Shaping the Next Generation of
Public Service Leaders
- Are you interested in how laws are made and applied?
- Are you curious about how governments and nonprofits serve their communities?
- Do you want to develop practical skills for a career in public service or law?
— The Program
The Law, Government, and Public Service Minor at the UNC–Chapel Hill School of Government
This undergraduate minor provides students with a strong, practice-oriented foundation in the legal frameworks and institutional structures that shape public service organizations.
We designed this minor to enhance your understanding of the laws and structures that support government and public service organizations. By linking legal reasoning to public management, it equips you with essential skills for a successful career in public service.
Our faculty specializes in public law and management, integrating practical scholarship into everything we teach, making the School of Government an ideal organization to bring you this program. With decades of experience in training public officials and leaders, we are excited to share our expertise with you.
About the School of Government
The Law, Government, and Public Service Minor is housed in the UNC School of Government—the largest university-based organization in the United States for local government training, advising, and research.
Who Is This For?
Whether you are aiming for law school, planning a career in public management, or simply want to develop the practical skills necessary to navigate complex systems and serve the public good, this program provides the foundation you need to drive meaningful change.
Every day, laws and government structures influence how people build communities, how officials serve justice, and how leaders meet public needs. If you've ever been curious about how these systems work—and how you can work within them—we built this minor for you.
— Learning Outcomes
Building the kind of thinking that makes you effective
Whether in a courtroom, a local government department, a nonprofit organization, or a state agency, this minor will provide you with tools to understand and navigate the complex systems that deliver public good.
01 · Understand the Law
Know the basic statutes and structures of law, including constitutional, statutory, and case law.
02 · Argue Like a Lawyer
Draft, analyze, and evaluate legal arguments with confidence and clarity.
03 · Think Like a Public Manager
Apply public management themes to understand how government and nonprofit organizations work.
04 · Analyze Institutions
Examine how local, state, and national public service organizations structure and influence one another.
05 · Connect Law to Life
Understand how law and government structures daily life for real people in real communities.
Ready to Learn More?
We'd love to connect with you. Reach out to our team to discuss the minor, your goals, and how we can help you achieve them.
