
The Law & Policy Program is a concentration that blends students’ academic goals and preparation in international and domestic law and policy with on-going opportunities in career education, internships, study away, civic learning, and community programming.
The Program in Law and Policy provides opportunities for students to explore law and policy from theory to practice. Through integrated courses and collaborative learning experiences including campus and community workshops, lectures, and internship opportunities, students are able to engage public policy and learn how policies emerge, are implemented, evaluated, and changed.
In collaboration with the Political Science Department, the Law & Policy Program integrates students’ academic coursework with issues, activities, and opportunities for pre-professional development in areas of great public importance.
How it Works
Once you have been accepted into the Program, you are responsible for working with the Center for Political Participation (CPP) Student Fellows to track and document – via reflective entries in your portfolio – progress through the L&P Program.
CPP Student Fellows will be your peer leaders, working alongside faculty and administrators to ensure that you have a successful and rewarding experience with the Law & Policy Program.
To complete the concentration in Law & Policy, you must accumulate and document 120 “points.” Different activities and experiences carry different values. You will work with Program coordinators and CPP Fellows to identify experiences that count towards the concentration.
Sample Law and Policy Program Activities*
- Robert H. Jackson Center event (5 points)
- L&P approved Internship (20 points)
- ACRoSS /Independent Research/Senior Project with L&P focus (20 points)
- Study Away with L&P focus (20 points)
- Quigley Town Hall (5 points)
- Workshop/Speaker/Performance/Film (5 points)
- Student Government, Campus Newspaper (5 through 20 points/position)
- Pre-Law/Grad School/National Fellowship Events and Advising (5 points)
- Career Education Events (5 points)
- Linked Courses and Senior Comprehensive Project (20 points each, no more than 60 total)
- For Example: A student may count 2 courses plus their senior comprehensive project for a total of 60 points OR 3 courses and no senior comprehensive project for a total of 60 points.
*This is not an exhaustive list, see below for past events.
Students in the Law & Policy Program develop portfolios that serve to document your progress through the Program. For example, complete portfolios would include such items as personal statements for law school and grad school applications, awards, reflection papers on workshops, independent research, study away, civic engagement courses and programs, coursework, senior projects, and other items that reflect your developing interests in law and policy. Completed portfolios will be submitted in April of your senior year to a review committee of faculty and administrators. At that point, an exit interview is scheduled, the portfolio is evaluated, and the concentration in Law & Policy is granted.
The Endeavor Foundation Awards $248,070 Grant to Allegheny College Law & Policy Program
The Endeavor Foundation has awarded a $248,070 grant to Allegheny College to support the college’s Law & Policy Program, which provides opportunities for students to explore law and policy from theory to practice.
Introducing Law & Policy: Global Affairs Focus
The Global Affairs focus in the Law & Policy Program is open to students who seek to explore possible career paths as well as academic interests that reflect international law and policy themes. Global Affairs programming has included study away opportunities, internships, the International Humanitarian Law Dialogues, foreign service career workshops, short courses, senior projects, Quigley Town Halls, and many other opportunities that focus on international law and global challenges.
Apply Now
PLEASE NOTE: To access the application, make sure your internet browser is Google Chrome and you are logged into your Allegheny email account.
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact us, or a CPP Fellow. For prospective and current students, check out our Admissions webinar that highlights all aspects of the Law and Policy program in a live setting! Click here for the webinar.










Voting Rights Symposium (2015) at Jackson Center
On May 5, 2015, the Robert H. Jackson Center located in Jamestown N.Y., hosted a symposium entitled “Reflections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965”. The panelists included Reuben Ortenberg, David Lollis and, by video, Robert Fine. It was led by the Center’s co-founder Greg Peterson. For further information see roberthjackson.org.



