Law
Bachelor of Arts
Taking law school classes as an undergraduate provides a strong foundation for a career in law. Many students have described this practical and popular program as one of the best educational experiences available.
From finance to social work to government, there is an increasing demand for professionals with legal training in a wide variety of fields. The Bachelor of Arts in Law degree – a first-of-its-kind program available exclusively at the University of Arizona – provides training in critical skills that increase employability across multiple professions. It will teach you to "think like a lawyer" when solving problems and to make clear, logical arguments.
You will receive a core legal education taught by top law school professors in areas such as contracts, criminal and civil procedure, property, torts, and administrative law. Launch your career early with a legal internship, or qualify for an accelerated path to law school. This program offers many opportunities for networking, mentorship, interdisciplinary study, and specializing in a particular area of study or double major to pair with law.
Cost & Eligibility
Wondering about the specific classes you can take in this program? See the course descriptions below.
LAW 451: Introduction to Public International Law - This course on public international law will introduce subjects including the use of force and allies, terrorism, principal organizations, concepts of sovereignty, treaties, climate change, statehood and territoriality, mitigating world poverty, the bases for jurisdiction, and state responsibility. The course will also explore international human rights, environmental law and economic law.
LAW 454: Environmental Law and Policy - This is a foundational course in environmental law and regulatory policy. The course will focus on the concepts underlying approaches to protecting the environment, using the common law and various environmental statutes primarily as examples of the different approaches to environmental protection.
POL 309: The Judicial Process – This course will dive into analyzing the structure, function, and processes of the "third branch" of the American government; the judicial system and process.
POL 470: Constitutional Law: Federalism - This course focuses on the development and analysis of constitutional law of the U.S.; problems of distribution of powers.
LAW 401: Procedure - This course explores the legal process and procedures followed in our systems of civil and criminal justice. Topics include the components of due process, the adversarial system, stages of a case, and the roles of attorneys, judges, prosecutors, and professional ethics, and the core elements of civil and criminal procedure.
Law 453: Immigration Law and Policy - This course will introduce students to the basic legal and administrative structure of the U.S. immigration system. We will consider how the law determines who may enter the country lawfully, what rights immigrants have once in the country, and on what grounds they can be forced to leave and return to their home countries. As the class progresses, we will build on this legal framework to consider several of the policy debates regarding immigration that currently embroil the nation.
Skills
Earning your Bachelor of Arts in Law will build core skills, including:
- high-level research and writing
- composing legal or policy briefs and papers
- critical thinking
- analysis of complex ideas
- evaluating data
- persuasion and presentation
The BA in Law curriculum prepares you for a wide variety of careers, both directly with the legal profession and in the many fields involving law, regulation, negotiation, advocacy and risk management.
Although many BA in Law students go on to law school and a career as a lawyer, many other career paths are available. Typical careers that BA in Law graduates pursue include (but are not limited to):
- legislative and regulatory affairs analysts
- paralegals and litigation analysts
- human resources representatives
- compliance officers
- federal, state, and local law enforcement officers
- real estate and business professionals
- mediators
- educators
- public relations officers
- court personnel
- probation and parole officers
- policy analysts
- non-governmental organization and nonprofit advocates
- foreign service officers and related personnel
- legal translators
- loan officers
- insurance underwriters and claims adjusters
- anti-money laundering analysts
- contract administrators
- tribal affairs specialists
Dive into a Bachelor of Arts in Law
Graduates of this program know how to think like a lawyer. You will gain a core legal education, including the knowledge and skills to pursue related careers in contracts, criminal and civil procedure, property, torts, and administrative law.
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Careers in Law, Politics, Government and Beyond
The BA in Law offers a rare opportunity for undergraduates to pursue rigorous legal training. Graduate Amanda Higby shares details about the program and what it is like to be a part-time student while working full time.
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BA in Law
From finance to social work to government, there is an increasing demand for professionals with legal training in a wide variety of fields. The Bachelor of Arts in Law degree — a first-of-its-kind program available exclusively at the University of Arizona — provides training in critical skills that increase employability across multiple professions.
