Admissions & Financial Aid

Honors Program

 

Valparaiso University School of Law is not just a school of law. It is an educational experience. Through our truly personal manner of teaching; enduring core competencies; and exceptional legal research and writing program our students master the foundations of the law, explore interdisciplinary connections, develop accurate philosophical views on the law, and polish their professional skills. The Honors Program is designed to further enhance a students experience at Valparaiso and to produce uncommon lawyers.

The Honors Program provides an honors college environment for a select group of students and prepares them for federal judicial clerkships, careers with high prestige employers, competitive positions with leading government and public service organizations, as well as further graduate programs that can lead to academic careers. The Honors Program is designed to produce lawyers who are highly marketable due to their advanced writing, research, client counseling, and analytical skills, which makes them exceptionally prepared to practice law.

Selection to the Valparaiso University School of Law Honors Program is one of the highest honors one can achieve. There are only thirty-five honors students chosen from each first-year class. Based upon their first semester performance, a group of students will be invited to apply to the Program and selections, following an interview, will be based upon their leadership skills, writing skills, recommendations and academic accomplishments. A few additional students may be selected at the end of their first year.

Honors students will be specifically assisted to obtain federal judge clerkships and other prestigious jobs beginning with the summer after their first year of law school. In addition, select courses and special sections are created for honors students such as a special Constitutional Law II course, a special section of a perspective course or Legal Profession, and a third-year Honors Seminar. Honors students are also offered the opportunity to serve as Honors Research Fellows, research assistants to law faculty for projects calling for high-level research assistance.

Honors students will receive significant academic advising beginning with their second semester of law school and a member of the Career Planning staff will be designated to work with honors students regarding prestigious judicial clerkships and other extern opportunities and their academic careers. Further, special opportunities will be made available for honors students to interact with leading alumni as well as visiting lectures. In short, the program is geared to helping each Honors student achieve his or her career goals.