Legal Studies, Pre-Law Business/Accounting Specialization, B.A.

Pre-Law

Department Chairperson - Dr. Julie Smith

The Pre-Law Program at Mount Aloysius College is designed to prepare students to compete successfully for admission to law school and to excel in the unique law school environment. With this focus in mind, the curriculum provides a foundation in the liberal arts, American historical and political processes, ethics and the law.

Additionally, the program is committed to the pre-law educational objectives recommended by the American Bar Association’s section on pre-law education. Therefore, the program has adopted the following outcomes:

1. appreciate the benefits of a liberal arts education that includes the arts, sciences, humanities, and technology;
2. employ skill in close reading and critical analysis of complex textual material such as statutes and case law;
3. demonstrate a high degree of proficiency in legal writing including memoranda and briefs;
4. engage in legal research, including computer-based research, and to synthesize and analyze information gained from the research to answer legal questions;
5. orally articulate clear and persuasive legal arguments;
6. organize and apply information in an efficient manner to produce common legal documents such as pleadings;
7. understand the importance of the American historical and political systems and how they have influenced the development of the present society;
8. demonstrate a broad understanding of areas of substantive law, including torts, contracts, civil law, criminal law, business law and constitutional law; and
9. Enable the pursuit of graduate study or law school or employment in a wide range of legal careers.

Core Course Requirements

Major Course Requirements

• LA 400 - Capstone Seminar 3 Credits (satisfies core requirement)
• LW 102 - Introduction to Legal Research 3 Credits
• LW 105 - Civil Law 3 Credits
• LW 111 - Introduction to Mock Trial 3 Credits
• LW 200 - Criminal Law 3 Credits
• LW 204 - Real Estate Law 3 Credits
• LW 209 - Domestic Relations 3 Credits
• LW 210 - Probate 3 Credits
• LW 211 - Business Law I 3 Credits
• LW 212 - Business Law II 3 Credits
• LW 301 - Pre-Law Seminar 3 Credits
• LW 315 - Constitutional Law 3 Credits
• LW 402 - Advanced Legal Research 3 Credits

Other Required Coursework

• PL 101 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credits
• EN 305 - Beginning Literary Criticism 3 Credits
• HS 201 - American History to 1877 3 Credits
• HS 202 - American History since 1877 3 Credits

Pre-Law Business/Accounting Specialization

Total Credits for Degree: 120 Credits