| Program Name: |
Pre-Law Program |
| Director: |
Professor Stephen Lichtenstein (Chair - Law Department) |
| Program Address: |
Bentley College
Law Department
175 Forest Street
Waltham, MA 02452-4705
781/891-2587, Fax 781/891-3410
E-mail: slichtenstei@bentley.edu |
| Program Type: |
Departmental |
| Program Status: |
The Program received approval in 2001 and replaces the Law
Mentoring Program which was initially established in 1995. Students in the program may
select any academic track within the college. Students contemplating law school are
advised that law schools do not recommend any particular field of study or major as being
best suited for studying law. |
| Statement of Intellectual Structure: |
The Pre-Law Program is designed for students who wish to pursue their
interest in law whether in attending law school or opting for a law related career. The
program is not intended as preparation for the LSAT exam but rather seeks to focus on
developing or enhancing those skills associated with critical thinking, problem analysis
and solution, as well as oral, written and electronic communications.
The unique combination of a business education and law mentoring coupled with the
opportunity to take liberal arts courses offers students a background for a law-related
career and an insight into the field of law.
Students in the program may choose or be assigned a member of the law faculty (all of whom
are attorneys with practical experience) as their law mentor/advisor whose role is to
advise and assist in the selection of a complete academic path that emphasizes the skills
described above.
In addition, students in the program are advised on a full range of issues and
requirements associated with applying to law school or seeking a law related career. |
|
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| Program Curricular Organization: |
Students in the program, whether they are pursuing a BS or BA
degree, must take Legal Environment of Business. In addition, it is strongly recommended
that students take one or two more law courses, either business or social science in
nature, related to their major field of study or of particular interest to them. Students
may also minor in law where, in addition to Legal Environment of Business, they will
choose four additional law courses. |
| Required Courses: |
Legal Environment of Business
|
| Recommended Courses: |
The wide-range of recommended courses fall into three
categories:
General Background: These courses help students to understand the social,
historical, economic and political frameworks that are the foundation of our legal
environment.
Sample of General Background Courses:
Current Political Issues
Politics of Constitutional Law
Perspective on Global Commerce
Business Ethics: Corporate Social Responsibility
Social Psychology
Diversity, Minorities and Social Change
Law: Law courses, business and social science related, provide an introduction to a
wide range of business, social and ethical legal issues and problems.
Sample Law Courses:
Cyberlaw
International Business Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution in Business
Business Law
Gender and the Law
Moot Court (honors students only)
English Origins of American Law (London, England).
Skill Building Courses: These courses will help develop and enhance oral, written
and electronic communication skills.
Sample Skill Building Courses:
Effective Speaking
Theories of Persuasion
Business Communication on the World Wide Web
Creative Writing
Introduction to Logic
|
| Experiential Component: |
Students are strongly encouraged to volunteer in law related
service-learning opportunities such as the Bentley Consumer Action Line (under the
Commonwealth of MA, Attorney General’s Office) where students mediate actual consumer
complaints against area businesses, the Federal Records Center where students serve as
public information officers working with attorneys and citizens regarding Federal District
Court case documents and records, Greater Boston Legal Services assisting attorneys
working with indigents. |
|
Please e-mail us
with any changes or corrections. |
