Minor in Legal Reasoning and Analysis
Legal Reasoning and Analysis (LRA) is an interdisciplinary minor in Baylor’s College of Arts & Sciences designed to foster development of skills that form a solid foundation for a legal education. The minor is built on guidance from the American Bar Association (ABA) in its "Statement on Pre-Law Preparation."
Although the ABA echoes the guidance of law schools and legal employers that no particular undergraduate curriculum is required for entrance to law school, the ABA does identify a set of core skills and values that a student must develop to be successful in law school and in the legal profession:
- Problem Solving
- Critical Reading
- Writing and Editing
- Oral Communication and Listening
- Research
- Organization and Management
- Public Service and Promotion of Justice
- Relationship-building and Collaboration
- Background Knowledge and Exposure to the Law
The aim of the LRA minor is provide a framework for developing these skills. However, Pre-Law students at Baylor are not required to minor in LRA, nor are students in the LRA minor required to carry either the 'Pre-Law' or 'Pre-Law Interest' designation. Some Pre-Law students may choose to gain the skills necessary for law school in other ways, while some students who are not pre-law may choose to minor in LRA to better understand how the law and principles of legal reasoning impact their chosen vocational fields. The university “pre-law" designation and the LRA minor are separate and must be added to your academic record separately.
If you have questions about adding the university “pre-law" designation or general questions about law-school preparation and how the LRA minor might fit with your pre-law plan, contact Baylor Pre-Law at prelaw@baylor.edu.