Messages may be left with the department secretary (25931) or on my machine at the office or at home.  I do not mind being called at home, but please limit such calls to reasonable hours.   I check e-mail daily.
 
 

Course Objectives and Procedures: Pre-law orientation is designed to assist those students who believe that they wish to pursue a career in law. It is NOT an academic major -- there are no program requirements associated with "pre-law" and you cannot obtain an undergraduate degree in "pre-law." Therefore, all students will need to select an academic major, in addition to designating themselves as pre-law students.  The purpose of this course is to provide you with the information you need to

-choose an appropriate academic major
-select courses that will prepare you to succeed in law school
-understand the law school admissions process
-prepare to take the LSAT
-determine whether or not a career in law is really for you
-develop reasonable alternatives to law school (in case you decide midway through your senior year that you don’t want to go to law school after all)
-address any issues or concerns that you have

Students should not hesitate to raise issues, to ask questions, or to request that problems or concerns be addressed in orientation class.  The course design is sufficiently flexible to allow for student input.  One class day has already been reserved for a topic to be chosen by the students.
 

Textbooks: You need not purchase any textbooks for this course.  Materials that you will use in the course include
 -your EKU catalog
 -your EKU student handbook
 -LSAT registration and information booklet (provided by instructor)
 -ABA curriculum guidelines (provided by instructor)
 -other items as needed, to be provided by university or instructor
 

Course Requirements: Students will receive letter grades in orientation.  All written work should be typed, double-spaced and carefully proofread.  Grades will be based upon the following criteria:

1. Regular attendance and participation: This course depends upon the presence and active participation of the students. Student involvement is essential, as the function of the course is to prepare students to meet their individual, academic goals.  For the purposes of this course, "excused absences" include verifiable medical or family emergencies, university approved activities (accompanied by a university excuse), documentable illness (yours, your spouse’s or your child’s) and other unforeseen circumstances that the instructor deems to be reasonable excuses for an absence. 20% of grade

2. Reports on Majors: Each student will select two prospective majors for his/her report. For each major, the student will visit the department in which the major is housed, interview at least one faculty member in the major, and prepare a report for the class.  The report should include information on major requirements, job opportunities in the major (other than law), the value of the major program in preparing for law school (according to ABA guidelines) and the student’s overall assessment of the program. If the student has already selected a major, s/he should use that major for one of the reports.  20% of course grade.

3. Presentation on Majors: Each student will present the information included in his/her major report to the class. 10% of course grade.

4. Curriculum plan: Each student will prepare a curriculum in which s/he outlines a tentative four-year course plan, preferably for the major s/he intends to pursue.  If the student remains undecided as to a major, s/he may use one of the two majors studied for the Report. 10 % of course grade.

5. Practice LSAT: Each student must complete a practice LSAT on the computer and hand in the score results to the instructor.  The score sheet should be accompanied by a two-page report (typed, double-spaced) by the student analyzing her/his own performance.  The student should identify weaknesses and create a plan for addressing those weaknesses.  We will discuss the LSAT in class, but students need not reveal their scores. 15% of course grade(to be based on the report, not the practice LSAT score).

6. Attendance at University activities: There is a well-documented relationship between involvement in the university community and academic success.  Students who are engaged in campus activities are more likely to graduate and more likely to succeed in their classes.  As such, pre-law orientation students will be required to attend at least three (3) on-campus events during the course of the semester.  A one-page report on each event verifies attendance.  The instructor will suggest some activities, but students are not limited to those activities.  A student may obtain approval for an activity to "count" by consulting the instructor.  Be certain that the instructor writes this down, lest she forget she has given her approval.   15% of course grade (5% per event).  NOTE: EKU will host a Mock Trial tournament on Nov. 2-3.  Students may volunteer to assist with tournament tasks, to be counted as one or more "events," depending upon the amount of time volunteered.  There is no need to submit a report for tournament work, as the instructor will be present at all times.

7.  Law School Visit: Representatives from each of the Kentucky law schools will visit campus during the month of October.  Pre-law students are required to attend and will be provided with a university excuse to do so.  If you have an unavoidable conflict, please discuss this with the instructor at the earliest possible opportunity.  5% of course grade.

8.  Final Examination: More details will be provided to students during the semester.  5% of course grade.

Aug. 21: Introduction
Aug. 28: University Resources: How Do I ...?  (Bring catalog and student handbook)
Sept. 4: Student rights and obligations, student faculty relations.  (Review student handbook, bring it to class with you)
Sept. 11: Research and resources, online research, department pre-law resources
Sept. 18: Pre-law curriculum, overview of American Bar Association Recommendations
Sept. 25: Pre-Law curriculum, group work with the University catalog
Oct 2: Investigating majors: student reports. All student reports due.
Oct. 9: Getting into Law School: standardized tests and prep options; timeline
Oct. 16: Getting into Law School: letters of recommendations and personal statements, potential   pitfalls
Oct. 23: Discussion of practice LSAT results (misery loves company).
Oct. 30: Now that you know about the LSAT -- backup plans.  Visit by career services.
Nov. 6: Real-life perspective on a legal career -- attorney panel
Nov. 13: Academic concerns and issues
Nov. 20: Consultations and advising for Spring 2000 (students should arrive with tentative  schedule prepared).  Curriculum plan due.
Nov. 27: Discussion - topic to be selected by students.
Dec. 4: Conclusions and wrap-up session.