Pre-Law
Jurisprudence, Justice, and the American Legal System
From Capitol Hill to the county courthouse, the workings of law in American society have shaped, and continue to shape, our way of life. The Pre-Law Track of Summer Scholars will expose students to the many facets of the American legal system. The groundwork for this exciting track will be laid in the exploration of the United States Constitution, as well as current legal issues. Students will participate in an active investigation of the court system, from both a civil and criminal law perspective, while exploring rules of evidence.
Through a combination of class lectures delivered by dynamic instructors and expert guest lecturers, the class will also investigate various areas of substantive law, including tort law, Constitutional law, criminal law, and federal anti-discrimination laws.
After students have actively engaged in discussions regarding the various components of the justice system, the students will become the judge and jury! In its final days, everyone participating in the track will be given the opportunity to put their newly acquired knowledge in practice by taking part in a mock trial!
The Pre-Law Track is team-taught by two Notre Dame faculty members who are both Notre Dame law school alums and who teach law to undergraduate and graduate students in the Mendoza College of Business, as well as by a variety of guest lecturers. The track is delivered through a combination of classroom lectures, discussions, team projects, student presentations, field trips, and a mock trial.
Preliminary Schedule
Week 1
Monday a.m.
Introduction to Law;
Constitutional Law
Monday p.m.
Introduction to Court Systems
Tuesday a.m.
Introduction to Civil Law; Introduction to Tort Law;
Mock Trial Teams Announced; Rules of Evidence;
Tour of Law School and Law School Library
Tuesday p.m.
Introduction to Civil Procedure
Wednesday a.m.
Introduction to Criminal Law
Guest Lecturer: Law Enforcement Representative
Wednesday p.m.
Visit St. Joseph County State Court House (Meet State Court Judge)
Thursday a.m.
Visit to South Bend Federal Court House
Thursday p.m.
Mock Trial Team Preparations
Friday a.m.
Current Events
Friday p.m.
Landmark Legal Cases
Week 2
Monday
Trip to Chicago
(Visit Federal Court House and Watch Federal Court Proceeding)
Tuesday a.m.
Mock Trial Preparation
Tuesday p.m.
Corporate Law
Wednesday
Tournament of Champions: A Match of Legal Knowledge
Thursday a.m.
Final Mock Trial Preparation
Thursday p.m.
Mock Trial
Friday a.m.
First Amendment; Anti-Discrimination Law Colleges;
Law School and Legal Careers
Academic Directors
Margot Cleveland received her B.S. in Business Administration from Marquette University, majoring in accounting, and in 1992 she graduated summa cum laude from the Notre Dame Law School. That same year she passed the CPA exam, and is certified in the State of Illinois. Margot was also admitted to the Illinois State Bar, the Northern District of Illinois Bar, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Bar. Before returning to Notre Dame, Margot practiced in the commercial litigation department of a 200-attorney Chicago law firm and served as a law clerk for a federal appellate judge. In 1995, Margot rejoined the Notre Dame faculty to teach in the Mendoza College of Business. She was awarded the Frank O’Malley Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998, and in 2002 and 2006 she received a Kaneb Teaching Award. She currently teaches graduate students in the Mendoza College of Business.
James O’Brien has been involved with the legal arena most of his adult life. After matriculating summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1988, Jamie served a variety of clients as a CPA in Northern Indiana. In 1990, Jamie returned to the Golden Dome to study law and graduated, summa cum laude, in 1993.
Since graduating from Notre Dame Law School, Jamie has taught a variety of law-related classes, including: Business Law, Advanced Business Law, Not-For-Profit Law, Business Law for Managers, and Executive Business Law. Jamie has also lectured and presented extensively on business law and tax related topics. Jamie’s professional pursuits have further included practice for five (5) years with Indiana’s largest law firm and two (2) years as a deputy prosecutor before returning to private practice in an individual capacity.
Jamie, in addition to being a two-time graduate of the University, is an avid Notre Dame football fan and regularly requires his four (4) children to watch ND football games from start to finish.
University of Notre Dame