Interested in Studying Law?

Gardner-Webb University offers a Pre-Law Minor designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge for law school and legal careers. This interdisciplinary program emphasizes critical thinking, advanced research, analytical reasoning, and effective communication, aligning with the competencies sought by law schools.

Preparation for law school begins as soon as the freshman year. Students considering law school should meet with the pre-law mentor in order to learn about the minor, how it fits with many majors, elective course offerings, and extracurricular activities.

Curriculum

What will I study?

The Pre-Law Minor requires the completion of specific coursework totaling between 10 to 19 credit hours, depending on elective choices. The curriculum is structured as follows:

CORE REQUIREMENT (1 CREDIT HOUR)

  • POLS 225: Introduction to Legal Studies

ELECTIVE COURSES

Students seeking the Pre-Law minor must choose a minimum of three courses (nine credit hours) from the following ENGL, HIST, PHIL, POLS options. Students may choose up to three additional courses (up to nine credit hours) from the options in order to complete the Pre-Law minor. 

  • English (ENGL):
    • ENGL 270: Rhetoric
    • ENGL 363: Grammar and Style
  • History (HIST):
    • HIST 200: Introduction to Historical Study
    • HIST 244: Survey of United States History to 1877
    • HIST 245: Survey of United States History from 1877 to the Present
    • HIST 432: Special Topics: Non-Western History (specifically “Human Rights in China from a Historical Perspective”)
  • Philosophy (PHIL):
    • PHIL 200: Introduction to Philosophy
    • PHIL 201: An Introduction to Logic
    • PHIL 338: Epistemology
  • Political Science (POLS):
    • POLS 314: The Courts
    • POLS 320: Constitutional Law I: Structure and Institution
    • POLS 324: Constitutional Law II: Bill of Rights and 14th Amendment
    • POLS 497/498: Internship in Political Science I & II

Students may ALSO choose up to three courses (9 credit hours) from optional electives. Additional information, including descriptions of specific courses and their corresponding credit hours, is available in the Academic Catalog.

extracurricular activities

Boost your Law School Applications

As important as success in the classroom is to pursuing a legal career, pre-law students should seek opportunities outside the classroom to grow their leadership, public-speaking, and presentation skills. Law schools look for applicants who are multifaceted and dynamic individuals and extracurricular activities are a way for pre-law students to demonstrate their individuality.

Pre-law students should participate in the Pre-Law Society and other campus organizations such as:

  • Pre-Law Society: The Pre-Law Society aims to prepare students for law school. Students will meet members of the legal profession, explore different areas of law, attend law school fairs, participate in mock trials, take practice LSAT exams, learn leadership skills, practice interview skills, and find LSAT study partners.
  • Alpha Chi: Alpha Chi is a coeducational academic honor society that promotes academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and honors those who achieve such distinction. Membership is open to students with junior and senior classification who demonstrate strong character and whose GPA ranks them in the top 10 percent of their academic classes.
  • Model United Nations: Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, or other multilateral body, which introduces students to the world of diplomacy, negotiation, and decision making.
  • Student Government Association: SGA is a great way to lead and serve by representing the student body on issues that pertain directly to the academic and campus experience. SGA is comprised of a student senate including executive officers and officers from each of the four student classes elected each year by the student body. Whether it’s planning homecoming festivities or advocating for change on behalf of students, SGA strives to improve the Gardner-Webb experience.

Next Steps

Law School Admissions

Upon declaring a major, faculty advisers will mentor students to discover the courses within and outside their major that will build and reinforce the skills that are crucial to success in applying for and also thriving at law school. In the sophomore year, students will meet with their faculty advisers and the pre-law faculty mentor to discuss a study schedule for the LSAT. In the junior year, students will be encouraged to consider potential law schools tailored to their interests and schedule their LSAT exam. In the senior year, students will prepare materials for law school applications with the assistance of their faculty advisor, the pre-law mentor, and other qualified faculty members.

Outcomes

What will you learn?

  1. Demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills
  2. Interpret and examine written texts critically
  3. Develop written and spoken arguments clearly, effectively, and persuasively 
  4. Define and apply fundamental aspects of U.S. and/or international legal systems

What are potential career opportunities?

A law degree can be used in traditional legal employment, non-traditional legal employment and non-legal employment. Below are just some of the careers paths that you can take with a law degree:

  • Lawyer
  • Judge
  • Mediator
  • Paralegal
  • Secretary
  • Consultant
  • Educator
  • Corporate attorney
  • Court Administrator
  • Governmental administrator
  • Politician

Ready to take the next step?

Apply Now
Selected
The analytical reading and writing proficiency I developed [here] as an English major was crucial to helping me get accepted into a top-tier law school, perform well in my classes, and be an effective advocate for my clients."
— LARISSA BIXLER STEIN, ENGLISH '03
Selected
Having small classes at GWU also made it a necessity to be comfortable participating in class discussions, which served me well in law school classes where you may be randomly called on."
— LINDSAY FRAZIER, HISTORY '16
Selected
It was important to me to be able to effectively research, analyze, write, and communicate on a variety of topics in a variety of situations. My studies accomplished this, in addition to challenging me on a daily basis to think about things in new ways.”
— LT. ELIZABETH K. KIESSLING, HISTORY '07