Starting this fall, students majoring in criminology & criminal justice, history, international studies, or political science at Niagara University will be able to fast-track their law degrees, thanks to memorandums of understanding signed with the University at Buffalo School of Law and the St. John’s University School of Law. The 3+3 Accelerated Bachelor’s–J.D. program will allow Niagara students who meet program requirements to be eligible for admission to these law schools after just three years at Niagara.

Students in the 3+3 program have the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree from Niagara University and a juris doctor degree from either the University at Buffalo or St. John’s University in six years rather than the traditional seven, saving both time and tuition. Program participants who are accepted into UB or St. John’s law schools will complete their junior year at Niagara and, upon successful completion of their first-year law school curriculum, will be able to transfer the course credits they earned to Niagara to complete their bachelor’s degree.

Niagara University also offers a pre-law advisement program (open to all majors) to help students successfully navigate the path to law school or other law-related careers. Niagara’s pre-law program offers students opportunities to learn about the law and develop legal skills through courses, internships, moot court competitions, law school visits, academic research, and one-on-one advisement. Each year, Niagara’s pre-law program sponsors a trip to Washington, D.C., where students attend oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Niagara’s pre-law advisement program has a proven track record of helping students gain admission to many of the nation’s top law schools—including Harvard, Columbia, the University of Virginia, Georgetown, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Boston University, George Washington, Boston College, Ohio State, William and Mary, Penn State, Syracuse, the University at Buffalo, and St. John’s, among many others.

For more information on the 3+3 Accelerated B.A.–J.D. program, or the pre-law advisement program, contact pre-law advisor Kevin Hinkley at khinkley@niagara.edu.