Sturm College of Law

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law History

University of Denver Sturm College of Law was established in 1892 and is a private institution. The 33-acre campus is in an urban area 10 minutes from downtown Denver. The primary mission of the law school is to support and foster significant legal research while being actively involved in the profession and in the society it serves. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Denver area. Facilities of special interest to law students include a state-of-the-art, environmentally sound building that houses the law library, classrooms, and administrative and faculty offices. Housing for students is on campus and consists of apartments and dormitories, as well as many apartment houses near campus. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and M.S.L.A. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 10 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./G.S.I.S. (Juris Doctor/Graduate School International Studies), J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in geography and judicial administration), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.I.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of International Management), J.D./M.S.L.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Legal Administration), and J.D./M.T. (Juris Doctor/Master in Taxation).

The Sturm College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, international law, litigation, tax law, business and commercial law, natural resources, advocacy skills, transportation law, public interest law, and elder law. In addition, upper-level students receive 5 credit hours for a clinic. Clinic topics include public interest, civil, criminal, human rights, and mediation/arbitration. Seminars, offered to upper-level students, are worth 2 to 3 credit hours. Seminar topics include Criminal Justice, Advertising Regulations, and Appellate Advocacy. Internships, open to upper-level students for 3 credits, are available in the offices of prosecutors; public defenders; the attorney general; and judicial, legislative, corporate, immigration, and natural resources agencies. Directed research may be undertaken under a professor’s supervision. Research positions are open only to upper-level students for 2 to 3 credits. Externships are equal to 10 credits and are available to upper-level students. A study-abroad option is available. The no-credit Academic Achievement Program is a tutorial program offered to first-year students. The most widely taken electives are Basic Tax, Corporations, and Trusts and Estates.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 44 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.3 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Lawyering Process, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Legal Profession and Legal Writing. The required orientation program for first-year students orients students to law school programs, facilities, organizations, and procedures and is 3 days long.

To graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.3 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 216,273 hard-copy volumes and 142,191 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 5010 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, and WESTLAW are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a government document selective depository and the Hughes Memorial Library Collection. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 3605 to 1 and to students is 191 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 4.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by means of special scholarships and the intervention and support of the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs’ office. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit and have attended an ABA-approved law school.

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 3282 applied, 1124 were accepted, and 380 enrolled. Thirty-seven transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 79; the median GPA was 3.44 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 33; the highest was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include LSAT results, GPA and personal statement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is March 1. Applicants should submit an application form, a personal statement, a nonrefundable application fee of $60, 2 letters of recommendation, and a r

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law Financial Aid

About 90% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $22,000; maximum, $43,410. Awards are based on need and merit. Award letters offer aid (scholarships, loans, work-study) up to the cost of attendance. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is February 15. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application shortly after admission.

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 22%, minorities; 4%, African American; 6%, Asian American; 8%, Hispanic; 4%, Native American; and 3%, not declared. The majority of students come from Colorado (58%). The average age of entering students is 27; age range is 21 to 55. About 25% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 15% have a graduate degree, and 40% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 5% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 95% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the University of Denver Law Journal, Water Court Reporter, Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Transportation Law Journal, Denver Journal of International Law and Policy, and the newspaper, Student Writ. Moot court competitions running through the school year include the Negotiations Competition, Jessup International Law Competition, and Hoffman Cup Trial Competition. Other competitions include the National Civil Trial Competition, American Trial Lawyers, and Tournament of Champions. Among the student organizations are Christian Legal Society, Colorado Council of Mediators Organization, Entertainment Law Society, and Health and Society Law. Chapters of national associations include the Delta Theta Phi, Phi Alpha Delta, and Phi Delta Phi. There are more than 40 student organizations.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 4 years. For part-time students, courses are offered evenings only and must be completed within 5 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is an 11-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.