Smiling lawyer meeting with client
  • Program Type
    Concentration
  • School
    School of Arts & Sciences

Prepare for success in law school and beyond. Be a servant leader in a profession rooted in the ideals of justice, fairness, and equality.

What You’ll Learn

The pre-law concentration includes coursework in logic, American political philosophy, trial advocacy, constitutional law, and legal ethics. The concentration can be taken with any Mary bachelor’s degree. Degrees that develop critical thinking, effective writing, and strong oral communication skills are good preparation for law school.

Gain Real-world Experience

Complete an internship for credit with lawyers and legislators in the Bismarck area. Engage with members of the legal profession who visit Mary from a wide variety of practice areas and different parts of the country.

Be Mentored by Leading Legal Practitioners

Participate in the Emerging Leaders Academy and receive one-on-one mentorship from a leading professional in the community.

Practice Trial Advocacy Skills

You’ll explore how to give opening and closing statements, introduce evidence at a trial, and approach persuasion in a trial setting.

Prepare for Law School Admission

You’ll practice interviewing for law schools and prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT).

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Careers & Outcomes

Employment Trends

A legal education is one of the most flexible professional areas of study you can pursue. Law school prepares students for careers as lawyers and opens doors in business, politics, public policy, government, and more. Career paths within the legal profession range from solo practice to corporate law, and from criminal defense to the judiciary. That’s why Mary’s strong liberal arts education, rooted in Christian, Catholic, and Benedictine values, prepares students for success in law school and beyond.

Career Paths

  • Lawyer
  • Judge
  • Policy Consultant
  • Entrepreneur
  • Mediator
  • Politician
  • Nonprofit Director
  • Policy Analyst

Featured Faculty

Mark M. Springer, PhD

Chair of Politics and Pre-Law, Director of Social Studies Education, Professor of Politics

My teaching philosophy fits a system where students and faculty are part of a learning community.  Ethics and integrity are values that I stress inside and outside of the classroom; I believe we develop as people if we are open to discussion, but also reflective of the values that are important to building a community.  

I try to demonstrate to students that a classroom code of conduct is reflective of society at large; the development of a strong community begins with a commitment to professional standards and is a product of the core values of respect for others in society.  I feel these values are important for students to understand in order to become effective leaders.

The bottom line is that I love to teach. Each individual has an interesting background and history that makes that student unique to the class. I like seeing students make connections between politics and their life in a meaningful way so that they can see that it is not all about power but can be a shared experience that is positive in life.

Take Your Next Step in Pre-Law