Pre-Law

The Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Center
Pre-Law Committee: Robert Klump, Esq., Director, Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Center; Patricia Erickson, Professor Emerita of Criminal Justice; Helen Ferraro-Zaffram, Esq., Board Member, Desmond Law Society; Hon. Kevin Carter, Administrative Judge, 8th Judicial District, New York State Supreme Court

The Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Center assists students who wish to enter the legal profession by offering counseling and advisement regarding law schools and the Law School Admissions Test and by providing several partial pre-law scholarship awards to juniors and seniors. Internship and other opportunities are enhanced by the work of the university’s Desmond Law Society.

The Raichle Center also sponsors an annual lecture series on problems of law and American society. Raichle Lectures have included six justices of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Students interested in law are encouraged to contact the Director at their earliest opportunity and are encouraged to join the pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta.

Pre-law students may wish to consider joining the college’s Mock Trial team and enrolling by instructor’s permission in the one credit Mock Trial course (LEG 101)

Canisius University does not offer a Pre-Law Major; the college instead offers a program that prepares students to succeed both in law school and in the legal profession.  Students wishing to choose law as a career may major in any field or fields as undergraduates. They should bear in mind, however, that their aim must be the attainment of a broad liberal education. Specifically, they should attain considerable skill in language, knowledge of human institutions and values and an ability to reason critically. The committee therefore recommends that students wishing to choose law as a career include in their undergraduate programs of study the following:

  1. Courses which develop skills of accurate comprehension and precise expression in language.
  2. Courses in which knowledge of human institutions can be attained, with special reference to American constitutional law and history.
  3. Courses which develop abilities in logic and appreciation of ethical and political values.
  4. Courses in introductory accounting and economics.

The Raichle Pre-Law Center offers an accelerated option for those who want to earn their bachelor’s degree and law degree (JD) in 6 years. Canisius University is now a partner institution for the University at Buffalo School of Law’s 3+3 Accelerated BA-JD program. To learn more, please visit the 3+3 Accelerated BA-JA program webpage.

Pre-Law Program

Freshman Year

Introduction to the Raichle Pre-law Center.

Attend New Student Orientation Program Session. Fall

Phi Alpha Delta Membership

Consider membership in Desmond Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

Raichle Pre-Law Center

Attend comprehensive presentation by Raichle Center Director Robert Klump and Desmond Law Society board member Stacey Moar, Esq. at which the following aspects of the law school application process and the legal profession will be addressed. All pre-law students are invited to attend. Fall

  • What is the legal profession all about?
  • Varieties of practice, e.g. law firm, in-house, government.
  • What opportunities does a law degree provide in addition to the practice of law?
  • The current state of the legal job market.
  • The cost of attending law school and financing law school education.
  • Building a resume that will help get you into law school.
  • Choosing a curriculum that will be attractive to law school admissions committees.
  • Internship opportunities.
  • The LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test): how to prepare; when to take.

Sophomore Year

Phi Alpha Delta Membership

Consider membership in Desmond Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

Course Selection

Consider pre-law recommended electives in selecting courses. Fall/Spring

RAICHLE PRE-LAW CENTER

Attend comprehensive presentation by Raichle Center Director Robert Klump and Desmond Law Society board member Stacey Moar, Esq. at which various aspects of the law school application process and the legal profession will be addressed.  All pre-law students are invited to attend. Fall

Pre-Law Scholarship Competition

Sophomores satisfying eligibility requirements may apply for a partial pre-law scholarship for their junior year; several scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis by or through the Pre-Law Committee. Spring

Junior Year

Course Selection

Consider pre-law recommended electives in selecting courses. Fall/Spring

RAICHLE PRE-LAW CENTER

Attend comprehensive presentation by Raichle Center Director Robert Klump and Desmond Law Society board member Stacey Moar, Esq. at which various aspects of the law school application process and the legal profession will be addressed.  All pre-law students are invited to attend. Fall

Pre-Law Scholarship Competition

Juniors satisfying eligibility requirements may apply for a partial pre-law scholarship for their senior year; several scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis by or through the Pre-Law Committee. Spring

Internships

Juniors interested in doing a law-related internship during the summer preceding senior year or during their senior year should submit an application and supporting materials to the Director. Spring/Summer

Getting into Law School

A Strategy for Success

A service provided by the Raichle Pre-Law Center consisting of one-on-one counseling during the Spring semester on the law school application process, including the following topics:

  • Selecting the right law school.
  • Applying to law school including early admissions.
  • Preparing for the LSAT.
  • Writing the personal statement.
  • Updating resumes.
  • Obtaining letters of recommendation.

