justice System
POLI 125. International Law
POLI 159. The Constitution and Liberty
POLI 160. The Constitution and Equality
POLI 161. Law and Politics in the United States
Psychology Courses
PSYC 155. Psychology and Law
Sociology Courses
SOCI 159. Sociology of Crime
SOCI 160. Sociology of Law
SOCI 161. Sociology of Criminal Justice Systems
Theatre Courses
THTR 8. Acting for Nonmajors
THTR 21. Voice I: Voice, Speech, and Presentation Skills