Why a legal studies major?
Law is the tool used by social engineers and reformers to erect and sustain the basic framework of social structures that define who we are as a society. The values which underlie the legal process are capable of a variety of different analyses. "Free market" economists analyze law in a very different way than do Marxists. Critical legal philosophers question the legitimacy of law in complex societies. In other words, there are many different perspectives on what we term, "law."
The legal studies major at Minnesota State University Moorhead was designed to provide undergraduates the opportunity to explore the concept of law from many different traditions and perspectives. Students in this program are not confined to learning about law through the narrow prism of one particular discipline but will study law by reading history, philosophy, political science, economics, sociology, business and criminal justice. The goal of the program is to allow students the freedom to sample from a wide variety of courses and instructors and to pursue specific interests within a broad organizing framework--the law.
What does the legal studies major prepare students to accomplish?
The legal studies major is a classic liberal arts major. The goal of the program is to produce students who can think clearly and analyze arguments critically. Its multidisciplinary approach exposes students to a great variety of human behaviors and institutions. The legal studies major was not designed to be the only path for preparing students for law school, nor does it provide significant paralegal training, but many students who plan to attend law school may benefit from this major as a field of study. Students who do not intend on attending law school may also find this major useful in preparing them for careers in government, academic research or politics, just to name a few options. Those students who want a specific career as a paralegal or legal assistant might prefer a more technically oriented course of study than that provided by the legal studies major.
How does the legal studies major specifically prepare students for law school?
The Pre-Law Committee of the American Bar Association gives this advice on undergraduate education to those students thinking about attending law school. "Students who are successful in law school and who become accomplished lawyers come to their legal education from widely differing educational backgrounds. Therefore, the ABA does not formally recommend any particular undergraduate major for those wishing to prepare for a legal education. However, there are important skills and significant bodies of knowledge that can and should be acquired prior to attending law school that will provide a sound foundation for a sophisticated legal education. Most essential would include the following:
- A broad understanding of history, particularly American history.
- A fundamental understanding of political thought and theory.
- A basic understanding of ethical theory and theories of justice.
- A grounding in economics, particularly economic theory and public policy.
- Basic financial skills including the ability to analyze basic financial data.
- An understanding of diverse cultures within and beyond the United States."
The legal studies major was created with these recommendations in mind. Our program provides students with a broad background of knowledge in history, philosophy, political science, economics, business, sociology and criminal justice, while allowing the student to select a major emphasis in one of those fields. Therefore, the legal studies major should provide students interested in attending law school with the skills and knowledge necessary to maximize the efficiency of their law school education.
Contact information
For additional information, please contact
Paul A. Kramer, PhD, JD
Director, Legal Studies Program
Minnesota State University Moorhead
MacLean Hall 380A
Moorhead, MN 56563
Phone: 218-477-4022
FAX: 218-477-2845
E-mail address: kramerp@mnstate.edu.
In addition to being the Director of the Legal Studies Program, Dr. Kramer is an Associate Professor of Political Science and MSUM's pre-law advisor. He's a friendly sort who loves to chat with students, so if law or anything related to law interests you, don't hesitate to contact him and introduce yourself.