Frank D. Upchurch, Sr., Endowed Pre-Law Program
The Frank D. Upchurch, Sr., Endowed Pre-Law Program at Flagler College gives students the rigorous undergraduate preparation needed to master law school’s academic requirements. The Pre-Law Program is named in honor of Frank D. Upchurch, Sr., by his family and friends as an enduring memorial to commemorate his contributions to the legal profession, St. Augustine, and the State of Florida. He served as City Commissioner and Mayor of St. Augustine, as a Representative to the Florida House of Representatives, and as a member of the Florida Senate. He was alos an ardent preservationist and helped establish the St. Augustine Restoration Commission to help preserve, restore, and interpret colonial St. Augustine for future generations.
The Pre-Law Program is intended to provide a competitive opportunity for students to gain acceptance into a prestigious law school. The skills needed for law school are those that all undergraduate students should pursue. These skills include the ability to reason logically and think critically, the capacity to solve problems given specific factual situations, the ability to write and speak with clarity, precision, and style. The Pre-Law Department welcomes and values diversity, and our students will benefit from the exchange of ideas and different points of view that your colleagues bring to the classroom.
Central features of the Pre-law Program include Law Forums; visits to area law schools; visits by law school Deans of Admission, judges, and attorneys; attendance at courtroom trial proceedings; mock LSAT exams; student meetings on topics related to preparation for law school and the legal profession; and the computer-assisted legal research service known as Westlaw. It is recommended that Pre-law students enroll in an LSAT preparatory course during the junior year and/or follow the LSAT preparatory guidelines established by the Pre-Law Director. Our program offers a pass/fail course to assist in your LSAT preparation.
General Requirements: Students who wish to complete the Pre-Law Program must satisfy the following conditions:
- Pursue and complete a major within the field of their choice;
- Pursue and complete a required curriculum of seven law courses;
- Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 by the end of the senior year;
- Attend courtroom trial proceedings under the direction of the Pre-Law Director;
- Attend a minimum of two Law Program events during each academic year;
- Complete an LSAT preparatory program or take our Legal Strategies course offered each academic year; and
- Complete at least four semesters as a full-time student at Flagler College
Course Requirements: A total of 21 credit hours is needed to complete the course requirements. LAW 470, PHI 223, and LAW 419 are required courses for the minor. For one of the seven required LAW courses, a student may substitute any law course from another discipline. The Pre-Law Program Director must approve this course substitution. A total of 21 credit hours are needed to earn the minor.
