Pre-Law 3/3 Early Admissions

B. critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and C. creative power in thinking.

According to the Association: “The development of these fundamental capacities is not the monopoly of any one subject-matter area, department or division. Rather, their development is the result of a highly individualized process pursued with high purpose and intensive intellectual effort by persons with at least a reasonable degree of native intelligence. Perhaps the most important variable ingredient of a proper climate for this process is the quality of undergraduate instruction. Certainly, it is not any particular course or combination of courses. Shortly stated, what the law schools seek in the entering students is not accomplishment in mere memorization but accomplishment in understanding, the capacity to think for themselves, and the ability to express their thoughts with clarity and force.” At Gannon University individuals expressing an interest in Pre-Law are initially placed in a sequence of courses in their Freshman and Sophomore years which introduce them to many of the major fields within Gannon. During this period the student, in consultation with the Director of the Pre-Law Program, is encouraged to select a field of concentration and to plan a course of studies which seems best suited to his or her individual interests and attitudes and to the fulfillment of the objectives of the Pre-Law Program. Students from any major may elect to pursue a Minor in Pre-Law Studies consisting in 18 credit hours of approved courses selected from Pre-Law and Cognate fields. Students may also choose to complete a Legal Studies Certificate.

GANNON UNIVERSITY – DUQUESNE SCHOOL OF LAW 3/3 EARLY ADMISSION

PETER AGRESTI, JD Program Director ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Hon. Stephanie Domitrovich, Joseph Martone, Esq.

Gannon University, in collaboration with Duquesne University School of Law, offers a competitive, early admissions program for Pre-Law students. This integrated partnership provides special academic opportunities for qualified students to earn both an undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years rather than seven. Under the early admissions program, students may receive a Bachelors Degree from Gannon University after three years of undergraduate work and the successful completion of the first year of full time study at Duquesne University School of Law. The early admissions program is only open to those applicants who enter the program as freshmen and complete all three years of their undergraduate work at Gannon University. Admission is highly competitive and the program is limited to a maximum of twenty students per year. Students in the early admissions program will choose an undergraduate major in Arts and Humanities, Business, Criminal Justice, English, General Science, History, Accounting, Legal Studies Paralegal, Political Science, Interdisciplinary Studies and Philosophy, at the time of their acceptance into the program and will be required to take several courses from the Pre Law curriculum. The Liberal Studies Core as well as all major and College requirements will be completed at Gannon University except in cases where Duquesne Law School classes may be applied to such requirements. The Pre-Law Adviser and a Pre-Law Advisory Committee including a representative of Duquesne University Law School and other members of the legal community, will provide counseling, advisement, opportunities for internships, field trips to Duquesne and generally

help prepare those enrolled in the program with assistance in preparing for law school, the law school admissions test and eventual entrance into the legal profession. Students will take the Law School Admissions Test in their third year and will be interviewed by a selection committee which will include the Dean of Duquesne University Law School or a designate. Selection criteria will include a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 for the three years at Gannon University and a minimum LSAT score in the 60th percentile on the test. Evidence of leadership potential and interest and commitment to the legal profession and other qualitative factors will be considered in selection decisions. Duquesne University will admit from five up to ten students who meet the above criteria and who are recommended by the Selection Committee. At Duquesne’s option, more than ten students may be admitted. The early admissions program is specifically designed for Gannon University undergraduate students with outstanding academic credentials who will distinguish themselves at the undergraduate level. By participating in this program, students may not only save the expenses of the additional year of study normally required to complete both undergraduate and law school degrees but they may also qualify for special scholarship and grant-in-aid opportunities at both Gannon University and Duquesne Law School.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

LEGL 111: Introduction to Law

Introduction to legal institutions and processes; evolution of the American legal system; major substantive areas of law; legal reasoning and the adversarial process; and, the role of attorneys and courts in American society. 3 credits

PLAW 357: Legal Analysis and Persuasion

Legal analysis and persuasion will introduce the student to the fundamentals of legal thinking, including the critical examination of case law, statutory law and other written materials. Applying this legal analysis, students will learn to persuade a targeted audience in both written and oral forms. Classroom exercises include briefs, mock appellate arguments and/or mock trial. 3 credits/Spring, Third or Fourth Year

PLAW 380: Career Preparation in Law

This course will introduce students to the skills required to succeed on a legal career path. This will include an overall foundation of legal skills in thinking critically and clear and concise legal writing. There will also be a specific focus on the LSAT and legal job opportunities. This focus will be facilitated through responses to hypotheticals, questions, samples, and study materials. 3 credits

Pre-Law Curriculum

This is not the track for 3+3 students. This is the curriculum for pre-law students who have not decided on a major in their freshmen and sophomore years. (Numerals in front of courses indicate credits) FRESHMAN Fall 3 College Comp/LENG 111 3 Foundations of Theology/LTHE 101 * 3 Legal Research Wrtg/LEGL 211 * 3 Intro. to Law/LEGL 111* 2 First-Year Seminar/LEGL 100 14 Spring 3 Crit Analysis & Comp/LENG 112 3 History Without Borders/LHST 111 * 3 Political Science/POLI 112 3 Legal Research Wrtg/LEGL 212 3 Intro. to Philosophy 15