PUC Initiates Intro to Law

As part of an initiative to enhance the pre-law program at Pacific Union College, Intro to Law will be offered to students starting in the fall 2026 quarter. This 100-level course will be offered not only to PUC students but also to the College Early program for high school students. PUC is also thrilled to announce that Deputy District Attorney Shashawnya Worley of the Napa County District Attorney's Office will be teaching the class on campus. In addition to educating students about the profession, the course will focus on criminal law and its constitutional aspects, as well as on preparing for a mock trial to be held at the Napa County Courthouse. Students interested in Intro to Law can register for the class now.

The minds behind forming this course were a committee of pre-law advisors from PUC’s business, communication, English, history, and honors departments, and they have also partnered with Ruthe Ashley of the California Legal Pathways Collaborative (CLPC).  Although formed recently, they have already begun creating opportunities for students, such as establishing their honors society, offering internships, and inviting law school representatives to serve as guest speakers.

“Intro to Law, as well as the other work being actively promoted by the Pre-Law Committee, will benefit all departments who serve Pre-Law students with better support, more awareness, and superior outcomes,” said PUC Professor of Business Administration Abram Fisher. “PUC, of course, benefits from additional positive public exposure as well as elevating its services towards a segment of its students. Perhaps of even greater benefit, but also less known, is the significant history of Adventism in the legal and legal-political realm – it’s fascinating.”

For Fisher, launching Intro to Law means “taking the first substantive steps toward serving a segment of our student population that has not received as much support as we would have liked.” He continued to say that, “while the journey to and through law school is traditionally seen as a fairly solitary one, we would like to change that paradigm, offering institutionally-backed support for our Pre-Law students from the moment they even think they may wish to study law.”

As the committee continues to build the best possible program for PUC’s pre-law students, one major initiative they’ve quickly agreed on is ensuring that advising doesn’t stop after graduation but continues as students step into their careers in the real world, with lifelong support from PUC.