What do tomorrow's legal stalwarts—whether it's as a lawyer, an advocate, a public official, or even as a business leader—need in their corner, before they enter the legal field? What will ground them, inspire and excite them, and serve their evolving interests as they prepare for a career in law?
Going to law school is a complicated decision—actually, it's a series of decisions. But no matter how you get there, a student has to be prepared, from his organizing skills to her ability to explore, make, critique and defend multi-layered questions and arguments. What is just as important to consider is this: Have you developed the intellectual rigor, and do you possess the capacity for ethical leadership, that law school requires?
At The University of Baltimore, undergrads who say yes to these questions now have a program to support their goals: the B.A. In Law, Philosophy, and History (LPH), available in the University's Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
Why LPH? And why now? A law degree continues to reside at or near the top of graduate-level programs that appeal to young people. That attraction is broad—it cuts across a range of demographics, educational backgrounds, and more. It's a sought-after degree for many reasons, but it's fair to say that the law represents the power to change the lives of individuals and the life of a community. That's forever, and it's something smart and engaged people recognize.
As Prof. Joshua Kassner, director of the LPH program, describes it, "LPH is a program purpose-built to prepare students for careers in law. It's interdisciplinary curriculum in law, philosophy, and history has been designed to provide students with the analytic skills and substantive knowledge they need to succeed. Perhaps less obvious, but just as important, given the particular interdisciplinary nature of the program, LPH graduates will have a uniquely valuable perspective on the American legal system, contributing to their success but also to the kind of legal professionals they will become and that we need."
Students need to know that a dedicated preparation in the humanities, specifically in philosophy, history, and legal studies, is an excellent foundation for later success in law school. At UBalt, we've combined these essentials with an opportunity to acclerate the student's path to formal study of the law. Courses in critical thinking, ethical reasoning, persuasive writing, research, and analysis are all part of LPH. Meet the criteria, and you'll have the opportunity to apply for early entry to The University of Baltimore School of Law.
As Maryland's only university with a law school and pre-law undergraduate programs, UBalt gives LPH students a distinct advantage from day one. By taking the Early Entry Option, you can begin law school in your final undergraduate year at a reduced tuition rate.
We have a lot more to say about this program. We're proud of it, and we're impressed by the caliber of students who are expressing an interest and signing up. Here's Dr. Kassner, our LPH program director, with answers to some questions we think you'll have:
We know that the post-graduate job market is in a state of constant change. But this degree seems to reflect a return to a more traditional way of developing the skills and mindset necessary for a future law student. If that's true, how did you arrive at that decision?
Prof. Kassner: We (the LPH faculty, which includes law scholars, historians and philosophers) focused on what would be most beneficial for students who want to pursue a career in law. The data have been clear for decades: Students who pursue degrees in philosophy and history have higher LSAT scores and acceptance rates than nearly every other field of study. Legal studies provides students with an understanding of how our system operates. Thus, creating a curriculum that integrated coursework that develops argumentative and analytic skills with knowledge of the history of our form of government and an understanding of the operation of our system, seems to be the ideal combination of theory and practice to prepare students for law school or any other number of law-related careers.
The data show a real relationship between a knowledge of history and/or philosophy, and success in law school. How would you explain that relationship? With law school as a likely outcome, what does an undergrad in the LPH program need to be ready to do?
Prof. Kassner: Simply put, to succeed in law school–and the practice of law for that matter–one needs to master certain intellectual and argumentative skills, and benefits from an understanding of the historical and philosophical origins of our system of law. As for the skills that are prized in law, one needs to be able to engage in analytic argument. What this means is that one must be able to stake out a position and argue rigorously in the face of ambiguity. In other words, one must be able to argue well even when there may be no discernable correct answer to the question posed. This is the essence of philosophy, and answers many of the most interesting questions in history follow a similar logic. Additionally, both history and philosophy require that students develop the ability to synthesize and analyze difficult texts–another similarity with law. Finally, if one is to master the legal system, and not be just a technician, it is important to understand the values upon which our legal system is based and how those values have come to be instantiated in our system.
Where in the mix do you see the development of good writing skills?
Prof. Kassner: Law is about making arguments and persuading others. Effective communication is thus essential to success in law. Legal studies, history and philosophy all prize effective communication. Much of the legal studies curriculum is focused on understanding what is required for legal argumentation, focusing on effectively writing memoranda and briefs. History and philosophy are disciplines that depend on the effective communication of highly complex ideas and arguments. This is only possible if those engaged in the discipline develop the skills to share their ideas with clarity. In other words, the development of good writing skills is an essential element of the LPH program.
You are a believer in academic rigor. How does that determination show itself in the LPH?
Prof. Kassner: Primarily through the coursework itself. Philosophy and history are notoriously difficult subjects. This, in part, explains why they are such good preparation for law school. To succeed as an LPH student, one will need to commit one's studies and will likely be stretched intellectually at times, being pushed to wrestle with intractable questions of ethics and politics, and be exposed to nuanced and surprising historical understandings of the events that have shaped our shared lives. It is worth noting how important such rigor is as part of the preparation for law school. Law school will make significant demands on students’ time and intellects. To fail to require such rigor is to do a disservice to those students who want to pursue a career in law.
Obviously there's more than one way to get into law school. But the path that UBalt has created seems to be widely accepted. To what do you attribute the good response the program has received so far?
Prof. Kassner: Simply put, the LPH program responds to the data and the advice found in the American Bar Association’s advice on pre-law education. In addition, I have had several conversations with law faculty at various institutions that confirm the curricular choices we have made in constructing the LPH program.
Any advice for a prospective student who is thinking about this program? What's the one thing you want every applicant to be sure of before they hit the "apply" button?
Prof. Kassner: Studying LPH is an ideal pathway to a career in law, but it is more than that. It is empowering and can be life changing. Through the law you can advocate for people and positions, pursuing the common good and advancing justice. You can literally change the lives of the people and communities you serve. In addition, given the nature of the LPH curriculum, you will be asked to wrestle with some of the most intractable questions of the human experience. There may be no better way to grow as a person than to be confronted by the timeless questions that lie at the heart of history and philosophy.
Learn more about UBalt's B.A. In Law, Philosophy, and History program.