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Law and Business Minor

Add knowledge of business law, regulations, policy, and risk to your studies to increase your attractiveness to organizations across sectors.

Zimpleman College of Business | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

Legal factors shape how every business operates, from managing staff to determining office space or engaging in various partnerships. Detailed knowledge of statutes, industry requirements, and liabilities helps organizations strategically minimize risks, ensure compliance, and preserve both their financial assets and reputation.

Drake University’s Law and Business minor equips you with a broad understanding of this domain, including a robust two-course sequence that covers key areas like contracts, torts, and the debtor/creditor relationship. You’ll also delve into introductory accounting concepts and the legal issues surrounding the formation and operation of diverse types of businesses, from sole proprietorships to corporations.

The minor includes two electives. A range of options extends your expertise into areas like business ethics, regulation, taxation, and risk management.

About the Law and Business Minor

  • Get familiar with taxation, regulations, personal injury liabilities, financial transactions, property and employment laws, and more legal concepts.
  • Take advantage of Des Moines’ rich resources as a hub of business and government to access professional experiences.
  • Pair with one of Drake’s business majors to unlock new job opportunities, or expand your exploration of law and politics, including in preparation for law school.

Program Facts

  • On campus
  • Available to all Drake students
  • 120 total credits; 12 credits for the minor for current Zimpleman College of Business students and 18 credits for students outside Zimpleman

Program Options

Regardless of your major at Drake, this compact minor provides you with an understanding of business law that will benefit your future employer.

Law and Business Minor

Establish a foundation in business law through a two-course sequence. Then, add accounting, an overview of administrative agencies and business structures, and two electives to personalize your learning.

Meet the Faculty

Learn from seasoned professionals. From working at the Iowa Court of Appeals to presenting research at international conferences, Drake’s Business Law faculty represent a dynamic mix of real-world experience and instructional expertise.

Royce Fichtner, J.D.

Royce Fichtner, J.D.

Ellis and Nelle Levitt Distinguished Professor of Business Law

Stephen Gara, PhD, CPA

Stephen Gara, PhD, CPA

Associate Professor, Accounting

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

Build on the framework you’ll establish in the classroom with experiences that enhance your knowledge, résumé, and career connections.

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Internships

Your first (or next) opportunity is just minutes from campus. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital and business hub, is an ideal location to find internships at the intersection of law and business.

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Student Clubs

Expand your leadership skills, accelerate your growth, and extend your professional network as you engage with fellow students, faculty members, and industry leaders in 14 business-related student organizations on campus.

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Study Abroad

From studying the European legal framework in Austria to interning with a multinational company, unique experiences in more than 70 countries equip you for a career in a globalized business climate.

Careers & Skills

The Law and Business minor is designed for students interested in developing expertise on the legal and regulatory landscape every business must navigate.

The ability to analyze statutes, regulations, case law, contracts, and policy equips you to provide valuable guidance in every operational area. Paired with one of Drake’s business majors or a study of Law, Politics, and Society, you’ll have the background to pursue diverse opportunities at top employers or apply to law school.

Employers

  • Allstate
  • Berkshire Hathaway
  • JPMorgan
  • Principal Financial Group
  • Wells Fargo
  • Willis Towers Watson

Skills

  • Accounting practices for businesses and individuals
  • Case law analysis
  • Contract analysis
  • Familiarity with contracts, torts, liability, and business structures
  • Professional communication
  • Regulation analysis
  • Debtor/creditor relationships, bankruptcy, and trusts
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Salary & Growth Outlook

$

The average salary for business and financial occupations as of 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Related Programs

Intrigued by the influence of law on business operations? These additional programs approach this domain from distinct vantage points.

Business Law, BSBA

Train to become a source of indispensable guidance as you help organizations successfully navigate the laws and regulations shaping today’s complex business environment.

Law, Politics and Society, BA

Build a better understanding of how law influences our lives in one of the nation’s only undergraduate legal studies majors.

International Relations, BA

Study political science, economics, history, and international law in an interdisciplinary major that prepares you for careers in diplomacy, law, politics, and business.

Take the Next Step

Develop expertise in the legal factors that shape modern enterprise, adding a unique skill set to boost your business-related career.

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Students from Drake's Law and Business program walk and converse outdoors after leaving a classroom building