Fostering Civic Engagement; Building Competencies for Careers

The pre-law program (certificate and minor) at Bishop’s will expose students to theoretical underpinnings of law-making and interpretation, concepts of justice and equity, and civic governance and responsible citizenship, while building a knowledge-base in a wide array of related disciplines, such as literature, history, politics, and criminology.

It is also designed to expose students to core competencies such as problem solving, critical reading, oral and written communications, research, organization and time-management, leadership, and team-building, that enhance capacities for success in law school or other careers within the justice system.

Why Study Pre-Law at Bishop’s?

The program is interdisciplinary and offers students the opportunity to pursue their specific interests in their major while honing their skills through their pre-law studies for entry into law school.

  • To develop these skills, students will choose from a list of Humanities, Social Sciences, and other courses provided and will take one capstone course, to be offered annually during the Winter term.
  • Courses for the program adhere to the LSAT criteria of: Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning, Writing Proficiency, and Logical Reasoning.
  • Participants should note that the program does not guarantee admission to law school but seeks rather to help in their success once admitted.

The program extends learning beyond the classroom and has strong collaborative alliances with the Pre-law Student Society and alumni.

  • The program offers opportunities for mentorship, experiential learning and internships.
  • The program includes guest speakers and special events.

Courses will be taught by faculty who fully engage in the liberal arts philosophy and mission of the university. This means among other things that:

  • Classes include personal and lively discussion and debate of controversial issues and events.
  • Students who wish to chat about their work or their program with a faculty member will find it very easy to do so: Bishop’s has a well-deserved reputation for its exceptional degree of faculty-student interaction.
  • With minimal exceptions, written work will be evaluated by the course instructor and not, as in many larger universities, by a teaching assistant.

Our Goals

  • Develop core competencies that are valued in law school and other places of employment.
  • Deepen a number of specific skills that are invaluable assets for graduates entering the labour market and taking on the duties of citizenship, such as the ability to engage in research, to evaluate evidence and to present conclusions in a reasoned and coherent way.
  • Motivate students to participate in the world as leaders, concerned citizens and advocates of the common good.
  • Provide a variety of courses that cover the world and explore issues in a plethora of ways such as lectures, films, seminar discussions, paper presentations and a variety of internships.
  • Promote learning outside the classroom through the Student Law Society and talks given by alumni and other legal experts in their chosen field.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Bruce Gilbert, Program Coordinator
bgilbert@ubishops.ca
819-822-9600 ext. 2075