Why Major in Pre-Law at PBA?
Rooted in history and at the same time ever-changing, the legal profession is both demanding and reliable, complex and conquerable.
The pre-law major at Palm Beach Atlantic University prepares you for this multidimensional field through extensive coursework that meets the prerequisites of most professional law degree programs, opportunities for hands-on research and practice, and a uniquely Christian perspective on law, government, and the American Constitution.
- Justice in Christ: Account for Christian influence and Christian implications within the history and practice of U.S. legal systems.
- Impactful Location: Here in West Palm Beach County, you can find career-opening internships and develop long-lasting networks.
- LeMieux Center for Public Policy: Learn and take on challenges in our on-campus hub for understanding, evaluating, and changing public policy.
- Study Abroad: Gain a global perspective through study abroad opportunities in places like New Zealand, Colombia, South Korea, and Italy.
What You’ll Learn
PBA’s pre-law bachelor’s degree program prepares you to:
- Communicate effectively in written and public speaking formats
- Exercise effective analytical skills
- Construct well-formulated arguments
- Analyze primary and secondary legal texts
- Understand the main elements of the Anglo-American legal and political tradition
- Recognize the main political, economic, and social developments in U.S. history from European discovery to the present
- Demonstrate knowledge of America’s founding ideas
- Articulate the political and legal characteristics of the American system of government
- Explain how the U.S. Constitution allocates governing authority
- Identify and apply the main protections of civil liberties in the U.S. Constitution
- Apply Christian perspectives to law, justice, and government
- Evaluate the role of Christianity in the development of Western law
Pathway to Law School
Build your confidence through rigorous coursework and LSAT/law school admission preparation opportunities. PBA’s robust academic support programs include one-on-one advising, holistic educational opportunities, and meaningful experiences that prepare you to thrive amid the high-intensity demands of law school.
Program Details
Interrogate Christian ideas about law and government as you establish a strong understanding of American constitutionalism, law and government, and the legal profession. PBA offers you a unique opportunity to apply an unwaveringly Christ-focused lens to justice in all forms, strengthening your worldview while expanding your capacity to influence policies and practices that impact our day-to-day lives.
The legal profession requires consummate citizenship. At PBA, we consider that responsibility as integral to your learning as studying textbooks. We designed our general education core for your growth and influence as a citizen of your professional, civic, and faith communities. Discover more in the Faith, Roots, and Reason curriculum.
Develop a strong foundation in constitutional law through courses in U.S. history, political thought, the American federal government, American constitutionalism, philosophy of law, Christian political thought, and more. Through your electives, you can specialize according to your goals in areas like criminal law, ethics, and trial advocacy.
Engage in reasoned, thoughtful, and civil discourse in the LeMieux Center, our forum for public policy issues in Florida and beyond. Attend lectures and debates, network with legal experts, and vie for the competitive Freidheim Fellowship award to research and publish a paper on a topic you choose.
Careers
Progress toward a variety of professional roles, whether you plan to apply to law school and become a lawyer or launch your career at a faster pace in positions like a politician’s assistant or public affairs consultant. Legal occupations garner median annual salaries over $95,000, with lawyers in the top earning bracket at $135,740 per year on average.
After law school, specialize your practice in one of dozens of fields of law, including family, personal injury, environmental, patent, labor, human rights, immigration, criminal defense, or constitutional law.
