Pre-Law

“PCC’s Prelaw program provides an excellent foundation on which to build while attending law school. It strengthened my ability to reason and to think quickly on my feet. PCC also instilled discipline in me, which was key not only to my time in the Marine Corps but also to running my own law firm in a time-consuming and stressful field.

“The most rewarding part about working in the law field is seeing justice done in a difficult case. The reason I am a defense attorney is much deeper than the typical political or philosophical answers. All men are sinners, whether they are criminals or not. All sinners have justly earned an eternity in hell. Yet Christ so loved us in our sins that He died to pay the price for them. If we accept Him and His blood on the cross as the payment for our sins, we can have Heaven as our eternal home.

“The Bible teaches that Satan accuses each of us before God, the ultimate Judge. Satan’s accusations are true as we have all sinned. Yet, we have available to us (at no charge) the greatest defense attorney ever—Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches us that He is our Advocate (defense attorney) before God, the Judge. And He never loses a case. He pleads that Satan is correct, that justice demands punishment for our sins, but that He has already paid that price on our behalf.

“So if Christ is my Advocate, even though I am guilty and worthy of Hell, how can I refuse to be an advocate for my fellow man, whether he is guilty or not? I hope to show the love of God through my work to the most unloved in our society and thus to bring honor and glory to Him.”

When Sean McDivitt (’12) failed his physical fitness test by three sit-ups after being accepted into the Air Force Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, he did not accept defeat. Though immediately dismissed from the program, Sean began seeking other avenues of entering the Corps, including through direct appointment.

“PCC taught me how in the face of setbacks and disappointments to have patience, to not give up trying,” Sean says. “I worked on my physical fitness and volunteered in the JAG office at Tinker AFB every week.”

However, Sean realized his chances of making it back into JAG through direct appointment were slim. “The acceptance rate hovers around four percent throughout the country,” Sean explains. “Thankfully, the Lord allowed me to be selected for direct appointment in November. I will be commissioned once I pass the Oklahoma bar in 2015 and will then commit to four years in the JAG Corps.”

In the meantime at Oklahoma City University School of Law, Sean participates in multiple law associations, serves as president of the school’s Christian Legal Society, and holds the position of editor in chief (EIC) for the Oklahoma City University Law Review—while taking a full class load. “My dream before law school was to be on Law Review because it’s a credential that you will hold for the rest of your legal career, but I didn’t ever think I could get the position of EIC,” Sean said.

As EIC, Sean oversees the Board of Editors as well as 35 staff members. “I have the final say on all the articles that are published. We verify every assertion and footnote for support in all articles, monitor articles for plagiarism, and ensure compliance with grammar and Bluebook rules.” It is here that Sean applies the lessons learned in his Advanced Grammar and Composition and Copy Editing classes at PCC. He says, “The work is extremely detailed, and PCC’s rigorous academics and grading system augmented and honed my ability to pay attention to details.”

In February 2015, the Law Review published Sean’s Note, Striking the Harmonious Chord for Corporate Social Responsibility and Individuals: Affirming Closely Held Corporations’ Religious Objections to the HHS Mandate. Sean says, “It’s exciting to see how the Lord continues to use us in the ways He sees fit.”

“PCC paved the way for my law school work and legal career in a number of important ways. First, I grew in my relationship to God. The church services, chapels, prayer groups, and service opportunities brought me to a closer and more mature relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Second, PCC sharpened my academic skills and enhanced my appreciation for academic excellence. My speech and debate classes taught me to study both sides of an issue, understand the arguments, frame my argument, and then present my argument in eloquent and persuasive fashion. Pensacola Christian College was a huge part of God’s plan for my life, and I am most grateful for how He works.”

PCC graduate (’90) Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), in her fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, was recently named the fifth most influential conservative woman in politics by conservative political blogger John Hawkins. She was also voted one of the “Most Loved” colleagues to work with by fellow members of Congress (Newsmax, Dec. ’09).

PCC’s first graduate to be elected to the House of Representatives, McMorris Rodgers represents Washington State’s 5th Congressional District, serves as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, and holds a place on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. These positions make her the highest-ranking female Republican in Congress.

Her interest in politics began as a high school senior when she attended a convention and learned about the need for Christians in government. Having dedicated her life to be what she calls a “Christian missionary” in government, she chose to pursue a prelaw degree at PCC for a strong foundation in English, history, speech, and law.

Just three years after graduating from PCC, she was elected as a State Representative at the age of 24, becoming Washington state’s youngest legislator. She served five terms, eventually becoming House Minority Leader, and earned several recognitions and respect from fellow legislators.

