Welcome To The Flagler College Pre-Law Program

Welcome To The Flagler College Pre-Law Program

Welcome to all the pre-law students and prospective students of our pre-law program. The first day of class at law school is like a 100 yard dash. When the crack of the starter pistol pierces the air, everyone sprints toward the finish line. My goal is to put you 20 yards down the track at the beginning of your law school career. What we do at Flagler College with the pre-law curriculum is truly unique. If you will work hard by giving your best effort, we will prepare you for your goal – graduating from law school.

The curriculum offered through the Pre-Law Department has a two-fold purpose. First of all, the course offerings are designed to enhance the liberal arts experience for all Flagler College students. Many PLA courses are cross-listed as Political Science courses to accomplish this purpose. Some special topics courses, such as Philosophy of Law and History of the U.S. Supreme Court, are cross-listed with the Philosophy and History curriculum, respectively. Secondly, PLA courses are designed to afford pre-law students the rigorous undergraduate preparation which is needed for success in law school.

The Pre-Law curriculum is diverse so that students can be exposed to law classes which will be offered in law school as well as to law classes which will not be offered in law school. For example, Constitutional Criminal Procedure and Legal Method and Process are courses which are standard law school fare. On the other hand, Justice and the Judicial Process and Contemporary Legal and Political Issues are courses which are not typical of law school curriculums. These courses afford pre-law students the opportunity to expand their knowledge about how the law impacts the popular culture and society.

The Pre-Law Curriculum is designed to teach students those skills which all liberal arts students should pursue, whether or not they attend law school. These skills include the capacity to read for a clear understanding of content and relationships; the ability to reason logically and to think critically; the ability to write and to speak with clarity and precision; and the capacity to solve problems given specific factual situations. A number of law internships are also available to juniors and seniors to obtain practical experience.


Richard Poland, J.D.
Associate Professor
Pre-Law Program Director
President, Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors, 2000-2002
Pre-Law Advisors National Council, 2000-2002
SAPLA Board of Directors, Member-at-Large, 2002-to-date