Pre-Law History

Pope Paul VI once said, “If you want peace, work for justice.” The quest for justice lies at the very heart of Loyola’s History Pre-Law program. Law is the cornerstone of peaceful societies and perpetually one of the central issues in the study of humanity. In Loyola’s History Pre-Law concentration you’ll earn a bachelor’s degree from one of the strongest programs in the country. Our outstanding professors will challenge you to learn about the history of law from its inception through the modern era. Upon graduation you will have been challenged in ways that prepare you not just to make important decisions about law school but also to seek justice in our rapidly evolving world.

Overview of Courses

In addition to a core set of courses exploring global history, U.S. history, and historical research methods, you’ll select legal history electives and global issues coursework to round out your program. Here’s a sample of what you can expect to learn and do:

• Medieval Crime and Community
• This course explores the interaction between the development of criminal law and social change in the late medieval period. Classes are organized thematically and focus on a broad range of subjects, from trial by ordeal to sanctuary. Emphasis is placed on the creative ways litigants and jurors manipulated the law courts to their best advantage.
• Law in Early America
• This survey course examines the major developments in American legal history from the colonial period to the Civil War.
• American Trials
• This course focuses on famous American trials and uses them to examine the broader historical context in which they took place. Particular attention is given to why these trials captured the public’s attention and why they still have a hold on the popular imagination today.
• Seminar in Global Issues
• This course is open to all students by invitation who want the challenge of engaging macro questions of the human experience within the context of different moral and political values. The seminar is intended to prepare Loyola’s most able students for success in scholarship and fellowship competitions.