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°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ Center for Law, Justice & Policy logo

Center for Law, Justice, & Policy

The Center for Law, Justice, and Policy focuses on enriching undergraduate education through research collaboration and community outreach. Our mission is to integrate students into a network of legal professionals and advocates from the start of their undergraduate career. By emphasizing innovative legal studies and real-world applications, we advance justice and policy, equipping students for significant societal contributions.

Three Major Functions

In the short term, in conjunction with °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ’s Social Science Department, the Center co-hosts the NEW Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law, along with a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Criminal Justice. The Center also prepares pre-law students for the LSAT and the Law School application process, as well as places them in professional internships related to the law.  In the long-term, the Center hopes to host an accredited Law School to offer prospective students the opportunity for a seamless transition from undergraduate to professional accreditation to working attorney in their chosen specialty.

Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Law

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

To promote legal literacy throughout the university, the center acts as knowledge Hub for:

  1. Campus outreach efforts related to legal issues (i.e., campus sexual assault)
  2. Support for curriculum development related to the law across the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ colleges
  3. Guidance/mentorship for applying to or writing proposals for scholarships, fellowships, and research/intervention grants related to the law
  4. This Hub also offers/promotes opportunities for all campus members to learn general civil law related to public life, as well as laws specific to their chosen profession (i.e., nurses learning about health law that governs their work, or teachers about education law, architects about zoning and environmental laws, creative people in music and writing about copyright law, etc....)
  5. Pre-law Review – this online, with limited hardcopy, publication is led by an “all student” interdisciplinary editorial board (guided by a faculty oversight committee).  The contributor pool will be students, Alumni, Faculty, and local practicing attorneys, and other local legal professionals, that submit reviews of a recent legal case or incident, and/or offer a book & film review relevant to Law and Society. The student editorial team will also take lead on the center's Twitter-X, Facebook, and YouTube account to communicate the center’s activities.

This dimension of the Center will expand the goal of universal legal literacy beyond the university walls, engaging both professional and lay citizens in civil discussions, co-learning/research, and career development. 

  • The Center initiates, develops & nurtures community, law enforcement, local government, and academic collaborations for various outreach programs in area schools, churches, community centers, government offices, and sister college campuses.  These efforts promote legal literacy for all Scranton citizens in order to increase awareness about, as well as reduce, the risks associated with:
    • predatory business practices (e.g., short term loans, housing), often aimed at the elderly, the young, and minority & immigrant communities
    • domestic violence & campus sexual assault
    • neighbor & business disputes
    • environmental injustice
    • federal, state and local government/regulatory maleficence
    • violent police-citizen interactions and clashes (e.g., Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota)
    • (7) public order offenses (e.g., homeless populations and related issues such as chemical dependency, prostitution, and mental health).
  • The Center also offers government, legal, and law enforcement professionals, as well as interested lay citizens, opportunities to earn continuing professional development credit and/or certificates (i.e., paralegal), through specialized seminars, workshops, and courses.
  • The Center will also host periodic special interest programs open to the public that educate us all on legislative, executive, and judiciary processes as well as offer legal advice & assistance through:
    • Master Speakers’ series
    • Mock trials
    • Free Legal Clinics
Inode: dfb82ece-593a-46e3-a823-07f5a93dff46

Featured Events

When Event Location
Fall 2024 Semester
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 6 – 7pm  Policy Perspectives: A Speaker Series - Michael Dempsey

Policy Perspectives: A Speaker Series - Michael Dempsey

Date/Time: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 6 – 7pm EDT
Location: Center for Architectural Studies 251 (Cloud Room)

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Center for Architectural Studies 251 (Cloud Room)
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 6 – 7pm  Policy Perspectives: A Speaker Series - Corinne Taylor

Policy Perspectives: A Speaker Series - Corinne Taylor

Date/Time: Thursday, October 24, 2024, 6 – 7pm EDT
Location: Center for Architectural Studies 251 (Cloud Room)

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Center for Architectural Studies 251 (Cloud Room)

Earn a Designation in Law, Justice, and Policy

Take your degree to the next level by earning a designation in Law, Justice and Policy. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get started.

Questions? Email: seffrin@marywood.edu

Total Credits: 18 credits related to Law, Justice, and Policy.

  • 15 credits from five LJP-designated courses (e.g., HIST 448, PHIL 316, RST 240).
  • 3 credits from PL 101: Shadow and Service, which includes shadowing a legal professional, providing service, and conducting research.

