Prelaw

If you plan to pursue a degree in law upon completion of your undergraduate studies, we can guide you in that journey. At Baker, we have two faculty advisors for our Prelaw Society, who can give you insight into what to incorporate into your studies at Baker and advise you in the application process. In addition, the Prelaw Society hosts programs throughout the year for those interested in law school. Such activities include panel discussions led by law students and practicing attorneys, discussions, of law-related movies, visits to area courts and other law-related venues and sessions in which students can take practice LSAT exams and discuss testing strategies.

It is recommended that you maintain contact with a prelaw advisor from the moment you decide you may be interested in law school. From there, the advisors will inform you of activities, help you decide if law is for you, advise you on undergraduate courses that will be advantageous in law school, suggest internship possibilities, help you choose potential law schools and provide guidance as you go through the application process.

Baker’s prelaw program and liberal arts curriculum have proven successful in the past. More than 95 percent of Baker students are admitted to either their first or second choice of law school. Recent graduates have gone on to study law at the University of Kansas, Washburn University, Brigham Young University, the University of Missouri, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Drake, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Notre Dame, Southern Methodist University, Pepperdine, Tulane, Whittier, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest, William and Mary, Georgetown, George Washington, Duke, Gonzaga and others.

Several students have received full-ride fellowships to various law programs.

With your Baker education and the right guidance, you can be confident about your application to law school and your success once you start.

Coursework

Law schools are looking for diverse academic backgrounds, so you can apply with virtually any major. Some of the most common undergraduate majors for law students are philosophy, social sciences, business and mass media. Though any major can lead to acceptance into law school, we recommend certain courses to help prepare you for the courses you’ll take once you arrive.

Liberal Arts

LA 101, LA 102 and LA 401, the backbone of the liberal arts curriculum, focus on critical thinking and writing. These are both essential skills for any student of law.

Business

We recommend you take at least one business course during your undergraduate students, whether it be BS 141 Intro to Business or an introductory accounting course. A general understanding of business is a necessary component for many law courses.

Law

Baker offers several courses that focus on law within certain areas. We recommend you pursue one or more of these courses as an introduction to the study of law and to gain skill in interpreting legal cases:

• BI 201 Environmental Issues & Policies
• BS 251 Business Law I
• BS 252 Business Law II
• BS 351 The Law of Sports
• MM 478 Mass Media Law
• PS 421 American Constitutional Law

Philosophy

Any course in philosophy is a good preparation for law school and the LSAT. Research has shown that students who study philosophy are among the highest scorers on the LSAT. Here are some courses that are highly recommended for students looking into law.

• PH 120 Ethics
• PH 311 Logic & Argumentation
• PH/PS 350 Law & Morality

Faculty

To learn more about the prelaw program at Baker University, please contact one of the following:

Karen Exon
Professor, Head Men & Women's Golf Coach
B.S.E., M.A., Ph.D. University of Kansas
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785.594.8489

Thomas Peard
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Department Chair
B.A. Washington and Lee; M.A., J.D., Ph.D. University of Colorado at Boulder
Expertise: analytic philosophy, ethics, logic, philosophy of law
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785.594.4529