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3 College Courses That Can Strengthen Legal Skills

By U.S. News & World Report

When discussing with undergraduates the courses they should take in preparation for law school, much of the focus is — rightly — on finding ways to strengthen their application.

It is important to remember, though, that many courses have the added benefit of giving you tools and knowledge that help make you a better law student and lawyer. In this week’s post, I will discuss three areas of study offered at most colleges across the country and the advantage pursuing those areas has both for your application and as a law student.

[Know how to choose college classes that make up a well-rounded law school application.]

1. Formal logic: Introductory formal logic courses are generally offered by college philosophy departments, and many philosophy departments even require completion of introductory formal logic in order to graduate as a philosophy major. In a formal logic course, you will learn how to symbolize and analyze logical statements and arguments. Formal logic also helps strengthen one’s capacity to think in a linear and organized fashion.

The primary benefit that taking formal logic provides from an admissions perspective is that it is a great foundation from which to begin one’s LSAT preparation. Although formal logic taught in college courses is much more complicated and extensive than what is required for the LSAT, familiarity with syllogisms, symbolizing language and analysis of short arguments will benefit you greatly in your LSAT preparation.

As a law student, you will often need to conduct linear, carefully structured analyses similar to those that you will practice in a formal logic class.

[Learn to master the logical reasoning section of the MCAT.]

2. U.S. history : Courses in U.S. history provide you with both knowledge of the historical context in which our legal system evolved and an opportunity to practice and refine your research and writing skills.

Courses in history generally, not just in U.S. history, often require students to conduct their own independent research and write a long research paper or some other significant piece of writing. Law school admissions committees will view a good grade in such a course, especially an intermediate or advanced course, as evidence that you are prepared to produce the type of work required of you in law school seminar courses and the first-year legal research and writing course.

Taking courses in U.S. history may also give you something to discuss in your personal statement that indicates your interest in becoming a lawyer.

In addition to showing admissions committees that you are well prepared for the academic rigors of law school, taking U.S. history courses will also help prepare you for the substantive courses you will take in law school. Many law school professors discuss the historical development of their area of law as a way to help students understand the current state of the law.

For example, an understanding of the political and social concerns of those who wrote the U.S. Constitution will help you understand both the development and contemporary interpretations of the Constitution.

[Check out three law school admissions trends to expect this cycle.]

3. Microeconomic s: For those who have not attended law school, economics is generally not considered to be a fundamental discipline in the law. As you will soon realize, however, a basic knowledge of microeconomics will help you, particularly in your first year.

Microeconomic principles underlie many areas of law, but particularly contracts and torts, both of which are taught in the first year at almost every law school in the country. In fact, many torts and contracts professors have extensive academic backgrounds in economics.

In addition to preparing you for contracts, torts and other courses, having a background in microeconomics shows admissions committees that you have engaged in an important type of analysis: applying general principles to specific situations. Having a background in economics also dovetails nicely with many legal careers in both the private and public sectors such as corporate law, securities regulation and insurance law.

What courses are you taking this semester? Let me know in an email or tweet me.

More from U.S. News

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3 College Courses That Can Strengthen Legal Skills originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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