Law schools don't rely on steadfast standards
in terms of pre-law prerequisites and admit candidates who've completed
their undergraduate education from a wide range of disciplines. Courses
more traditionally linked to legal studies are available online as part
of criminal justice, history, philosophy and political science
programs. Online courses from other disciplines can also be beneficial
in helping students develop skills required in law school.
Overview of Pre-Law Courses Available Online
The American Bar Association (
www.abanet.org) encourages
students who intend to apply to law school to select a bachelor's level
degree program that is challenging and diverse, but does not recommend a
specific field. Courses in fields more traditionally considered pre-law
are available online, as well as those in other disciplines that help
students develop their analytical, communication, research and
problem-solving skills. Aspiring law students can also find LSAT
preparatory courses online.
Course Requirements
Students will need an up-to-date
computer
with high-speed Internet access, a sound card with speakers and monitor
capable of sufficient video display to participate in these courses. A
word processing program and personal e-mail address are also generally
required.
List of Online Pre-Law Courses
Legal Communication Course
This course helps students gain an understanding of the principles
guiding effective legal communications. Methods for retrieving,
evaluating and integrating research are discussed along with the
purposes, defining attributes and background research required for
various forms of legal communication. Tactics used to mediate, persuade,
negotiate and resolve conflicts are also considered as students begin
to apply concepts learned to communicate their ideas clearly, concisely
and effectively.
Philosophy and the Law Course
This course examines the nature of legal reasoning and analyzes the
intersection of morality and the law. Students examine the origins of
ethical principles and consider the role of reason in making ethical
decisions. Moral standards that regulate ideas of right and wrong are
also discussed in terms of how they inform judgments of behavior and
justifications for punishment. The course features a survey of
historical and contemporary issues that involve the legal enforcement of
morality.
Students in this class will examine the freedoms and rights that the
U.S. Constitution guarantees to citizens, as well as the powers it
bestows and the limits it imposes upon the judicial, legislative and
executive branches of government. The role of the Supreme Court in
conducting judicial reviews and the impact of changes brought about by
landmark Supreme Court rulings are examined. Students are encouraged to
explore the Constitution from different viewpoints as they consider both
leading and alternative interpretations.
Psychology and the Law Course
This course considers how psychology can inform legal practices.
Students discuss how an understanding of human mental processes and
behaviors can aid in forming persuasive arguments and evaluating
strengths and weaknesses of individuals. Students examine how psychology
affects the reliability of eyewitness testimony, interrogation
practices, the validity of confessions, and jury selection, as well as
determinations of competence to stand trial.
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