The goal of the pre-law program is to prepare students to reach their highest potential as a law school applicant. There is no particular course of study for the pre-law student, rather the program exists to provide particular support for the pre-law student in addition to the support that would be provided by the people in the department of their academic major. This support will be geared towards helping students evaluate their educational needs and academic records throughout college and as they select law schools, as well as prepare for the law school admission process. Students will be assisted in law school selection, including gauging their chances for admission to each school, preparing for the Law School Admissions Test and completing law school applications. The pre-law advisor also helps students identify viable and acceptable academic or occupational alternatives, should enrollment at the student's preferred law school not be possible.

The American Association of Law Schools does not prescribe and any particular major, field of study or series of courses to gain admission to law school. Instead a student preparing for a career in law needs to acquire ability in three areas: comprehension and use of language, both reading and communicating effectively; understanding of human institutions and values; and creative power in thinking, both critically and analytically. The College of St. Scholastica, with its established tradition as a liberal arts institution, offers a student abundant opportunities to develop in all three areas. In addition to an appropriate undergraduate course of study, St. Scholastica also offers other services to support the pre-law student and enhance their experience: individual support by the pre-law advisor, an attorney advisory board, and extracurricular activities of particular interest to pre-law students.

St. Scholastica offers a unique pre-law program. A primary component of the program is individual counseling by an advisor who had had the law school experience and can share that with students. There is also an advisory board of attorneys that is available to mentor and provide networking opportunities for students. Students will be required to participate in a law-related internship, which will be facilitated by the pre-law advisor. Students will also need to maintain a specified level of academic performance. Participation in the Pre-law Society, a student organization for pre-law students, is strongly encouraged, as is involvement with the Mock Trial Program. Students who comply with program requirements will be assisted in Law School Admission Test (LSAT) preparation, law school selection, law school application strategy, developing a personal essay, and law school financing options.

The pre-law student must enroll in a regular academic major. History, English and Communications are considered traditional pre-law majors, but really any major is adequate for meeting standards. Because law schools recommend no particular course of study and base admission decisions primarily on the student's transcript, including their grade-point average factoring in the level of difficulty of the coursework, and the LSAT score, it is recommended that students consider a major in a subject area which they enjoy and in which they will be successful.

In addition to courses required by your major there are a number of courses offered at St. Scholastica that would be helpful in preparing for law school. They include:

The current pre-law advisor, Jill A. Eichenwald, is a St. Scholastica Alumnus who attended law school at the Hamline University School of Law. She is currently a practicing attorney with the State of Minnesota Public Defender's Office. Who is also an adjunct instructor at The College of St. Scholastica teaching Mock Trial, American Government and Legal Aspects of Management. She has assisted in coaching the St. Scholastica Mock Trial Team. During her career as an attorney, she has mentored a number of undergraduate students interested in a career in law. As a member of Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors, she has access to a number of law schools admission offices. Students may also opt to attend a Law School Admission Council law school forum in Chicago to connect with various law schools.

The pre-law advisory board consists of 10-15 attorneys from various practice areas who will collaborate with the pre-law advisor and Pre-Law Society to bring relevant speakers to the college. Additionally, these attorneys may provide internship opportunities and mentoring to pre-law students.

Because it is beneficial for students to get a taste of what they can expect from working in the legal field, pre-law students will be required to complete a law-related internship. Some possible internship sites include the St. Louis County Attorney's Office, the Public Defender's Office, the Court system, law firms, corporations or government agencies. Some pre-law students have participated in the American University's Washington Semester Program which includes an internship in our nation's capital.

• Pre-Law Society
• Mock Trial: The College of St. Scholastica has a mock trial team that competes through the American Mock Trial Association. The skills acquired by taking a case, analyzing it from a lawyer's perspective and then preparing it for competition are valuable for any future law student. All pre-law students, especially those that hope to compete, are encouraged to take the Mock Trial class offered in the Fall.