Work with your faculty for each LJP-designated course to select Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) that align with your academic and career goals. Examples include:

  • Developing legal reasoning and analytical skills.
  • Enhancing legal writing, communication, and advocacy.
  • Submit the Application: Use the Frevvo electronic form to apply, selecting courses and SLOs with faculty approval.
  • Pay the Fees: The designation costs $1200, which is $200 for each 3-credit course designated as LJP.

Monitor your progress through the student portal to ensure all coursework and fees are completed.

Once all requirements are met, the LJP designation will be noted on your transcript and diploma.

Get Involved

The Center for Law, Justice and Policy is seeking to recruit students for purposes of participating in a student club for Law, Justice and Policy. The club would provide students with opportunities to fundraise for field trips, hold events on campus, and connect with members of the broader community on issues related to law, public policy, and social justice.

The Center for Law, Justice and Policy will also be establishing a pre-law review, online publication. The pre-law review will be

  1. A repository for student course work, such as a research assignment focused on a legal issue
  2. A discussion of collaborative projects among faculty that have a legal or public policy dimension
  3. Editorial pieces that give voice to issues related to matters of law, justice and policy.

 

Potential Funding Opportunities

  1. Donors

Resources

The Center for Law, Justice, and Policy offers various legal resources for students in the Pre-Law programs at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼×ÊÁÏ.

Lawyer Biographies

William J. Clements

Phone: 610-256-9036

Email: WClements@klehr.com 

Address: 1835 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Trial Lawyer at Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP since October 2002. Specializes in business and commercial litigation, government contracting law, eminent domain, intellectual property, employment law, and privacy and data law.


Michael A. Dempsey, Esq. 

Phone: 570-499-4068

Email: MD@LenahanDempsey.com

Website:

Address: 1721 Quincy Ave, Dunmore, PA 18509

Associate Attorney at Lenahan & Dempsey, P.C. Oversees all aspects of both State and Federal civil litigation from start to finish. Develops and implements litigation, discovery, settlement, and trial strategies.


Michael E. McGrath, Esq.

Phone: 570-815-1839

Email: mmcgrath837@comcast.net

Address: 837 Taylor Ave, Scranton, PA 18510

Assistant District Attorney at Lackawanna county District Attorney’s Office, responsible for handling criminal matters involving all manners of criminal activities. Works with state and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases in Lackawanna County.


Timothy M. Doherty

Phone: 570-351-8191

Email: tdoherty1709@gmail.com

Address: 135 Jefferson Ave, Scranton, PA 18503

Assistant District Attorney, litigating general prosecutions. Supervised several long-term investigations involving narcotics trafficking in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Honesdale, Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading, and Stroudsburg areas of the state.


Bo Loughney, Esq.

Phone: 570-955-6128

Email: bo.loughney@gmail.com

Address: 1217 Marion St., Dunmore, PA 

Deputy District Attorney, overseeing the Special Victims Unit, specifically supervising the prosecution of all SVU cases for Lackawanna County, including sexual assault and child endangerment.


John M. Hart, ESQ. 

Phone: 570-344-2626

Email: info@thehartofscranton.com 

Website:

Address: 134 E. Grove Street, Dunmore, PA 18510

Owner of Hart Law, currently serving the City of Scranton's Office of Economic and Community Development as their solicitor, lending his expertise to the city's growth and development initiatives. 


Corrine E. Taylor, Esq.

Phone: 570-903-4676

Email: taylorc.esq@gmail.com

Address: 21-23 Public Avenue, P.O. Box 361 Montrose, PA 18801

Special Counsel at Coughlin and Gerhart, LLP, specializing in residential real estate, estate planning, probate law, family law, criminal law, and civil litigation throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.


Ben Josielevski, Esq.

Phone: 570-823-7312

Email: bjosielevski@maryu.marywood.edu

Address: P.O. Box 2177, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703

Staff Attorney at Domestic Violence Service Center, representing victims of domestic violence in various civil proceedings including PFAs, child custody, and divorce.


Brian J. Gallagher, Esq.

Phone: 570-498-9105

Email: briangallagher00@gmail.com

Address: 120 Whitetail Dr., Scranton, PA 18504

First Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County, handling an array of responsibilities from supervising staff and criminal prosecutions to overseeing major crimes units such as Drug, Gang, and Arson. Extensive trial experience in both state and federal courts.