School of Law

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law History

Washington University in St. Louis School of Law was established in 1867 and is a private institution. The 160-acre campus is in a suburban area in St. Louis. The primary mission of the law school is to provide an enduring foundation of legal education that is useful for whatever field of law is chosen. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the St. Louis area. Students have access to a congressional clinic and a federal administrative agency clinic in Washington, D.C. Facilities of special interest to law students include St. Louis-based national and international corporations. Housing for students is available in surrounding neighborhoods; listings are available through an off-campus referral service. About 90% of the law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., J.S.D., and M.J.S. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 9 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in East Asian studies, Political Science, Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.H.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Health Administration), J.D./M.S.W. (Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work), and J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Political Science).

The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, labor law, litigation, securities law, tax law, torts and insurance, and transactional (planning and drafting) courses. In addition, clinics are offered for 3 to 10 credit hours, including Congressional Clinic in Washington, D.C.; Civil Justice Clinic, and Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic. Seminars include White Collar Crime Seminar, Biomedical Research Law + Policy Seminar, and Racial Profiling Seminar. Students may participate in research programs after the first year. Field work is performed as part of the clinics; 9 clinics are offered. Special lectures include the Tyrrell Williams Memorial Lectures and the Public Interest Speakers Series. Students may study abroad in Germany, London, South Africa, Netherlands, and Singapore. Tutorial programs are available on an individual basis. The Black Law Students Association organizes student study groups and visiting minority speakers. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Corporations, and Federal Income Tax.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 85 total credits, of which 35 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 79.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of 1 additional writing seminar and Professional Responsibility-Legal Profession. The required orientation program for first-year students runs for 5 days and focuses on academic, social, and administrative components of the school.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 79.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 660,000 hard-copy volumes and 1,389,966 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 6074 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals, LawInfoChina, BNA Core Plus Package, 3 CCH Internet Research Network Libraries, Aspen Treatises Online, Oceana Constitutions of the World, more than 30 other legal information databases plus access to more than 100 interdisciplinary databases through the Olin Library System are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a depository for Federal and Missouri government documents, and Chinese and Japanese law collections. Recently, the library added Web-based subscriptions and wireless network access, and constructed additional group study room. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 12,222 to 1 and to students is 761 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by means of a minority admissions counselor, specific mailings, scholarship programs, and visitation programs. 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.

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 3770 applied, 954 were accepted, and 222 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. Fifty-four transfers enrolled in a recent year. The median GPA of the most recent first-year class was 3.6. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 50; the highest was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.0 on a scale of 4.0. The most important admission factors include LSAT results, GPA, and academic achievement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, a nonrefundable application fee, 2 letters are recommended, but not required, and a personal statement. Notification of the admissions decision is by April. Check with the school for current application deadlines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 80% of current law students received some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, was $42,000; maximum, $51,000. Scholarships are based on merit; loans are based on need. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. Check with the school for current application deadlines. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include the Farmer Scholarship and the Chancellor’s Fellowship. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application between the time of acceptance and enrollment.

Washington University in St Louis, School of Law Students

About 41% of the student body are women; 21%, minorities; 10%, African American; 7%, Asian American; 2%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from the Midwest (24%). The average age of entering students is 23; age range is 21 to 34. About 35% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 11% have a graduate degree, and 52% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 6% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 93% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit The Washington University Law Quarterly, Journal of Law and Policy, and the Global Studies Law Review. The student newspaper is The Devil’s Advocate. Moot court competitions include the Wiley Rutledge Moot Court program held in the fall and spring, Environmental Moot Court, and the Jessup International Law Moot Court. Other competitions include National Mock Trial, Intellectual Property Moot Court, National Client Counseling, Negotiation, and Intramural Client Counseling. Student organizations include the Student Bar Association, Environmental Law Society, and International Law Society. The Federalist Society, Phi Alpha Delta, and Phi Delta Phi have local chapters. There are numerous other campus organizations.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is a 5-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.