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Susquehanna Academics |
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Preprofessional Programs: Pre-LawLawyers play key roles in resolving differences, forming policy, and defining our rights and responsibilities as individuals and citizens. Private, civil law deals with issues such as contracts, taxes, family disputes and tort or injury claims. Public law focuses on criminal, administrative, constitutional and international issues. Exploring the options, preparing for and pursuing a career in law offer both challenge and personal satisfaction. How will Susquehanna help prepare me for a career in law?A Susquehanna education provides an excellent preparation for law school. You will benefit in the following ways:
Is there a pre-law curriculum at Susquehanna?The American Association of Law Schools recommends a broad-based liberal arts education to prepare for legal studies. Susquehanna provides many choices to develop a solid educational background and specific skills that will help you succeed in professional school and a future career. These include oral and written communication skills, effective research ability, critical thinking skills to help you solve problems creatively, and an understanding of human institutions and values. Many students choose traditional foundations for careers in law such as majors in economics, English, history or political science. Business and accounting majors are excellent preparations for careers in corporate law. The fields of medical and environmental law invite science and psychology majors. Many different minors also coordinate well with pre-law study. The minor in legal studies, though not a pre-law program, can complement your preparation for professional school. The minor focuses on the nature and function of law, legal concepts and institutions. Students should declare this minor as sophomores to ensure that required courses will fit into their programs. A survey found 94 percent of Susquehanna graduates enrolled in law school or practicing law felt they were as well or better prepared for law school than their classmates from other colleges. The courses they cited as most helpful ranged from constitutional law to music literature. Nearly all agreed on the need to develop strong writing and public speaking skills. Recommended courses for law school preparation include:General background
Skill development
Law-related courses
What does it take to be admitted to law school?Law schools accept candidates based on two main factors: grade point average and the score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). The stronger both are, the more choices you will have. The LSAT is the law school equivalent of the SAT. It is a test of analytical reasoning designed to predict the success you are likely to have in law school. It does not measure knowledge of the law or a specific academic subject area. Scores range from a low of 120 to a high of 180, with a competitive score being at least 150. Most law schools expect a grade point average of at least 3.0 to give serious consideration to an application. What can give me a competitive edge in applying to law school?In addition to academic credentials, law schools look for candidates who demonstrate maturity, leadership and service. Increasingly, Susquehanna students planning legal careers gain pre-graduate experience in the law and related fields through externships, internships, service learning, student government and leadership roles and other forms of experiential learning. Another option is the Washington Semester at the American University in Washington, D.C. This pro-gram cultivates an understanding of American govern-met, public law, justice, journalism and foreign and economic policy. Participants complete a seminar, individual research or study, and an internship with a public or private agency. Additional off-campus study is available through programs such as the Philadelphia Center, the Drew University United Nations Semester and the Lutheran College Washington Consortium. What is Susquehanna's law school placement record?Susquehanna students have an outstanding acceptance and achievement record at a wide variety of law schools across the country. Since 1992, more than 80 percent of Susquehanna's applicants have been admit-ted to one or more schools. Schools where Susquehanna graduates have been accepted in the past ten years include:
What careers have they pursued after law school?Susquehanna graduates practice both civil and public law. Some are corporate attorneys and others are associates or partners in prestigious law firms in Philadelphia and New York as well as members of smaller local practices. They also include judges, district attorneys and elected and appointed state and United States government officials. Can I have a career in a legal field without going to law school?Related careers include legal assistance and judicial administration. Both require study beyond the baccalaureate degree. Legal assistants or paralegals are in increasing demand to do research, draw up legal documents and handle preliminary meetings with clients. Intensive training courses last from four months to one year at institutions such as Villanova or Georgetown universities or other specialized pro-grams. Judicial administrators assist judges in carrying out court business. Successful candidates complete specialized master's degree programs at schools such as American University. Graduates from judicial administration programs also find careers teaching or pursuing research at colleges and universities. Selected Susquehanna Alumni Profiles
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