The Legal Studies programs at Montclair State University began in 1989 as a minor in prelaw and have evolved over the years adding an M.A. in Legal Studies in 1994 and a major in Jurisprudence in 2006. All Legal Studies programs are firmly rooted in the traditions of liberal arts education. The Legal Studies programs moved to the Department of Political Science and Law in the Fall of 2007 where they are enhanced by the global perspective of political science.

The Legal Studies curriculum prepares students for the highly competitive world of law by immersing them in critical thinking and analysis, legal and social science theory, conflict management, research methods, problem solving, and writing. All courses reflect the rich tradition of Anglo-American law and the applied wisdom of modern American legal theory.

Legal Studies supports general education courses in order to lead students to an understanding of the impact of law in modern society and role of lawmakers, practitioners, and citizens. Students are prepared for a variety of law-related careers through rigorous courses of study which accentuate the interdisciplinary nature of law and provide a sound theoretical foundation for advanced study.

The Department of Legal Studies offers Montclair State students state of the art education in the areas of Jurisprudence, Pre-Law or in the Master of Arts in Legal Studies. The Pre-Law Program is a minor which may be combined with many diverse majors on campus. The Master of Arts, with concentrations in Dispute Resolution, Governance, Compliance, & Regulation, Legal Management, Information, & Technology and Intellectual Property, is offered as a career enhancement degree for non-lawyer professionals in the legal field. Many of our master's level graduates are executives, directors, and managers in government, private non-profits, and multi-national corporations.

Dr. William Berlin is Chair of the Department of Political Science in which the Legal Studies programs are supported. Dr Marilyn Tayler is university pre-law advisor, the coordinator of the Jurisprudence Program and coordinator of the prelaw minor. Professor Jack Baldwin LeClair is the Deputy Chair for Law Programs and the Director of the M.A. in Legal Studies. Dr. Barbara Nagle is advisor for the Dispute Resolution concentration in the M.A. program.

The Web site was updated in March 2007, For any Suggestions or Comments, please contact the Webmaster.