In 2004, Cathy was elected to the U.S. Congress, where she is serving her fourth term. “I’m sincerely concerned about the amount of control and desired control the various forms of government have over our families, children, business, church, and communities,” Cathy said. “God has instituted government, yet we as individuals must still be responsible for ourselves and our actions. Our founding fathers regarded religion as being so important that when they passed the Bill of Rights, religious liberty was the very first right they safeguarded.”

Through her years in politics, Cathy has learned to rely on God to lift her above fear and pressure. She said, “When I look back, God has clearly been leading in my life: first, the call, then the foundation at PCC, then the experience and training…, then the responsibility. At PCC, God became real to me personally. Now, God has thrust me into a ministry over my head where I must cry out to Him. I take this position very seriously as I attempt to carry it out until completion because I believe God is calling me to do this.”

PCC’s prelaw and political science programs give graduates a solid foundation and excellent preparation for law school and graduate studies. Many are serving as lawyers, State and U.S. Representatives, executive assistants, government aides, professors, and in other government-related positions.

“PCC did a great job of preparing me for law school through the class schedule I was required to take. In particular, the speech classes helped me get used to speaking, which I had to do a lot of in law school.”

“PCC’s English classes were especially beneficial to me in law school, and in particular Advanced Grammar, where I learned how to summarize information concisely and accurately. This skill became the one I relied on the most during law school, and I was always grateful that my teacher had the wisdom not only to teach it, but also to teach it so thoroughly. He knew, where I did not, that this would be a valuable skill for any graduate work, and especially valuable in the field of law.

As a result of my training at PCC, I was able to perform well in Legal Writing classes, as the following story illustrates:

As a first-year law student, I was assigned to read a case and write a brief. I did my best and used every skill taught by the PCC English professors.

When I met with my professor, he looked through his file of briefs to find mine. He pulled it out and said excitedly, ‘You’re the one! You’re the one!! Where did you learn to write?’

I replied, ‘Pensacola Christian College. Why do you ask?’

His answer stunned me: ‘I had to ask. We have never seen writing skills this strong in a first-year law student, so we wanted to know where you learned to write!’

I have always treasured the training that the entire PCC English department provided.

I also treasured the speech classes at PCC. The speech faculty prepared me for giving various presentations in law school, for which I am deeply grateful.”

When Jordan Henry (Jr., MO) began working at a small Christian radio station in his hometown six years ago, he enjoyed doing everything from hosting live radio shows to sticking number labels onto CD cases. But he never dreamed where that work experience would lead him. “Last year, in the summer of 2014, I was at the radio station doing some work when the Phyllis Schlafly Report came on,” said Jordan. “At the end, Mrs. Schlafly talked about a summit that Eagle Forum hosts for college students every year in Washington, D.C.”

Jordan applied and was accepted to the summit on a scholarship. After attending the forum, Jordan “fell in love with Eagle Forum’s rich history of standing up for conservative, Christian values,” he said. An internship with the Phyllis Schlafly Eagle Forum was ideal for this prelaw major.

Right away, Jordan felt at home as an Eagle Forum intern. “It was a friendly place with friendly people who helped me to strengthen the areas where I am weak and then grow in the areas where I am already strong,” he said. Jordan could hardly believe how involved he could be as just an intern.

He was working side by side with top writers and political analysts, speaking with Phyllis Schlafly herself, and actually helping to influence public policy. During his internship, he communicated with Eagle Forum leaders in all fifty states, contributed on the Phyllis Schlafly Report radio program, and served as editor-in-chief for the Eagle Forum Collegians blog.

Jordan believes his college preparation played a large part in why he felt so prepared for the internship. “English classes at PCC gave me foundational writing skills that helped me write eloquently, effectively, and concisely,” he said. “History of Civilization and American History gave me a proper framework in which to put my political positions,” he added. “Bible class and chapel helped me to build a Christian foundation for my political beliefs and for how I interacted with other people.” Chuckling, he admitted, “Even the dress code helped me prepare to dress for success in a professional setting.”

Apparently all of that preparation did pay off—Jordan was asked to return to St. Louis in September to help host the Eagle Council, an Eagle Forum annual convention. Usually, the convention brings in outstanding guest speakers and political experts, but with the presidential race right around the corner, this Council was different. The event featured six presidential candidates who were running at the time: Dr. Ben Carson, Governor Rick Perry, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Rand Paul.

One of Jordan’s roles at the event was to personally escort Dr. Carson and Governor Huckabee. “Here I was,” said Jordan, “acting as the personal escort for people who could be the next president, shaking their hands and conversing with them backstage.”

Although Jordan doesn’t know what his future holds concerning politics, he feels blessed to have been able to join Eagle Forum, working to keep America the land of the free.