Senior Year

RAICHLE PRE-LAW CENTER

Attend comprehensive presentation by Raichle Center Director Robert Klump and Desmond Law Society board member Stacey Moar, Esq. at which various aspects of the law school application process and the legal profession will be addressed.  All pre-law students are invited to attend. Fall

One-on-one advisement sessions with Raichle Pre-Law Center Director on the law school application process, including: whether and when to retake the LSAT; strategies for enhancing chances for admission at particular law schools; negotiating scholarship and financial aid offers; selecting which law school to attend. Fall/Spring

Courses

The following courses are available as options for any student, particularly those interested in legal careers.

LEG 101 Mock Trial 1 Credit

Acquire knowledge of trial proceedings, rules of evidence and courtroom skills necessary to qualify for Mock Trial team membership; prepare for and compete in Mock Trial tournaments. Students may take this class up to 4 times for credit.

Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

Offered: fall & spring.

LEG 201 Legal Reasoning, Writing and Advocacy 3 Credits

Examine process and techniques which lawyers use to advocate effectively in the American legal system. Analyze the art of legal argument, decision-making and reasoning. Draft legal briefs and memoranda, including use of precedent.

Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive

Offered: occasionally; typically fall semester.

Recommended Electives

It is recommended that pre-law students consider taking one or more of the following courses.  Not all courses listed are offered every semester or academic year; check availability during course registration. Some courses listed have course prerequisites; check college catalog. Pre-Law students seeking additional information regarding recommended electives should consult with the director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center. 

Information after the course title is provided to help students understand the reason each course is recommended as a potential elective.

Accounting
ACC 201Financial Accounting (introduction to financial concepts relevant to study of business-related law school courses such as taxation and corporate law)3
ACC 202Managerial Accounting (introduction to financial concepts relevant to study of business-related law school courses such as taxation and corporate law)3
Criminal Justice
CRJ 250Criminal Law and Procedure (acquisition of knowledge of substantive criminal law and consitiutional protections for criminal defendants)3
CRJ 275Criminal Courts3
CRJ 280Legal Writing and Advocacy I (use of language in the administration of law, including ways to read and brief cases and to read statutes)3
CRJ 285Legal Writing and Advocacy II3
Digital Media Arts
DMA 216Digital Media Law (legal issues in cyberspace, First Amendment, copyright, libel, privacy)3
Economics
ECO 101Principles of Macroeconomics (introduction to the economic system that undergirds and plays a major role in our legal system)3
ECO 102Principles of Microeconomics (introduction to the economic system that undergirds and plays a major role in our legal system)3
English
ENG 217Law and Literature (literary presentations of legal institutions)3
Philosophy
PHI 225Logic (preparation for LSAT)3
PHI 241Ethics: Traditions in Moral Reasoning3
PHI 261Philosophy of Law (philosophical underpinnings of law)3
Political Science
PSC 103The American Constitution (constitutional foundations of governmental power)3
PSC 320American Constitutional Law I (introduction to law school case method, i.e. use of court decisions to exemplify legal principles, acquisition of substantive knowledge of major areas of Constitutional law)3
PSC 321American Constitutional Law II (introduction to law school case method, i.e. use of court decisions to exemplify legal principles, acquisition of substantive knowledge of Constitutional rights)3
PSC 420The Constitution, The War on Terror and Civil Liberties (introduction to law school case method, i.e. use of court decisions to exemplify legal principles, acquisition of substantive knowledge of major areas of law)3

Director: Robert Klump, Esq. at 716.888.2884

The 3+3 Accelerated BA/BS-JD program through the University at Buffalo School of Law is open to a variety of majors. By participating, you can:

  • Complete your undergraduate education and law degree in less time (and for less cost) than the 7 years typically required
  • Become fully eligible for scholarships and grants offered to qualified incoming students at the University at Buffalo School of Law
  • Upon successful completion of the first-year curriculum at UB Law School, a student's credits for the year will be transferred to Canisius to complete his or her bachelor's degree which will then be conferred by Canisius.

Eligibility

This unique program is open to pre-law students who:

*The LSAT score must be at or above the median LSAT score for the UB School of Law’s previous year’s enrolled class or the GRE score must be at or above the 70th percentile for Verbal Reasoning and the 40th percentile for Quantitative Reasoning.

For more information, contact the Raichle Center director.