It would be unwise and, perhaps, impossible to prescribe a specific course of study and assert that it is the best one can receive in preparation for entering law school. Therefore, there is no established major for pre-law students. In 1988, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) expressed the view that the “quality of education is concerned with the development of basic skills and insights. It thus involves education for: 1) comprehension and expression in words; 2) critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; 3) creative power in thinking; 4) knowledge of computers and word processing.” While no one major embraces all of these characteristics and, while personal development in these areas is an individualistic effort moulded to one’s particular strengths, weaknesses, and interests, the University offers numerous courses which give training in these skills. The following areas of study encompass these recommendations and suggest courses which prepare students for the study and practice of law.

 

The LSAT is the second major factor considered by law schools in determining admissibility. The test measures abilities and skills related to problem identification, analysis, logical reasoning and reading. In addition, the LSAT includes a written essay, copies of which will be sent to individual law schools to enable them to evaluate a candidate’s writing ability. Because many law schools consider the LSAT as influential, or more influential, than the GPA, it is important that students prepare for the test very carefully.

 

Lawyers are often called upon to fill many varied and complex roles. At various times they function as advocates, social planners and mediators. Because society turns most frequently to the legal profession when it looks for a method of balancing changing conditions and traditional values, lawyers are social planners. Lawyers play a weighty role in our society and have a tremendous responsibility, not only to the citizenry which they serve, but also to the law itself, and to the concept of justice, to which they must be committed.

 

The Child and Youth Law Program helps children from low income families obtain needed educational and healthcare services.

The Child and Youth Law Program is a unique and innovative program that focuses on directly representing children. The program includes four parts: individual representation, systemic advocacy, education in the professional community and public education.

Each Fellow’s assignments are divided between teaching courses on American and international legal topics and co-teaching in Chinese clinical legal education programs. Fellows’ roles thus have both a program-building as well as an immediate educational purpose. Using primarily English and some Chinese in the classroom, previous Fellows have taught courses in environmental law, administrative law, corporate law, internet law, civil rights law, intellectual property rights, and refugee law. Meanwhile, the clinical legal education courses they co-teach with Chinese colleagues and the guidance they provide to student legal aid programs benefit not only the students, but also their clients, and strengthen the overall clinical legal education program. Fellows generally teach around six to eight hours per week in a classroom setting to allow ample time for their involvement in clinical activities. The clinics where Fellows serve have undertaken cases protecting consumer, labour and civil rights, as well as cases in criminal defence, environmental, and tort law.