Prospective law students are free to choose among the various majors offered at Wagner College. This approach by the College is in keeping with the position of the Association of American Law Schools, which welcomes any major. Students may select a major from the humanities, social sciences, sciences, arts, or other disciplines.
Pre-Law Program
Because entrance requirements may vary among law schools, students should consult the particular catalog of the schools to which they plan to apply. Law schools evaluate applicants based on their college records, activities, recommendations, and scores on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Law schools require applicants to take the LSAT before applying for admission. We also encourage you to utilize the information and resources of the non-profit Law School Admission Council at lsac.org.
Prospective students may contact the Center for Academic and Career Engagement (CACE) to obtain information about the Pre-Law Program and its faculty advisors. Program faculty advisors teach business administration, philosophy, political science, sociology, and other areas, and several of them are members of the legal profession.
Courses
Although the College does not endorse a particular major, it recognizes the importance of a comprehensive liberal arts education as fundamental for a professional career in law.
The College’College'sg Communities and General Education Curriculum provides students with an intellectual and interdisciplinary foundation for advanced study in their chosen major. In addition to satisfying the specific requirements of the major, students are encouraged to select a few law-related courses from the following:
- Business 201 Business Law I
- Business 202 Business Law II
- Government & Politics 215 Law & Justice in America
- Government & Politics 316 Constitutional Law
- Philosophy 101 Practical Reasoning
- Philosophy 109 Political Philosophy
- Sociology 207 Criminal Justice
- Sociology 270 Criminal Procedure
- Sociology 300 Law & Society
- Sociology 305 Criminology
- Sociology 308 Introduction to Criminal Law
- Sociology 327 American Legal History
- Speech 252 Mock Trial
- Integrated Learning Community (ILC) Law & Society
These courses require extensive reading, research, and writing and foster analytic skills related to judgment, interpretation, problem-solving, and value conflicts. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Writing Intensive Tutor Program.
Pre-Law Minor
Housed in the Government and Politics Department, the Pre-Law minor is an interdisciplinary course of study that engages students in courses in law, philosophy, politics, critical thinking, and writing to prepare them for a career in law, public service, and related fields. Undertaking this minor will provide several benefits to students. Students will acquire tangible skills in preparing for the Law School Admission Test and become familiarized with how law school classes are taught, including learning practical techniques for reading case law and becoming familiar with constitutional law and mock trials.
To learn about the Pre-Law minor and its requirements, click here.
To declare the Pre-Law minor, click here to find the Declaration of Minor form under the heading "Academi" Forms."
Academy"c Timeline
Unlike other pre-professional programs, there is no single path to law school. Since there are no required courses, students wonder about the best path. There are essential skills, values, knowledge, and activities that you can acquire during your Wagner education that will provide a sound foundation for law school.
Use this academic timeline as a planning guide that is offered to assist you in making choices that will help you develop into a thoughtful student and a desirable law school candidate. The Wagner College Pre-Law Advisors can help you through the steps outlined here.
Internship Opportunities
One of the best ways to determine if a legal career is right for you is to obtain an internship during your junior or senior year. Through The Wagner Plan, a Wagner education specializes in completing practical experience. We encourage students to complete multiple internships before graduation, and we strive to provide students with the best resources to find internships and make the most of their internship experiences. Pre-law Wagner students have interned at numerous organizations, including The Richmond County District Attorney Office, Brooklyn Veterans Treatment Court, The Legal Aid Society, The United Nations, The Richmond County Supreme Court, Richmond County Family Court, Richmond County Housing Court, CLARO, ACLU, and many different private law firms, partnerships, and sole practitioners.
Here is some information on the Richmond Civil Court summer internship program for 2022. (The application Deadline is May 13.)
The Law School 3+3 Program
The 3+3 Program allows pre-law students to attend three years at Wagner and complete their fourth year at one of our partner law schools, earning a bachelor's and a juris doctorate in six years rather than the traditional seven. After completing the first year of law classes, the student will be awarded a bachelor's degree as an interdisciplinary studies major.
Our partner law schools are:
- Vermont Law School
- Cleveland State University College of Law
To take advantage of this opportunity, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 after three years at Wagner and complete (27 units) of study, including all general education requirements and all requirements of the Wagner Plan. Further, the student must complete the requirements for acceptance into the partner law school. A student should apply for this Program in sophomore year.
Interested students should contact Dr. Margarita Sanchez, the Director of Integrated Learning, at msanchez@wagner.edu with questions or to learn more about the 3+3 Program. Program here https://wagner.edu/academics/files/2021/04/Law-School-33-Program.pdf.
Law Schools Attended
In recent years, our Wagner students have enrolled in some of the finest law schools in the nation. Here is a quick look at a few of the law schools attended; please click here for a more complete list.
- George Washington University
- Vanderbilt University
- Duke University
- Boston University
- Texas A&M University
- Villanova University
- Georgetown University
- University of Miami
- Cornell University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Rutgers University
- St. John's UJohn'sity
Pre-Law Ambassadors
The Wagner College Pre-Law Ambassadors program allows pre-law students to be mentored by a law student. The Ambassadors are Wagner graduates currently studying at an accredited law school. They advise Wagner's students on how to successfully apply to law school and offer an insider's insight into the challenges of law school. The groups gather via conference calls, panel discussions, law school tours, and one-on-one advising sessions.
Pre-Law Society
The College's Program conducts open forums and panels for students, sponsors talks by guest speakers in the legal profession on law-related topics, invites guest speakers to address issues dealing with admission to law school, and arranges field trips to law firms and law schools. The College’College's Society, consisting of pre-law students, also sponsors and debates law-related issues.
Law School Admission Council
Info Here!
CLARO Program
Pre-Law Society has partnered with a local program to become more involved in the community and gain experience. This spring, we are looking to begin working with the CLARO program. CLARO provides low-income New Yorkers with legal advice on how to defend themselves. This is a wonderful opportunity to gain first-hand experience with lawyers! Student responsibilities will vary and will be discussed more during the information session.
Events
Mock Trial, but With a Sitting Judge
The mock-trial portion of the “Law & Order ILC” course" taught by professors David Martin (front row, left) and the Honorable Michael Pinto (front, right) took place in the Richmond County Civil Courthouse. The trial was presided over by Robert Helbock (rear, center), supervising judge of the Richmond County Civil Court. Helbock praised the professionalism and talents of the student attorneys, who members of Wagner'sWagner's Society joined as witnesses. “In the eight years I have taught this class, this was the first opportunity our students received to perform the final trial in an actual courthouse before a sitting judge." Congrats to all!
LSAT
Registration for LSAT test administrations through June 2024 is OPEN! You can register for any of the following test administrations:
January 2025
February 2025
April 2025
June 2025
To obtain additional information, please get in touch with any of the following Pre-Law Advisors:
- Dr. John Esser jesser@wagner.edu
- David J. Martin, Esq. dmartin@wagner.edu
- Hon. Michael Pinto, Esq. michael.pinto@wagner.edu