Academics
In order to develop the background and skills necessary for success in the field of law, students are encouraged to choose a major that will be challenging for them. Students should also develop an educational program that is both broad and liberal in the classic sense. For this reason, there is no specific pre-law major at Saint Michael's College, nor do law schools recommend any one major as a prerequisite for law. Students interested in pursing law should select college courses geared to the development of a broad cultural background and habits of thoroughness, intellectual curiosity, and scholarship. In the past, Saint Michael’s students have found that a major in English, history, philosophy, or political science works well with the pre-law program.
Course Selection
Courses in literature, language, speech, composition, logic, and semantics are all important to the pre-law student in that they each cultivate skills that are necessary for success in a law program. Pre-law students should consider taking courses that offer a variety of reading assignments and a large volume of well-directed class discussions. They should also seek courses that will allow them to have ample opportunity to prepare and criticize written and oral reports.
Guidance for the Pre-law Student
Students may obtain advice on law as a career and the law school admission process by meeting with a career counselor in the Student Resource Center and/or a member of the faculty Pre-law Advising Committee. Counselors are available by appointment to assist students in making career decisions and in securing needed information.
Pre-law students are also encouraged to make use of the career literature, law school catalogues and pre-law references that are available to them in the Student Resource Center.
Informational meetings are held in the fall for pre-law students featuring local attorneys and alumni who are now in law school. These lawyers volunteer their time to describe their law school experiences to our pre-law students and to answer questions.
Finally, pre-law students are encouraged to participate in an internship at a local law firm, the State Attorney’s Office, or the State Governor’s Office in order to gain practical experience in the field of law.
Check out the Saint Michael's College Prelaw Guide (pdf)
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For More Information:
William Wilson
Provost and Associate Professor of Political Science
Founders 111A
Phone: 802.654.2216
Box 107
E-mail: wwilson@smcvt.edu
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Christine Clary
Associate Director of Career Development
Klein Hall 132
Phone: 802.654.2548
Box 264
E-mail: cclary@smcvt.edu
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Schools where Saint Michael's applicants were recently accepted:
Albany Law School
Barry University - Orlando School of Law
California Western School of Law
John Marshall Law School Chicago
Marquette University
New England School of Law
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Suffolk University Law School
Touro College Law Center
University of Miami
University of San Francisco
University of St. Thomas Minneapolis
Vermont Law School
Western New England College of Law
Whittier Law School
William Mitchell College of Law
Schools where Saint Michael's applicants recently matriculated:
Barry University – Orlando School of Law
Marquette University
Suffolk University Law School
University of Miami
University of San Francisco
Western New England College of Law