Patrick Henry College (PHC) students attended a talk by Institute for Justice attorney Kirby West about civil forfeiture in September. At PHC, all students receive a thorough primer on constitutional law, supplemented by events like these, which consistently draw sizable crowds (The ever-present pizza provided by the campus Federalist Society is just a plus!). PHC students love to discuss ideas and legal concepts outside of class, which makes their already strong forensics education much more impactful.
If there's anything PHC students enjoy, it's bringing the law to life through public speaking. PHC has won 13 national Moot Court
Alumna Holly Slon (’09) said, “I entered law school already knowing how to read legal opinions and think like a lawyer.” Law is a difficult field to wade through; legal precedent is dense, and legal reasoning is often convoluted. However, constitutional law is about more than memorizing case decisions and understanding complex legal theories. It’s about learning how to think and argue coherently, applying principles of logic and philosophy to political and social controversies.
But PHC’s forensics program and its Constitutional Law class are not intended only for
"Forensics and Con-Law help teach you how to think and analyze a situation, then how to communicate your analysis to others," Frey said. "PHC Forensics isn't just for future lawyers. It is for anyone who wants to learn how to become a better thinker and communicator."
As our society continues to fight its battles in the courtroom, it remains important for PHC graduates to be able to understand and discuss current legal cases, many of which apply to things like religious education, civil liberties, and social reform.
Federalist Society's well-attended event demonstrates the continued hunger for law and public speaking at PHC. In the New Testament, Peter instructs believers to “be ready to give an answer” to skeptical and critical observers—and PHC’s forensics programs equip students to do just that!
Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.