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Law Major

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Champlain's undergraduate Law program is the perfect pre-law major for students planning to attend law school, and it's the ideal career foundation for those who want to directly enter the legal field at graduation.

Why Study Law at Champlain College?

Champlain's Bachelor of Science degree in Law is one of a kind, providing students with the strongest possible foundation in law and humanities at the undergraduate level. This program is the top choice for students who want to major in Law rather than Legal Studies.

At Champlain, we want you to experience the nature of your major early on. In our Upside-Down Curriculum, your first-year law classes include Criminal Law, American National Government, and Contracts—and they're all taught by faculty who have years of experience practicing and interpreting law.

Throughout your four years, you'll explore more specialized areas of the law, such as:

  • criminal law
  • property law
  • wills, trusts, and estates
  • evidence
  • constitutional law
  • civil procedure

Our undergraduate Law education is focused on experiential learning: you'll research, write about, and give presentations on challenging, complex civil and criminal legal issues that affect society. As a student, you'll start doing the work of a professional—writing briefs, analyzing cases, and drawing up legal documents—which will give your career a head start and make your graduate school applications stand out. 


Career Outlook

Opportunities

Through our Prison Law Initiative, Champlain students have an opportunity to teach law and constitutional rights to people incarcerated in Vermont prisons. This unique experience allows you to gain important perspective while empowering others. Additional internships and externships—valuable learning experiences within law firms or other legal departments—are encouraged and built into your curriculum. Recent placements include non-profits and government offices such as:

  • Champlain College Prison Law Initiative
  • Chittenden County District Court
  • HOPE Works
  • Howard Center
  • Office of the Chittenden County State's Attorney
  • United States District Court, District of Vermont
  • Vermont Department of Labor
  • Vermont Judicial Bureau

Outcomes

The Law major at Champlain College sets you up perfectly to excel in law school. Articulation agreements with Vermont Law School and New York Law School can expedite your admission into a prestigious graduate school. Champlain Law graduates attend law schools such as:

  • California Western School of Law
  • Duke University School of Law
  • Northeastern University School of Law
  • Suffolk Law School
  • Temple Law School
  • University of Michigan Law School

Career Advice

Kathryn Young

Law and EHS Signature Courses

“The curriculum at Champlain is very similar to what you see on a law school website. After the courses at Champlain, law school becomes sort of 'Law School 2.0' by the time you get there.”
View My Story

EXPLORE

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Choose a Minor

Declaring a minor is a great way to start building an area of specialty—you may want to focus your law career in an industry or field you're passionate about. For instance, a minor in Environmental Studies & Policy, Family Studies, or Social Justice could help you define a fulfilling career path. See all Champlain minors.

Champlain students cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland

Study Abroad

Our Law curriculum is built for you to spend a semester abroad. With a campus in Dublin, Ireland, and another in Montreal, Canada, you don't even have to leave the Champlain community to explore the world. Is your heart set on France? New Zealand? Your advisors can help you go nearly anywhere in the world through an exchange or third-party program.

JUST THE FACTS

THE BEST


The 2021 Fiske Guide to Colleges selected Champlain as one of the "best and most interesting schools" in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.

THE MOST


Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" by U.S. News & World Report (for the seventh consecutive year!) in its "America's Best Colleges" 2022 rankings.

#1


Burlington, Vermont, our hometown, is ranked the #1 Best College Town by Travel + Leisure magazine.

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Nice to meet you!

Thanks for getting in touch—stickers and information will be on their way shortly. Please reach out anytime if you have any questions about Champlain; you can call or text us at 802.625.0201 or email us at admission@champlain.edu.

In the meantime, check out our list of majors, schedule your visit or event, and enjoy The View, for the latest news and updates from the College!

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