Pre-Law Program
The pre-law handbook, published by the Association of American Law Schools and the Law School Admission Council, states that no specific major, course of studies, department, or division is preferred for all students preparing for a law career. A future law student needs to develop experience and skills in three basic areas:
- effectiveness in the comprehension and use of language
- in-depth understanding of human institutions and values
- creative power in thinking.
A particular major may be more helpful if a student has already determined what type of lawyer he or she wants to be. For example, someone seeking a career in corporation law may find that a business administration major will give the best preparation for future work. Business, English, history, or political science are areas typically chosen as a pre-law major, but a student contemplating law school can major in any area.
Many USF students major in political science since there are a number of courses in the major associated with the field of law. For instance, the Introduction to Law course teaches students to think like lawyers and includes visits to local law schools as well as class visits by law school admission counselors. The political science department also offers an Introduction to Criminal Law course, Constitutional Law and Corporate Law. Of course, students who do not specifically major in political science may take these classes.
Academic Advising
Academic advisors work closely with pre-law students to ensure that electives within their chosen major, general education courses and electives all strengthen the student's preparation for the LSAT exam and ultimately law school. Students are encouraged to consider taking courses in economics, accounting, ethics, critical writing and speech. Students preparing for the LSAT exam are encouraged to take the Princeton Review or Kaplan preparation program.
The USF pre-law advisor is a member of the Midwest Pre-Law Association and is willing to work with students considering school selection, recommendation letters and their own personal statements.
Mock Trial Competition
An excellent way to strengthen the student's critical thinking skills, oral communication skill and become immersed in the legal process is to participate on the University's Mock Trial Team. USF teams compete in the American Mock Trial Association Competition from October until March against such schools as Michigan State, University of Illinois, Loyola, Northwestern, University of Chicago to name a few.
The USF mock trial team regularly competes in national competitions and has won trophies for team excellence as well as individual student awards. USF sponsors its own invitational tournament during the fall semester. Students may take Mock Trial two times for class credit.
USF also has a Mock Trial club. Club members may participate in mock trial every year. Students interested in law school are strongly encouraged to participate in the Mock Trial club since it will improve your chance of admission to the law school of your choice.
Legal Internship
Students have the opportunity to work in a number of local law firms. Moreover, students have also interned for locally based judges including sites in Joliet as well as Chicago
Washington D.C. Legislative/Governmental Internship
This internship allows students selected for this program to spend a portion or all of one semester in Washington , D.C. Students have interned for congressmen, senators and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Students have also interned at the White House and for Washington lobbying firms. Students are assigned specific duties at the internship sites and are also responsible for work assigned to them by their USF instructor.
Locally based internships are also available. Students have interned for locally based officials (state and senate representatives) as well as alderman and a variety of city officials.