The Pre-Law Track
Philosophy is an ideal pre-law major. Lawyers are expected to think analytically about complex case law, to evaluate evidence, and to present sound arguments on behalf of their clients. At the same time, lawyers must assume a healthily skeptical attitude towards opposing counsel, recognize flaws in the arguments arrayed against them, write and speak clearly and concisely, and have a deep sense of justice. The study of philosophy is uniquely well-suited to fostering these skills and qualities in students. It is for this reason that philosophy majors consistently outperform other majors on the LSAT, the standardized test that students have to take to get into law school. 1
To this end, the Philosophy Department at UDM has designed a special pre-law track within its major for those students planning on attending law school. Such students are advised to take the following three (3) electives to complete their pre-law philosophy major:
PHL 140: Topics in Critical Thinking (3 credits)
When the topic of this course is Critical Thinking and the Law, pre-law philosophy majors should take this course. The emphasis is on how to read case law and specifically how to develop the skill of extracting and reconstructing judicial argument. Given the centrality of this skill in their legal education, all pre-law students in the College of Liberal Arts (irrespective of major) should be advised to at least strongly consider this course.PHL 240: Topics in Philosophy (3 credits)
When the topic of this course is Philosophical Issues in the Law, pre-law philosophy majors should take this course. Through consideration of topics such as privacy, free speech, affirmative action, insanity defenses, the morality of plea-bargaining, establishing negligence in tort, and the intersection of law, liberty, and morality, students will: (a) learn the philosophical foundations of contemporary legal issues and (b) continue to hone their skills at reading case law by examining important cases on these topics (including many the are likely to encounter in law school: Griswold v. Connecticut, Palsgraf v. Long Island, Texas v. Johnson, Bowers v. Hardwick, University of California v. Bakke, etc).
PHL 315: Philosophy of Law and Politics (3 credits)
All pre-law philosophy majors should take this course, which deals with the central question in analytic jurisprudence (what is law?), as well as the relationship between this question and competing theories of Constitutional interpretation. This course will include such topics as: natural law theory, legal positivism, legal realism, Dworkin’s "third theory" of law, the critical legal studies movement, feminist jurisprudence, and originalism.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Pre-law philosophy majors, like majors planning graduate work in philosophy, are strongly urged to take more than the 30 hours required for the philosophy major. Pre-law philosophy majors should take as many of the following additional philosophy courses as they can:
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