The law & policy major investigates the laws and policies governing our collective lives, both within the United States and in a broader global context. This interdisciplinary major draws from the fields of economics, sociology, political science, religion, philosophy, environmental studies and others as students develop an understanding of how institutions operate in the application of the law. 

Law & policy majors have the opportunity to take courses and hone their skills in a number of areas, including the following:

  • Constitutional law
  • National security law
  • International law
  • Crime, criminal law and punishment
  • Legal advocacy
  • Social and political equality
  • Human rights
  • Legal ethics

Majors also have the opportunity to develop robust relationships with faculty (sometimes with co-authoring opportunities), county judges and legal practitioners (both offering intern opportunities) and other legal advocates as students discover, study, compete (via mock trial and moot court teams) and intern in various areas of the law.

Contact Info

Chair

James M. HoeflerProfessor, Political Science

Department Coordinator

Maria RitchieAcademic Department Coordinator

Phone

717-245-1280

Fax

717-245-1479

Location

219A, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features


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Study Abroad
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Current Courses
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Law at Dickinson

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs

  • Boston University Law Libraries
  • Teach for America
  • The  GMS Group, LLC
  • Freundlich & Littman, LLC
  • TransPerfect Legal Solutions
  • Oaktree Development
  • AmeriCorps/Vista
  • Forry Ullman, Attorneys at Law
  • Cambridge Associates LLC
  • NBC Universal, Inc.
  • U.S. Congress
  • University Physicians' Association, Inc.
  • Wiley Rein LLP
  • Gerson Lehrman Group
  • Lincoln Financial Group
  • Insight Global
  • General Dynamics Corp

Grad schools

  • Boston University School of Law
  • Penn State Dickinson School of Law
  • University of Notre Dame Law School
  • American University
  • University of Chicago
  • London School of Economics
  • Widener Commonwealth School of Law
  • Columbia University Law School
  • New York Law School
  • Duke University Law School
  • University of Virginia Law School
  • George Washington University Law School
  • William & Mary Law School
  • New York University
Where Our Students Have Interned
  • Associated Industries of Massachusetts
  • Bracewell & Giuliani
  • Cumberland Country Prison
  • Cumberland County Courthouse
  • Department of Homeland Security Cyber Policy Office
  • General Dynamics Land Systems
  • Harford County Department of Law
  • Kenneth Vercammen & Associates, PC Law Office
  • Legal Aid Society
  • Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas
  • Maine Republican Party
  • Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender
  • Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office
  • State Administration of Taxation, Baling Municipal Office
  • U.S. Army War College - Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
  • United States Department of State
  • US Department of Labor
  • Volunteer Lawyers Project

Student Perspective

“Dickinson gave me the analytical tools, academic abilities, faculty connections and overall support that I needed to tackle my law school admissions cycle. Without the courses, research opportunities and extracurricular involvement I was able to participate in during my time at Dickinson, I never would have gotten here.”

—Tommy Kozdron ’18, now at the University of Notre Dame Law School


Law & Policy News

All News Department News
Dickinson College Hosts Virtual Discussion on COVID Vaccine Development

Dickinson College Hosts Virtual Discussion on COVID Vaccine Development

Paul Duprex, distinguished molecular virologist and vaccine designer, will discuss COVID-19 vaccine development in a virtual talk from Dickinson's Clarke Forum.

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Dickinson College to Host Virtual Lecture on Immigration Imprisonment

Dickinson College to Host Virtual Lecture on Immigration Imprisonment

César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, law professor and expert in criminal and immigration law, will discuss the history of the immigration-imprisonment system in the U.S.

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Dickinson College to Host Virtual Panel on Race and Policing

Dickinson College to Host Virtual Panel on Race and Policing

Dickinson College will host a panel of experts to examine race and policing in America.

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Luke Bernstein

Luke Bernstein '01 Speaks at Small Business Meeting in Oval Office

Dickinsonian attends White House meeting to discuss federal Paycheck Protection Program.

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Dickinson College to Host Talk on Responding to Sexual Violence in Religious Communities

Renowned theologian, ethicist and expert in responding to clergy misbehavior Marie Fortune will give the annual Wesley Lecture at Dickinson.

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Serving Underserved Communities

Serving Underserved Communities

Former political science and policy studies major Chris Neary ’06 uses skills honed on Capitol Hill to aid organizations improving underserved communities.

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