Pre-Law Program
- Career Prep
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In This Section
Welcome to the Study of Law at Saint Vincent
The practice of law is more than a career—it's a calling to dedicate your life to justice. If you feel drawn to the study and practice of law, there's no better place to start your journey than Saint Vincent College.
For nearly two centuries, Saint Vincent has been preparing students for the study and practice of law by engaging undergraduates in a rigorous and challenging liberal arts curriculum in the Catholic Benedictine Tradition. Our law program is inspired by Saint Ives, the patron saint of advocates and lawyers, who believed that the law was a noble vocation and dedicated his life to helping those in need, especially the poor, with the guiding principle, "For the sake of God, I will help you."
Saint Vincent has made a commitment to each of you who seek to make this journey that we will provide you with a comprehensive Program to equip you with the intellectual, ethical, and practical capabilities to succeed in law school and to bring justice to a world much in need.
Pre-Professional Programs
Student Spotlight
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Delaney Fox, C'24
"I am thankful for the internship opportunities [with two federal judges] that Dr. Foss and Dr. Jividen helped me find. Those experiences, along with my time on the Mock Trial team, solidified the idea that the field of law is where I want to be. … The thing that stands out the most about my Saint Vincent College experience is how supportive everyone was and still is. I was a first-generation college student and now am a first-generation law school student, and I never once felt as though I was at a disadvantage because every time I needed advice, a friend, alum or professor was there, ready to help." -
Caleb Benwar, C’25
“The skills of advocacy, critical analysis, and legal reasoning fostered within Saint Vincent College’s pre-law program have shaped my academic interest(s), shifted the directory of my professional aspirations, and helped me develop into the person I am today. The pre-law program at Saint Vincent College, especially the guidance of Dr. Antkowiak and Dr. Kocian, have inspired my passion for the law—and I will be forever grateful for this. My experience at Saint Vincent has led to multiple law school offers, including full scholarships from Duquesne, Syracuse, and New England Boston Law School, as well as generous offers from the University of Colorado at Boulder and American University Washington College of Law, among others.” -
Tess Fletcher, C'24
“Without a doubt, the rigor of the criminology department at SVC prepared me for the demands of law school. I rely on my criminology degree daily, recalling substantive knowledge of policy and theory, and employing the oral advocacy and writing skills that my courses helped me develop. To be taught by professors who are experts in their fields, have firsthand experience, and share a genuine passion for justice was such a gift. I am grateful for the personal connections I formed with the professors, because I would not be in law school had it not been for their mentorship and instruction. I look forward to the next few years of school and beyond, where I can make a positive impact in my community and do it with Bearcat pride."
Intellectual: Finding a Major that Fits Your Path
An effective lawyer must appreciate multiple academic disciplines and be able to learn new concepts to aid their clients. This intellectual foundation is provided by the rigorous liberal arts education at Saint Vincent. In law school, you'll find students from diverse majors—arts, sciences, humanities, and more.
At Saint Vincent, any undergraduate major will equip you with essential skills in argumentation, research, interdisciplinary thinking, and ethical reasoning, preparing you for graduate study and a successful legal career. Our approach will best equip you to tackle complex legal problems and serve clients effectively.
Many of our students go on to study in law school after earning degrees in these majors:
Ethical: A Curriculum with a Commitment to Principles
Our Core Curriculum which requires students to make connections between disciplines while seeking truth, ensures that each student will contemplate those essential ethical norms critical to the practice of law and an honorable life. Courses such as Ethical Decisions and Dilemmas in Criminal Justice will challenge students to navigate key ethical dilemmas faced by criminal justice professionals, understand philosophical principles of ethical decision-making, and apply practical approaches to issues in the police, courts, and corrections systems.
Practical: Pre-Law Resources, Support, and Related Programs
Skills of advocacy: Our faculty enhance your skills at analyzing complex issues, researching effectively, and formulating compelling arguments to support reasoned positions. In addition to courses taught in styles comparable to law school classes, an extensive array of additional opportunities are offered to the aspiring advocate for justice.
- Legal Studies Minor: This 18-credit program gives you a deep understanding of history, philosophy, and application of law within society as part of your undergraduate studies.
- Legal Practice Certificate: This certificate enhances your practical legal skills by focusing on analyzing and applying legal principles, drafting legal documents, and understanding various legal practices to best serve clients. It includes four classes— including two online and one internship—within your undergraduate curriculum.
- Saint Vincent Trial Moot Court Team: The team competes with other colleges to develop skills in oral advocacy, courtroom etiquette, and evidentiary principles. The team has achieved notable success in recent years.
- Appellate Moot Court Team: The team competes nationally by arguing constitutional law cases before a panel of judges and then presenting these cases at other venues. This experience closely resembles crucial training for first-year law students.
- Constitutional Litigation & Analysis: This unique course lets students tackle current constitutional law issues, write an appellate brief, and argue before judges—offering rare direct preparation for law school.
Guidance and Support: Saint Vincent offers ongoing support as you decide on a career in law, prepare for the application process, and choose the best school to launch your practice.
- Law School Advancement Fund: Thanks to our graduates and the legal community, this fund helps cover the cost of LSAT prep courses, crucial for the law school application process.
- Law School Advisor: Bruce Antkowiak, a Saint Vincent alum and Harvard Law graduate with over 40 years of experience, who has served as a tenured professor in an ABA accredited law school prior to returning to Saint Vincent, offers expert guidance on the law school application process.