Pre-Law Studies Specialization

Department Contact:

Pre-Law Advisor: Dr. Joseph A. Melusky, jmelusky@francis.edu, 814-472-3060

Program Description:

Students interested in attending law school may elect a pre-law specialization. While this specialization is not mandatory for students preparing for a legal career, it does provide a unique preparation for law school. Enrolling in the Pre-Law Specialization ensures that interested students will receive appropriate advising as they prepare for a career in the legal profession. Students majoring in any field at Saint Francis University can enroll in the Pre-Law Specialization.

The Pre-Law Specialization is available to students majoring in Political Science, Public Administration/Government Service, History, and other subject areas.

All pre-law students will be expected to participate in extracurricular activities designated by the program advisor. To facilitate entry into the legal profession, students are encouraged to participate in the Pre-Law Club. The Club sponsors debates, films, guest speakers, Constitution Day and Law Day programming, and moot court exercises. At moot court, some students serve as attorneys arguing a hypothetical case before the “United States Supreme Court at Saint Francis University” and others don judicial robes and serve as Justices. SFU pre-law students have also participated in moot court competitions sponsored by law schools. The Club also travels to law schools, law school admissions fairs, the National Constitution Center, and the U.S. Supreme Court. The SFU Center for the Study of Government and Law provides “mini grants” to help defray student expenses associated with LSAT preparations. Junior and senior students can also apply for an award from the Richard-Dorsey Muller Endowment. Successful applicants receive a stipend to assist with law school preparation and application expenses. Law-related internships are available to interested students as well.

Dr. Joseph Melusky, professor of political science, director of the SFU Center for the Study of Government and Law, and a member of the Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors, serves as pre-law advisor and faculty moderator for the Pre-Law Club.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Critical Thinking: Students will develop the ability to think critically about information, theories, concepts, problems, issues, institutions and processes of politics, government, and law.
2. Citizenship: Students will develop a deeper and fuller understanding of political and legal processes, acquiring a solid conceptual foundation that can be built upon in their lives as citizens.
3. Law School Preparation and Advising: Students will test their interest in law school and will receive relevant preparation and advising to that end, including assistance with LSAT prep and the law school admissions process.
4. Case Law and Reading Comprehension: Students will gain experience reading case law, learning to “spot” critical issues, how to brief cases, and how to organize case notes.

Pre-Law Early Admission Programs:

Saint Francis University, in collaboration with Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, offers highly competitive early admission programs for pre-law students. These partnerships provide special academic opportunities for qualified students to earn both an undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years rather than seven. The programs are designed to save qualified students time and money by enabling them to move on to law school following their junior year.

Through these programs, pre-law students at Saint Francis University can get an early start on their law degrees. The programs provide a combination of liberal and professional education well suited to those desiring to enter the field of law.

The pre-law specialization is designed to accompany any major. The total number of credits required to complete the specialization and the major varies with the major. For some majors, there is considerable overlap between the specialization and the major. For example, students can reasonably expect to complete the political science/pre-law major within three years, making the Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law or the Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law early admission program an attractive alternative. Majors in History, philosophy, criminal justice, and others also would be feasible.

For other majors, there is less overlap. As such, it would be extremely difficult or impossible for students in certain majors to fulfill all General Education, major, and pre-law specialization requirements in three years. Students who are interested in this program should plan carefully and discuss their plans with their advisors and with Dr. Melusky.

Pre-Law Early Admission Agreement with Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law:

Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law agrees to accept all candidates from Saint Francis University provided that they meet the following eligibility requirements:

• A cumulative grade point average of approximately 3.5 for three years at Saint Francis University (at least 96 credit hours);
• Completion of all undergraduate major field and general education requirements at Saint Francis University;
• A minimum LSAT score in the 60th percentile on the present LSAT. The student will take the LSAT in the winter of the third year at Saint Francis University. However, by request, a student may defer taking the LSAT until the spring of the third year.
• Recommendation by a selection committee appointed by the chief academic officer of Saint Francis University and the Dean of Admissions of Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
• All candidates for this program must, upon application, schedule an interview with the Dean of Admissions of Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. This interview should be scheduled after the student has taken the LSAT, but the results of the LSAT need not be available to the Law School at the time of the interview.

Each student in this early admission program will be awarded a Bachelor’s degree by Saint Francis University after successful completion of the first year of the Day Division program or the first three semesters of the Evening Division program at Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. If the student does not successfully complete the first-year program at Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, the student will have to complete additional undergraduate credit hours (totaling 128 credit hours minimum) to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Francis University.

Pre-Law Early Admission Agreement with Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law:

Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law agrees to accept any candidate from SFU each year who meets the following eligibility requirements:

• Submits a completed application to the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law no later than March 1 of the calendar year in which the student plans to attend;
• Student is in good academic standing at SFU (i.e., not on academic probation);
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.40 for three years at SFU (96 semester credit hours);
• A minimum LSAT score that is the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law’s median from the previous year. It is assumed that the LSAT will be taken in the fall of the student’s third year at SFU, however, by request, a student may defer taking the LSAT until the spring of his or her third year. Student may take the LSAT more than once;
• Student is in good social standing (satisfactory student conduct record with no unresolved disciplinary issues) at SFU;
• Student is free of any disciplinary issues at all post-secondary schools attended;
• As required of all admitted or re-admitted students to Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, the student will be required to answer the criminal history disclosure question on the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law application and may be subject to further review if there is a disclosure; note that a prior criminal history issue does not necessarily disqualify a student from admission to the Law School;
• Recommended by SFU Pre-Law Advisor;
• Comply with seat deposit and other deadlines established by the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

Estimated Completion Time:

Completion time varies but typically completed during four years of full-time study. The specialization includes 33 total credit hours, some of which count towards General Education and major requirements.