Pre-Law Program

Kelly Meyer, Pre-Law Advisor, Academic Advisement Office, Saint Joseph's Hall

Since the nation’s law schools do not recommend any particular major as the single “best” preparation for law school, students can major in any of the outstanding programs at The College of Saint Rose, while receiving dual advisement from experienced faculty members in their major field and from the pre-law advisor as they prepare to enter law school.

At The College of Saint Rose, students find a variety of opportunities to prepare them for admission to law school. Our strong liberal education curriculum combined with our outstanding academic programs emphasize critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills—essential elements for success in the field of law. We encourage students to think of law school as a complement to their undergraduate studies, since the wide variety of areas of legal specialty of attorneys can merge with most areas of interest.

Our location in Albany, the Capitol of New York State, provides many opportunities for students to engage in internships with state and local government, legislative bodies, not-for-profit organizations, and political groups.

Three plus Three program with Albany Law School

The College of Saint Rose offers a special program with Albany Law School through which our students complete their major and liberal education credits in three years, then, receive their bachelor's degree from The College of Saint Rose on the completion of their freshman year at Albany Law School. The program empowers students to complete a J.D. in law in six years, rather than the usual seven. Students may apply for the program either together with their Saint Rose admission application from high school, or at the end of their freshman year at Saint Rose. Majors eligible for the program are: American Studies, Criminal Justice, English, History, Interdepartmental Studies, Mathematics, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Communications, Religious Studies, Sociology and Spanish.
 

Pre-Law Internships

The numerous Legislative, Governmental, Business and Not-for Profit Agencies in the Capital District Area make this a rich region for finding internships that will help students prepare for a career in Law. For example, in the Fall Semester of 2010, current Saint Rose student Madalyn De Thomasis interned with The Legal Project, which provides legal advice at reduced rates to women who cannot afford to hire attorneys. Some of the issues with which The Legal Project assists clients are domestic violence issues, divorce, child custody and support issues, bankruptcy, and eviction issues. In the Spring Semester of 2011, current Saint Rose student Mikayla Consalvo is interning with Majority Leader Sheldon Silver, of the New York State Senate. The Saint Rose Career Center holds an internship fair each semester where students can explore placement opportunites.