MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY PRE-LAW PROGRAM
(Information for Prospective Pre-Law Students)


| Contact Information | Program Infromation | Class Scheduling Information | Web Resources |

Director of Pre-Law Program: Contact Information

• Dr. Robert E. Money, Jr., Associate Professor, Philosophy Department, Millikin University, 1999-present
• Educational Background
o University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, Ph.D., Philosophy, July 1999
o Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, GA, Doctor of Law, With Distinction, May 1993
o Furman University, Greenville, SC, B.A., Cum Laude, Philosophy and Political Science, May 1990
• Office Location: 329 Shilling Hall
• Office Phone: (217) 424-3804
• Email Addresses: rmoney@millikin.edu

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General Information Regarding the Pre-Law Program

• While Law Schools require a B.A. or B.S. degree, they do not require a particular undergraduate major or undergraduate program of study. No specific major or program of study is required of pre-law students at Millikin University. In other words, pre-law students may choose to major in any discipline.
• Pre-law students are encouraged to seek out those courses and those programs of study that promise to develop specific skill sets. This is in keeping with the stated position of the American Bar Association:
The ABA does not recommend any particular group of undergraduate majors, or courses, that should be taken by those wishing to prepare for legal education...Nonetheless, there are important skills and values, and significant bodies of knowledge, that can be acquired prior to law school and that will provide a sound foundation for a sophisticated legal education...The core skills and values that are essential for competent lawyering include analytic and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, task organization and management skills, and the values of serving faithfully the interests of others while also promoting justice (http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html).
• Pre-law students should seek curricular breadth in their undergraduate curriculum. Pre-law students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of courses and programs of study, particularly during the first year.
The best preparation [for law school] is a broad liberal arts background that includes courses that strengthen your command of English; develop your ability to think clearly, concisely and logically; and increase your understanding of human institutions and values (http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~seals/advising.htm).
• Curricular breadth should be complimented by curricular depth. Pre-law students should select a major (or majors) based not only on skill set development, but also on the basis of personal interest. The major you select should be something in which you have an intrinsic interest. You will spend a great deal of time on courses in your major. You want your coursework to be interesting, stimulating, and enjoyable.
• Pre-law students should seek out rigorous and challenging courses from a variety of disciplines and professors. As the American Bar Association notes, “taking difficult courses from demanding instructors is the best generic preparation for legal education” (http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html).
• A significant number of pre-law students eventually decide not to attend law school or decide not to enter the legal profession. It is strongly encouraged that all pre-law students take advantage of various resources in the Career and Experiential Learning Center (Pam Folger, Director). Take the time to investigate other potential career choices and other areas of interest. It is never too early to begin thinking about “Plan B.”

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Suggested First Year Schedule for Pre-law Students

Honors Students
Fall Semester
(1) Honors University Seminar (If possible, it is suggested that you enroll in Dr. Money’s Seminar, “Who’s to Judge?”)
(2) Honors Critical Writing, Reading, and Research (automatically cohorted with University Seminar)
(3) Appropriate language course
(4) Appropriate introductory level course in the major (if a major is known)
(5) Elective
Spring Semester
(1) Honors Seminar
(2) Honors Critical Writing, Reading, and Research II
(3) Appropriate language course
(4) Elective
(5) Elective

Non-Honors Students
Fall Semester
(1) University Seminar
(2) Critical Writing, Reading, and Research (automatically cohorted with University Seminar)
(3) Appropriate language course
(4) Appropriate introductory level course in the major (if a major is known)
(5) Elective
Spring Semester
(1) Critical Writing, Reading, and Research II
(2) Appropriate language course
(3) Elective
(4) Elective
(5) Elective

Additional Web Sources

• Millikin Universities Pre-Law Page: http://www.millikin.edu/prelaw/
• Model Illinois Goverment Home Page: www.modelillinoisgovernment.org/
• American Bar Association: http://www.abanet.org/legaled/prelaw/prep.html
• National Association for Law Placement: http://www.nalp.org/
• Law School Admissions Council: http://www.lsac.org/
• Pre-law Advisors National Council Main Webpage: http://www.planc.org/
• Internet Resource Legal Guide: http://www.ilrg.com/pre-law.html

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