Top Honors for Prelaw Grad

“There is a great need for attorneys with Christian integrity to be a voice for righteousness,” said Joshua Dunlap (’05, Prelaw grad). “The Lord wants to use good men and women who are surrendered to Him and willing to follow Daniel’s example while serving in law or government.” Joshua graduated first in his class from the University of Notre Dame Law School in ’08. During the ceremony, he received the Hoynes Award, Notre Dame’s highest honor for academic excellence. As a law student, he published “When Big Brother Plays God: The Religious Clauses, Title VII, and the Ministerial Exception” in the Notre Dame Law Review.

Joshua said, “PCC’s prelaw program provided excellent preparation for law school. I found that PCC’s emphasis on writing, public speaking, history, and law provided me with the tools needed for effective communication and critical thinking—two of the most important skills necessary to succeed in law school.

“And PCC’s program certainly provided me the tools to be successful in a top-ranked law school like Notre Dame. I felt PCC’s training rivaled or exceeded the training many of my peers had received at well-known schools around the country. I attribute much of my success in law school to PCC’s solid prelaw program.”

After law school, Joshua served as law clerk for the Hon. Paul J. Kelly Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is now an associate at Pierce Atwood LLP, one of New England’s leading law firms.

“I encourage anyone thinking about becoming involved in law or government to consider PCC’s prelaw program,” Joshua said. “It is a great opportunity to study at a college that provides great academic training with a solid Christian foundation.”

PCC’s prelaw program includes courses in American government, economics, tax accounting, criminal justice, debate, public speaking, and writing—all designed to give students the background to succeed in law school and be servant leaders who stand for righteousness in various legal professions. See Prelaw major for more information.

Published: 4/19/2010