**Emphasizing** General Secretary Xi Jinping's discourse on the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, the article highlights the importance of combining rule of law with rule of virtue in governance. It explores the necessity of strengthening legal education in ideological and political theory courses in universities, viewing it as a crucial pathway to achieving the synergy of virtue and law and building a modern socialist country governed by the rule of law. Additionally, the article underscores the role of ideological and political education in governing through virtue and stresses the significance of studying the value, theoretical resources, and practical approaches to legal education in university ideological and political theory courses. ### **I. The Value of Strengthening Legal Education in University Ideological and Political Theory Courses** The article emphasizes the importance of reinforcing legal education in university ideological and political theory courses. Young college students are key participants and witnesses in the construction of a law-based China, and enhancing their legal literacy is vital for advancing this goal. The rule of law is a hallmark of national prosperity, and the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China particularly underscored its significance. As future pillars of society, university students must possess high cultural literacy, professional competence, political awareness, moral integrity, and legal literacy. Ideological and political theory courses should strengthen legal education to cultivate well-rounded, law-abiding talents for the new era. Legal education helps students acquire legal knowledge, develop a rule-of-law mindset, enhance legal literacy, understand the value of the rule of law, establish correct outlooks on life, the world, and values, and strengthen their sense of social responsibility. ### **II. Theoretical Resources for Strengthening Legal Education in University Ideological and Political Theory Courses** The article examines the theoretical resources for legal education embedded in university ideological and political theory courses. First, the *Ideology, Morality, and Rule of Law* course provides foundational legal education, covering topics such as the characteristics of socialist law and the comprehensive advancement of law-based governance, helping students grasp legal knowledge and cultivate a rule-of-law mindset. Second, the *Introduction to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era* course includes a dedicated chapter on comprehensive law-based governance, offering systematic and mature legal education resources that enable students to grasp the essence of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. Lastly, the political economy section of the *Basic Principles of Marxism* course reveals the nature of capitalist legal systems, while the socialist legal system is designed to safeguard the interests of the people and ensure their right to govern. ### **III. Practical Approaches to Strengthening Legal Education in University Ideological and Political Theory Courses** The article explores practical methods to enhance legal education in university ideological and political theory courses. First, it stresses the importance of uncovering legal education resources within teaching materials, including both explicit and implicit content, and encourages educators to delve deeply into these materials to foster students' rule-of-law thinking. Second, it highlights the need to improve the legal literacy of ideological and political educators, recommending measures such as training, advanced studies, lectures, and collaborative lesson planning to enhance teachers' legal expertise. Finally, it underscores the significance of incorporating practical legal education activities, proposing various in-class and extracurricular teaching methods—such as case analysis, debates, mock trials, and social practice—to improve students' ability to apply legal knowledge and strengthen their legal literacy.