Carroll College - One of the best in the northwest United States, Carroll is a private, Catholic, liberal arts, and preprofessional college in Helena, Montana

Pre-law at Carroll College

At Carroll College, pre-law advising is centered in the Department of Political Science.  There, faculty with experience directing students to law school and a consistent record of placing students in law schools will advise students interested in law.

Q: Do I have to study Political Science to go to law school?

A: No. A common misconception is that pre-law candidates must study political science.  This is not true.  Instead, law schools are looking for strong students who have demonstrated an ability to read, write, and think critically: for example, national statistics show that biology, history, and English majors gain acceptance into at least one law school at rates comparable to—or exceeding—that of political science students.  The Political Science department at Carroll will advise students of any major how to apply to and prepare for law school.

Q: Are there any specific courses I ought to take to prepare for law school?

A: Not necessarily.  Although certain courses might be very helpful to law school students, law schools generally have no prerequisites.  Instead, they look for students who have done well in difficult courses and have demonstrated that they possess the thinking and communication skills that a career in law requires.  Nonetheless, the Department recommends several courses for students who wish to gain a firmer grounding in law before attending law school.  These courses are:

PO 104: American National Government
PO 201: Introduction to the Legal Process
PO 210: Introduction to Constitutional Law
PO 216: American Political Thought
BA 301-302: Business Law I and II
SO 314: Sociology of Law

For those wishing to gain practical experience in the field of law, the Department of Political Science also offers:

PO 289: Moot Court
PO 389: Moot Court Team Competition
PO 417: Legal Internship

Q: I have decided: I am definitely going to law school.  Why should I choose Carroll?

A: There are at least three reasons:

1. First-Rate Advising: Carroll College’s pre-law center offers personalized advising to students interested in legal careers.  We have an excellent record of helping students gain admission to regional law schools and have placed exceptional students in nationally recognized, highly selective programs.
2. Excellent Courses: in addition to the demanding and rewarding courses of your chosen major, the Department of Political Science offers courses that provide a foundation in law (PO 104, PO 201, PO 210, PO 216, BA 301-302, SO 314), simulate the educational experience of law school (PO 210, PO 289), and prepare students for the LSAT (PO 201).
3. Practical Experience: Pre-law at Carroll affords students the opportunity to gain experience in the legal profession before they ever go to law school.  Carroll's legal internship program (PO 417) allows students to assist lawyers in the capitol region while receiving academic credit and Moot Court (PO 289) gives students a chance to practice giving oral arguments before a judge.  In the fall of 2009, Carroll's top Moot Court teams will travel to Los Angeles, CA to compete against other colleges and universities (PO 389).

Recommended Courses

PO 104: American National Government
PO 201: Intro to the Legal Process
PO 210: Intro to Constitutional Law
PO 216: American Political Thought
BA 301-302: Business Law I and II
SO 314: Sociology of Law

Any student with a strong academic record and demonstrated ability to read, write, and think critically can go to law school, regardless of major.