UW-Whitewater provides students an outstanding opportunity to prepare for taking the law School Admissions Test and preparing for the study of law. The pre-law program is offered in conjunction with the opportunity for students to take a substantive major and minor appropriate for the study of law.

Academic Majors

Law schools do not require a specific major; rather they are looking for students who possess skills appropriate to the study of law. These include reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective writing. Such skills can be acquired through a wide variety of majors. Some of the popular majors for pre-law students at UW-Whitewater include:

• Political Science
• Public Policy and Administration
• English
• History
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Women's Studies
• Economics
• Accounting
• Finance
• General Business with Business law Emphasis
• Public Relations

Some popular minor areas in addition to the ones listed above as possible majors include:

• Business Law
• Finance and Real Estate
• General Business
• Philosophy
• Public Administration
• Legal Studies (subject to approval of the curricular process Fall, 1998)
• Criminal Justice

Internship Program A special opportunity for Pre-law students at UW-Whitewater is to take the course Resources in Legal Research to acquire hands-on experience using the various legal resources from the extensive collection of the Anderson Library at UW-Whitewater. Upon completion of this course students are eligible for a law related internship with area judges, district attorneys, or practicing attorneys. The internship program allows students to earn academic credit as well as obtain practical experience in legal setting. Intern are individually placed to match the intern assignment to the student's skills and acdemic interest.

The Law Society

The Law Society is a campus organization open to all students interested in a career in the law. Activities include speakers from various legal careers, field trips, and law school representatives.

The UW-W Proposed Paralegal Certificate Program

A new program available to students in Fall, 1998 pending final curricular approval is a Paralegal Certificate. This certificate will be available to students pursuing a standard UW-Whitewater curriculum with a major and/or minor as part of a degree program, or it will be available to students who have graduated and want to take obtain the certificate to enhance their career options. The Paralegal Certificate is not permitted as a substitute for a minor. However, students interested in a law minor can take the proposed Legal Studies Minor which should also go into effect near the end of the Fall, 1998 semester.

Required Core

Course # Credits Course Title

820-360 1 Resources for Legal Research

820-493 3 Internship

240/820xxx 3 Legal Writing Project (New course to be developed. Until there is sufficient enrollment in the Legal Affairs Certificate, it will be taught as an independent study course (820-498 or 240-498). The new course will be cross listed by Finance and Business Law and Political Science and taught by either department based on student needs.

Public Law Courses (Any two of the following)

820-413 3 Constitutional Law

820-414 3 Constitution and Civil Liberties

820-414 3 Criminal Justice and the Constitution

820-419 3 The Judicial Process

Business Law Courses (Any two of the following)

240-341 3 Business and Commercial Law

240-342 3 Advanced Business and Commercial Law

240-348 3 Real Estate

240-442 3 Estates and Trusts

240-443 3 Real Estate

240-455 3 Administrative Law and Government

Total Course Work = 19 credit hours