Hartwick College alumni and students during Moot Court event

Welcome to Hartwick Legal Studies

WHY STUDY LEGAL STUDIES AT HARTWICK?

You’re interested in how the law works inside and outside the courtroom. You want to help craft public policy, work in corporate relations or pursue a career in politics.

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Here’s why our legal studies program stands out:

Sharpen your expertise in civil rights, international law or philosophy of law.
Discover opportunities to participate in local and state government through the Institute for Public Service.
Gear up for law school, graduate school or a career in government and policy-making.

WHERE WILL YOUR LEGAL STUDIES MINOR TAKE YOU?

A Career:

Christina Graziadei ’16 works for Hinman Howard and Kattel in Binghamton, N.Y., where she focuses on business, corporate and securities law, and not-for-profit corporations and foundations.

Hannah Pettis ’21, now a law intern in Washington County, N.Y., gained valuable experience during the summer of 2022 as an intern with the New York Attorney General’s Office in White Plains, N.Y., where she contributed to the Organized Crime Task Force Bureau.

Adam J. Gomes-Abreu ’17 is a member of the Hartwick Alumni Board and an associate in the litigation department at Paul Hastings LLC. As a student, he participated in the NY State Assembly Semester Internship Program and worked on congressional campaigns.

Pair a Legal Studies Minor With:

political science to enhance your understanding of how laws and policies are shaped in government systems.
business administration to tackle legal compliance issues that support your company’s operations.
criminal justice to delve into the application of law for both criminals and victims.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Build a solid foundation with courses in policy analysis, legal writing and research.
Expand your expertise with electives in white-collar crime, computer security and ethics. Then, sharpen your skills in mock trial classes.
Get involved in Student Government, Model United Nations and the Pre-Law Club.
Explore international law with J Term courses in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Gain hands-on experience through internships with local courts, attorneys and judges, corporate law firms or campus professionals tackling DEIB and Title IX cases.

Hartwick College student representatives during Student Government meeting

Pre-Law Club & Student Government

Join the Pre-Law Club and take field trips to observe law professionals in Binghamton and Albany, or take on a role in Student Government (SGA) to bring your classmates’ voices to the forefront.

Hartwick College alumna New York State Assembly Member and attorney Jen Lunsford '04

Institute for Public Service

Be part of the Institute for Public Service and discover opportunities to participate in local and state government, assist with voter turn-out drives, and hear from guest speakers who are active in the legal fields.

Hartwick College alumnus Charles S. Crow ’72, J.D., discusses Justice, Philanthropy, and Luck: Fighting to Free “The Convicted Innocent”

J Term & Internships

J Term opportunities in Europe, Asia and Africa will help you understand the role of international law, and internships with local courts, lawyers and judges, corporate law firms, even assisting campus professionals with DEIB and Title IX cases give you a chance to put your skills to the test.

INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

The Hartwick College Institute of Public Service is dedicated to strengthening democracy across the region by serving as a hub of collaboration and innovation between state and local government, and through civic engagement and legal studies.

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