The broad liberal arts background offered in Constantin College provides solid preparation for success in law school. By supplementing this background with opportunities to sharpen oral skills through participation in Moot Court, and to focus on applications of the law in wider contexts through the legal studies concentration, the pre-law program allows interested students to deepen their understanding of the legal profession.
Pre-Law, Program
Students interested in attending law school should contact the Director of the Legal Studies concentration, Professor David Upham, as soon as possible to get more information regarding the Legal Studies concentration.
Legal Studies Director
David Upham, PhD, JD
Senior Fellow in Politics and Law
Phone: (972) 721-5186
Email: dupham@udallas.edu
Office: Braniff Graduate Building #210
Office Hours: By Appointment
Legal Studies Concentration
The Legal Studies concentration is intended to familiarize students with the applications of law in a broader context. Students will be introduced to constitutional, administrative, civil, and trade law, as well as being given the opportunity to prepare and deliver legal arguments in Moot Court. This concentration may be helpful to some students who intend to pursue a vocation in law, but is by no means a requirement for entry into law school.
Requirements for the Concentration: 17-18 Credits
Each of the following 3-credit courses:
- POL 2340. Legal Environment
- POL 3323. Constitutional Law
- POL 3327. Civil Liberties
Two of the following 3-credit courses:
- ECO 4338. Public Finance
- ECO 4339. Political Economy
- HIS 3337. Constitutional and Legal History of Medieval England
- PHI 5311. Philosophy of Law
- POL 3324. Public Policy
- POL 3330. Public Law and Administration
- OR an upper-level seminar on constitutional law or theory
Participation in one of the following:
- Two semesters of Moot Court (GST 1122)
- A legal internship that must be approved in advance by the Legal Studies advisor, must be for credit, and must follow the process specified in the catalog for receiving academic credit
Other requirements:
- Regular consultation with the university's Legal Studies advisor
- Membership and regular activity in the university's Pre-Law Society
Languages: (encouraged, but not required)
- A study of languages, both classical and modern, is also very beneficial to those
considering law school. The languages will help students develop the kind of analytical
skills they need to succeed on the LSAT exam, will help them to discipline their minds
in preparation for legal study, and will (in the case of modern languages especially)
provide them with additional tools once they embark upon legal practice.
Moot Court
Moot Court involves an analysis of court cases in preparation for regional court-style competitions, and offers excellent experience for Pre-Law and other students seeking training in close reading and reasoned argument.
Here is some information on regional and national Moot Court competitions:
TUMCA - Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association
American Collegiate Moot Court Association
Moot Court Director
Richard Dougherty, PhD
Dean of Braniff Graduate School, Politics Graduate Program Director, Professor, Politics
Phone: (972) 721-5043
Email: doughr@udallas.edu
Office: Braniff Graduate Building #130
Office Hours: TR 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
FAQ
Outside of coursework, what else should pre-law students be doing?
First, make sure to stay in contact with the university's Legal Studies concentration
director. This can be especially beneficial when applying to law school, as he knows
and is in frequent contact with the deans and admissions officials at the law schools
where University of Dallas students traditionally apply.
Second, participate in the occasional events sponsored by the Pre-Law Society. This
society will invite to campus law school deans of admission, local judges and attorneys,
and other speakers who will be of interest to those preparing to begin a legal career.
Finally, consider participating in UD's Moot Court team. This is a great preparation
for law school, and its competitions take place at law schools in the region to which
UD students frequently apply.
Keep in mind: Extracurricular activities are useful for a variety of reasons, but no extracurricular
activity is more important than your grades. Unlike the admissions process for getting
into college, the law school process does not place nearly as much emphasis on extracurricular
activities. Law schools rely heavily upon your GPA in making admissions decisions.
Therefore, while extracurricular activities are encouraged, you should only engage
in them to the extent that your grades do not suffer.
How successful are UD students at getting into law school?
The University of Dallas regularly places students at Notre Dame, U.T. Austin, University
of Houston, Baylor, SMU, Texas Tech, and Ave Maria.
UD students have also been admitted to top schools such as the University of Virginia,
University of Chicago, and Northwestern University, among others.
Success in law school admissions comes not only from the University's reputation for
excellence in the liberal arts, but also from the high LSAT scores of its students.
The median LSAT score for UD students reporting their scores is normally around 158,
which puts UD into the upper tier of colleges and universities nationally.
Pre-Law Links
This page provides connections to law schools, application tips, school rankings, a pre-law handbook and other interesting and useful information.
Information on Law Schools
A report on the top 100 law schools by U.S. News and World Report
Law School resources at FindLaw.com
Law School and Law Firm Resources at Internet Legal Research Group
Law School information at Law and Policy Institutions Guide
Information on law schools at Top Law Schools.com
Law schools and law colleges directory at About Law Schools
Law School Admission and LSAT
Courses on preparing for the LSAT offered by Princeton Review and Kaplan
Advice on getting accepted to law school
Official website for the LSAC, LSDAS and LSAT
Practice tests for the LSAT
Logic game explanations for LSAT preparation