JMC students study politics, policy, history, law, culture, economics and international affairs through a curriculum that emphasizes discussion, intensive faculty interaction, analytical writing and critical thinking. Those experiences help students practice the habits that matter in law school: reading complex texts, evaluating arguments, writing with precision, speaking clearly and understanding how institutions shape public life.
You do not need to major in “pre-law” to apply to law school. The American Bar Association does not recommend a specific undergraduate major, and students are admitted to law school from many academic disciplines. What matters is building a strong academic record and developing the reading, writing, reasoning and communication skills that legal education demands.
JMC is a strong fit for students who want a rigorous liberal arts education focused on public affairs, government, justice, policy, international relations and civic life.
For many JMC graduates, law school is the next step. The college's emphasis on analytical writing, critical thinking and the study of public affairs provides a foundation for students pursuing legal education and a range of other professional paths.
Among JMC's Class of 2025, nearly one-third of graduates pursued continuing education after graduation. Of those students, 59% were pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Put another way, roughly one in five JMC Class of 2025 graduates were pursuing a JD after graduation, based on the reported share continuing education and the share of that group pursuing law.
JMC’s field experience requirement helps students apply classroom learning to real-world public affairs challenges. The internship pathway is the most common way students fulfill this requirement, and JMC internships are designed to place students in decision-making roles or close enough to observe decision-making processes intelligently.
Where JMC students interested in law intern:
2026 Internship with Secrest Wardle Law Firm in Troy, MI
2026 Internship with Legal Resource Center in Cape Town, South Africa
2026 Internship with Miller Cohen P.L.C. in Detroit, MI
What were some of your regular responsibilities during your internship? I regularly had the opportunity to shadow attorneys and other legal professionals while assisting with high-stakes cases. Some of my responsibilities included filing legal documents through the firm's e-filing system and ensuring they were properly organized. I was also tasked with reviewing, recording and documenting deposition summaries and court proceedings. In addition, I helped maintain our team's legal files by verifying information and tracking down missing documents to ensure that records were accurate and up to date.
Which skills from JMC showed up most clearly in your internship? Critical thinking and communication, especially in high-intensity moments within the firm. Being able to carefully review complex legal documents and make sure everything was accurate required a great deal of attention to detail and critical thinking. Strong communication was also important when working with attorneys and other members of the team to ensure information was organized correctly and tasks were completed efficiently.
What were some of your regular responsibilities during the internship? I worked in the land rights department and my day-to-day tasks included climate research and drafting memorandums. Along with these responsibilities I would also assist in immigration court for walk-in clients.
What kind of legal issues or public problems did your internship focus on? We focus on class action suits that vary between land rights, digital literacy, education, immigration and food rights.
Which skills from JMC showed up most clearly in your internship? Critical thinking skills and my previous research skills showed through a lot in my internship.
What were some of your regular responsibilities during your internship? I worked alongside Richard Mack to analyze past arbitration cases and assess arbitrators’ interpretations of the collective bargaining agreement between Local 223 of the Utility Workers Union and DTE Energy. Additionally, I assisted attorneys and paralegals with legal research to support case development and strengthen representation of utility workers in labor and employment matters.
What kind of public affairs issues or problems did your internship focus on? The main focus was on labor relations and advocating for workers facing disputes with their employers. My work centered on protecting employees’ rights, addressing workplace conflicts and supporting attorneys through legal research related to labor and employment matters.
Which JMC skills showed up most clearly in your internship? The close-reading and policy analysis skills I developed throughout my PTCD coursework. Through analyzing the works of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke and Tocqueville, I have learned how to interpret complex texts and evaluate their broader implications. These skills have directly supported my current work by allowing me to analyze arbitration cases and better understand the issues laborers face within Collective Bargaining Agreements with employers.