Arts & Sciences (With Major)/Law Degree 3+3 Program
Discover accelerated pathways to health-related careers for ambitious achievers ready to make an impact.
College of Arts & Sciences | On-Campus
Program Options
As an undergrad, you’ll benefit from life-changing internships and mentoring. As a law student, you can tap into Drake’s deep connections to the bench and bar. Our Arts & Sciences/Law 3+3 program puts you in the position to take the next step in your career.
Arts & Sciences/Law 3+3 Program
This six-year program guarantees an intensely personal experience that transitions from the College of Arts and Sciences’ small, immersive classes to the Law School, known for a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Even with the program’s accelerated nature, you’ll have the ability to participate in internships, study-abroad opportunities, research, and other campus activities that set a Drake education apart.
Meet the Faculty
Across our schools and colleges, Drake faculty are more than experts. They’re also skilled practitioners who bring diverse professional perspectives into the classroom and participate in research and public service.
Mark Kende
Director of the Constitutional Law Center; James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law; Professor of Law
Outside the Classroom
Every day at Drake, students put theory into action. You’ll start as an undergraduate, conducting research and interning for companies in Des Moines and beyond. This foundation serves you well as you begin your J.D., where you’ll have the opportunity to assist clients, advance legal scholarship, and participate in trials.
Law Specializations
Connect your undergraduate studies with over a dozen different legal specializations, including agricultural law, business/corporate law, children and family law, civil litigation, constitutional law, or social justice.
Internships
Drake’s community and industry relationships offer an inside track to an abundance of internships. These connections let you explore your passions in the real world from day one and help you secure placements with Iowa’s attorney general, private practices, and other legal organizations as you pursue a J.D.
Research
Across all disciplines, Drake faculty seek to understand and shape our world through the research they conduct, and students are encouraged to be part of the discovery process. In addition to creating new knowledge, Arts and Sciences students learn vital skills for representing their future clients.
First-Year Trial Practicum
See a jury trial close up from start to finish and ask questions of participants—a one-of-a-kind experience offered by no other U.S. law school.
Constitutional Law Center
This center, one of four established by Congress, attracts leading constitutional scholars to campus for lectures and symposiums on of-the-moment topics such as race, religion, criminal justice, and free speech.
Student Organizations
Drake gives you ample ways to make connections and prepare for a career in the courtroom. Start with our array of student groups and volunteer opportunities before proving your defense skills on the Law School’s respected mock trial and moot court teams.
Careers & Skills
Drake Law School students go far: when you graduate, you’ll join a network of 6,000 alumni who serve clients around the globe.
Drake is home to one of the 25 oldest law schools in the nation, and few of our competitors have a track record as long—or as illustrious—as ours. In 2024, 94% of our graduates found positions requiring or preferring a J.D. The average three-year pass rate for the bar exam is 86%—far above the national average.
Employers
- U.S. Department of Justice
- Jones Day
- Adobe Inc.
- Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office
Skills
- How to think critically, analytically, and creatively
- Legal theory with practical experience
- Research techniques for legal research
- Job-ready skills through internships
- Legal writing
- Communication skills
Salary & Growth Outlook
Median salary for lawyers in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Take the Next Step
Studying the liberal arts will make you a more creative and agile thinker and communicator—essential skills for analyzing documents and defending future clients. Learn about the Arts & Sciences/Law 3+3 program.
