The legal system touches every part of modern life: from the courtroom to Congress, from community policing to the nonprofit boardroom. Thomas Jefferson University’s Bachelor of Science in Law & Society (BS) prepares you to understand how law, policy, and justice intersect, and equips you with the practical skills to build a career that matches your ambitions.
Choose from three concentrations designed to align your interests with a clear professional path: Pre-Law, Criminal Justice, or Public Policy. Each track is grounded in a shared foundation of legal reasoning, ethical analysis, and real-world application, and leads to career opportunities.
You won’t be a face in a lecture hall. In small, interactive classes, our faculty learn your name, your goals, and your work, and they will encourage your progress through the program and beyond. That kind of mentorship is hard to find and impossible to replicate at a larger school.
Some of our students go straight to law school. Others move into public service, law enforcement, government, nonprofits, or policy work. The Law & Society major is built so every one of those paths begins in the same place: a rigorous legal education; a portfolio of practical experience; and the kind of writing, speaking, and reasoning skills employers and graduate programs look for.
The Law & Society major examines how society and institutions operate, and how law shapes them. We draw on sociology, criminology, psychology, ethics, economics, history, and political science to make sense of legal systems and their effects. You’ll learn to debate effectively, weigh evidence rigorously, and examine how law affects social justice and human rights in both American and international contexts.
Students and their families consistently tell us they appreciate being at a campus that feels like a college, while in a city to help open professional doors. Jefferson’s East Falls campus is green, walkable, and welcoming, with the resources of Philadelphia near at hand. State and federal courthouses, a thriving nonprofit sector, city and regional government, law enforcement agencies, and one of the country’s densest concentrations of law schools are all within easy reach for internships, networking, and career opportunities.
For students on the law school track, we don’t leave the LSAT to chance. Structured LSAT preparation is woven into the curriculum, and our students’ admissions results speak for themselves.
Step into the courtroom — figuratively and literally. Our mock trial and moot court programs develop the advocacy, public speaking, and quick-thinking skills that matter whether you’re heading to law school, a policy hearing, or a community board meeting.
Our student-produced podcast puts you on the other side of the microphone — researching, interviewing experts, and communicating complex issues to a real audience. It’s an attention-getter on resumes and graduate applications, and great training for any career built on persuasion.
Philadelphia’s legal, government, and nonprofit communities aren’t just nearby — they’re accessible. Internships and experiential learning opportunities put you in professional settings while you’re still a student, and the relationships you build often outlast graduation.
All three concentrations sit inside the same major, with significant crossover and flexibility built in. Pick the track that matches your goals and borrow from the others when your interests cross lines.
Our Pre-Law concentration is built around the analytical, writing, and reasoning skills that law school admissions committees and the LSAT demand. Jefferson Pre-Law students have a strong track record of admission to respected law schools, and you’ll understand why: Our curriculum is designed with this outcome in mind.
Signature coursework includes Civil Law and Moot Court, with embedded LSAT preparation and argumentation practice. Faculty mentorship extends through the application process — and beyond.
Common careers:
From law enforcement and corrections to investigation and victim advocacy, the criminal justice system needs professionals who understand both the big picture and the human stakes. Our Criminal Justice concentration prepares you for a wide range of careers in a field evolving fast and looking for graduates who can think critically about policy, equity, and public safety.
You’ll study the criminal justice system in action, including crime scene investigation, the gathering of forensic evidence, and its admissibility in court. You’ll also study theories of law enforcement and explore reform efforts reshaping the field, and build practical skills for careers in local, state, and federal law enforcement, including agencies such as the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Secret Service.
Signature coursework includes Forensic Law and Criminal Investigation, alongside core work in crime, justice, and constitutional frameworks.
Common careers:
The best advocates and elected leaders are the ones who understand how the system works. The Public Policy concentration is designed for students who want to make a difference through government, politics, nonprofit organizations, or grassroots advocacy. You’ll study how law and policy are created, written, enforced, and implemented, and how to be a successful part of that process.
Whether you see yourself drafting legislation, running campaigns, managing nonprofits, lobbying, or organizing at the community level, this track gives you the skills to move from caring about an issue to changing outcomes. The concentration is intentionally flexible, letting you focus on the issues and sectors that matter most to you: housing and education policy, environmental justice, public health, immigration, and beyond.
Signature coursework includes International Law, Speech- and Policy-Writing, and Public Policy in American History, plus strong preparation for graduate programs such as the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, international affairs, or law.
Common careers:
A Law & Society degree from Jefferson should be measured by what it lets you do next. Our graduates go on to top law schools, federal agencies, statehouses, city halls, advocacy organizations, and corporate compliance roles. Our alums also tell us what mattered most was the writing, the speaking, the analysis, and the faculty who kept coaching them toward their professional goals.
Hear firsthand from our students — Kristopher Giangreco, Kalomira Simatos, Liana Muniz, and Isabelle Whitten — about what makes the program stand out: small classes, a close-knit community, diverse perspectives, and professors who challenge them.
The Law & Society program at Jefferson really gave me a head start in my career. What made it stand out was how many different subjects I got to study — the mix helped me learn to look at problems from different angles and think through the best way to solve them.
Law & Society program director Evan Laine explores the significance of conspiracy theories.
