Thinking about law school?

Millikin will help you succeed in the legal profession. Pre-Law at Millikin is not a major, but an advising program that prepares you for law school. How does Millikin get you ready to succeed in law school?

• Developing skills that are vital to a legal career
• First-class teaching and professional advising and guidance from faculty
• Hands-on learning experiences

Developing Skills for Law School

The most frequently asked question of the Pre-Law program is:

What should I major in to get into law school?

Answer: Major in what you’re interested in and passionate about.

Successful preparation for law school does not require a specific undergraduate major or a specific undergraduate course of study. It does, however, require the development of specific skill sets. These include:

• analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• critical reading and writing skills
• oral communication and listening abilities
• general research skills

Seek out the courses you know will challenge you to build and hone these kinds of skills.

Advising

If you’re seriously considering law school, you need to get serious about preparing now. At Millikin, you won’t have to prepare alone. Millikin professors are committed to helping you every step of the way.

Work with your faculty advisor to design a personalized course of study that serves your current interests and career goals. Get his or her advice on which courses will help you strengthen your skills. Having established working relationships with your professors and your faculty advisor, you’ll find you not only are academically prepared for law school, but you also have people in your corner when it comes time for applying and recommendations. Millikin faculty members are willing to advocate on your behalf.

Faculty with Law Experience

Millikin’s Pre-Law Committee is composed of faculty members from across a range of disciplines. Collectively, they bring a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience that enables them to provide pre-law students with sound advice and support.

Dr. Robert Money, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Philosophy Department, serves as Director of the Pre-Law Program. Dr. Money received his B.A. from Furman University (1990), his JD from Emory University, School of Law (1993), and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Iowa (1999). Among his many teaching interests, Dr. Money regularly teaches courses in ethical, political, and legal theory. Dr. Money also serves as faculty advisor to Millikin’s moot court teams. Email: rmoney@millikin.edu.

Dr. Lisa Klotz, Assistant Professor of English, received her B.A in international relations from the University of California, Davis (1980) and her J.D. from the University of San Diego, School of Law (1984). She practiced law in California and on the island of Guam before returning to school to pursue a Ph.D. in English Renaissance literature, which she received from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006. Dr. Klotz has taught Legal Research, Reasoning, Writing, and Advocacy to undergraduates and to first-year law students at the UNC School of Law. Email: lklotz@millikin.edu.

Professor Alexa Royden, Instructor of Political Science, is a former political analyst. She received her B.A. from Rollins College (1994) and her M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University (1997). She is currently completing her doctoral dissertation in International Relations (University of St. Andrews, Scotland). Professor Royden has worked for a number of government and international agencies focusing on international security and the growth of international institutions. Professor Royden supervises Millikin’s Model United Nations team, and has a particular interest in cultivating student research. Email: aroyden@millikin.edu

Professor Angela Ambers-Henderson is the Faculty Coordinator of the PACE Criminal Justice Program at Millikin University. Professor Ambers-Henderson received her B.A. from the University of Toledo (1989) and her J.D. from the University of Akron, School of Law (1992). She has practiced law as a Senior Trial Attorney for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, served as an arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, taught as an Adjunct Professor of Paralegal Studies at Camden County College, and taught as an Adjunct Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Lincoln College Normal. Email: aambershenderson@millikin.edu

Rich Dunsworth was appointed Vice President for Enrollment in April 2004. He supervises the functional areas of admission, freshman financial aid, student affairs, marketing, media relations, institutional research, and intercollegiate athletics. Prior to his appointment as Vice President, he served as Dean of Student Life and Academic Development. He often serves as an adjunct faculty member and frequently advises student internships. Mr. Dunsworth received his B.A. from Colorado State University (1991), his M.A. in Education from Eastern Illinois University (1994), and his J.D. from the University of Illinois, College of Law (2002).

LSAT Preparation

The LSAT is an important component of entrance to law school. At Millikin, you can also get help with that. Practice tests—actual LSATs that have been given in previous years—are administered several times a semester so you can know what to expect and where you still need work.

Hands-on Learning

If you want an opportunity for practical experience in the law, you’ll find it here at Millikin.

In Decatur you can work at a law firm, public defender’s office, state’s attorney’s office, law enforcement agency, police crime laboratory, or a similar organization.

Or get off campus and spend a semester in Washington, D.C., where you can learn about U.S. law and policy-making while interning at an organization such as the Justice Department or American Bar Association.

On campus, you can get involved in moot court, which Millikin students participate in as a way to hone their analytical and logical thinking skills, improve their public speaking skills, and become familiar with the basic elements of appellate legal advocacy. Moot court occurs every spring in the Illinois state capitol. You can also participate in student organizations like Model UN and Model Illinois Government.

Where Millikin students go for Law School

100% of 2006 Millikin graduates gained employment or entrance to graduate/professional school within six months of graduation. And that includes law school. Recent Millikin grads have gone to:

Harvard Law School
Northwestern University School of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Vanderbilt University School of Law
University of Iowa College of Law
University of Illinois College of Law
Southern Illinois College of Law
University of Minnesota Law School
Saint Louis University School of Law
Washington University School of Law
Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law

What Millikin Grads Have to Say

“After intense seminar classes at Millikin, I am never afraid to be called on by my law school professors. Although most of my law school classmates went to Ivy League undergraduate schools, I have never felt like they were more academically prepared to attend law school than I.” (Ann Marie Blaylock ’01, Harvard Law School ‘04)

“Law schools are looking for students that can think critically, write creatively, and research diligently. Millikin’s Pre-Law Program will help you develop just those skills.” (Jason Logue ’01, Northwestern University School of Law ’07)

“Millikin's advantage lies in the smaller class sizes and intimate class settings that are unavailable at larger universities. At Millikin, personal attention is given by a qualified faculty. Not only does this prepare students for the LSAT by honing the skills needed for the test, but it also more closely follows the class structure at any given ABA Law School, where a student is required to think on his feet in front of his fellow classmates and professor.” (Louis Manetti, Millikin ’04, Chicago-Kent Law School ‘07)

Helpful Websites

Law School Admissions Council 
American Bar Association 
National Association for Law Placement 
Pre-law Advisors National Council Main Webpage 
Internet Resource Legal Guide 
Millikin Moot Court
Model Illinois Government
Washington Semester