Students majoring in political science join the program because they are curious about domestic and international politics and desire to understand how politics shape daily life. Many are drawn to U.S. legal studies, a popular concentration. Students in the legal studies concentration take courses on U.S. governing institutions, judicial process, constitutional law, administrative law, and related topics. One professor most students in legal studies have likely taken a course with is Wayne Moore.

Moore is an associate professor of political science, university pre-law advisor, and faculty advisor for Virginia Tech’s pre-law chapter of Phi Alpha Delta. This semester, along with teaching, Moore organized an experiential learning trip to hear oral arguments before a Virginia Court of Appeals panel. The court usually hears cases in Richmond, but sometimes the judges “ride circuit” and hold hearings in other courthouses throughout the state, making the visit to Christiansburg an uncommon experience and excellent opportunity for students. A three-judge panel heard oral arguments in about a dozen cases at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Christiansburg on Oct. 7-8. Moore coordinated with presiding judge Lisa Lorish of Richmond to arrange for interested Virginia Tech students to attend. About 55 students observed the hearings on at least one of the two days. Afterward, the judges met with the students and answered their questions.

Among these students were Lily Baum, a junior from Vienna, Virginia, majoring in political science with a concentration in legal studies and minors in philosophy, politics, and economics, finance, and peace studies; and Rebecca Camacho-Bruno, a senior pursuing a dual degree in political science with a concentration in legal studies and Spanish. Both described the event as an incredible and rewarding opportunity for students interested in the legal process. Baum said her favorite part came after the cases concluded, when students spoke with the judges.

“We asked about their career paths, legal terminology, and courtroom procedures,” she said. “I’ve never had an experience like this. It was truly remarkable.”

This opportunity was especially valuable for students considering legal careers like Baum and Camacho-Bruno.

“I believe experiences like this are incredibly important to PSCI students interested in the legal system because they bring to life what we learn in class,” Camacho-Bruno said.

As an aspiring first-generation lawyer, she said her favorite part of the visit was seeing Judge Lorish preside, and noted the importance of seeing women in such roles.

Baum, who recently interned with the Victim-Witness Program in the Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, noted the differences between a Court of Appeals case and the criminal trials she witnessed during her internship. In criminal trials, she said, judges typically intervene only to keep arguments focused, but said appellate judges actively engage with the attorneys to question their reasoning and test the strength of their arguments.

Similarly, Camacho-Bruno described the cases as an important lesson in “how lawyers respond under pressure and how judges lead with confidence and composure.” Baum added that the experience showed “the importance of clarity, preparation, and logic in effective legal argumentation.”

 The experience allowed students to better understand how legal arguments, legal terminology, procedures, and reasoning are applied in real cases, which Baum said “transforms” theories into practice and genuine understanding.

There is an active pre-law community at Virginia Tech. Last year, 176 Virginia Tech students and alumni applied to law schools. Thirty-nine of those applicants were political science or international studies majors. Of those, 35, or 90 percent, were admitted to at least one law school, compared to a national average of 69.4 percent for all applicants. Classes on legal issues and opportunities like the one organized by Moore will continue to inspire students interested in legal studies and bolster outcomes for future Hokie lawyers.

 

Written by: Patrick Salmons