College of Law

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law History

University of Nebraska College of Law was established in 1888 and is a public institution. The campus is in a suburban area on the east campus of the University of Nebraska. The primary mission of the law school is to provide an excellent, affordable legal education with a balance between legal theory and professional skills in the atmosphere of a small law school. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Lincoln area. As Lincoln is the state capital, the legislature, the State Supreme Court, and the Court of Appeals are nearby. Facilities of special interest to law students include 2 clinical programs: 1 clinic is located at the college, providing civil legal services to low income clients, and the other clinic is located within the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office, permitting third-year students to prosecute misdemeanor cases. The federal and state appellate courts frequently hear cases at the college. The Shermon S. Welpton, Jr. courtroom is used for actual trials as well as practical skills training. Housing for students is available both as on-campus graduate housing and off-campus apartments and homes. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the M.L.S.(Master of Legal Studies). Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 3 nonlaw graduate credit credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in psychology, economics, political science), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.C.R.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Community and Regional Planning), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Professional Accountancy), and J.D./Ph.D (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in psychology and education).

The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, international law, labor law, litigation, and tax law. In addition, students who have obtained senior standing are eligible to take either a 6-credit hour civil or criminal clinic. Second- or third-year students must take a 3-credit-hour seminar with a substantial writing requirement. A 3-credit-hour research program in a selected field under the supervision of a faculty member is available to any upper-level student. Students may register for up to 3 hours of externship credit, with the approval of a sponsoring faculty member. The credit is to be earned in a field placement program, and shall involve at least 40 hours of field experience. Any student may apply to have transfer credit for courses taken in a summer abroad program where the student received a grade of C or better. The College of Law cosponsors study abroad programs at Downing College, Cambridge, England and the University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. The Academic Resource Program offers a non-credit skills seminar for first-year students to assist in developing such skills as note taking, case briefing, and exam taking. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Wills and Trusts.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 96 total credits, of which 45 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 4.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Process, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a seminar with substantial writing requirements, Constitutional Law I, and Legal Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is 2 days prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Students listen to speakers, tour the college, meet faculty and upper-level students, and attend a legal writing class. Students also participate in an orientation to professionalism series with judges and attorneys.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 4.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and have taken Legal Professional Responsibility Course and Constitutional Law I and have completed 96 credit hours.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 232,564 hard-copy volumes and 169,181 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 2571 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, and Expanded Academic Index Full Text are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a selected federal government depository and the Great Plains Tax Library. Recently, the library completed a $9 million renovation and addition to the law library in January 2003. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 8019 to 1 and to students is 590 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 2.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through sponsoring an annual Diversity Law Day and participating in career fairs and the CLEO program. The college takes special care when evaluating applications from members of minority groups that historically have not been well represented in the legal profession. The College of Law hosts a four-week Pre-Law Institute in the summer to prepare students for both law school and the application process and to inform them about the breadth and power of the law and a legal career. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and must be in good standing at the end of a full year of study and eligible to continue at their current law school. Other requirements may apply.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 865 applied, 352 were accepted, and 136 enrolled. Figures in the above capsules and in this profile are approximate.Four transfers enrolled in a recent year. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 69; the median GPA was 3.65 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 13; the highest was 96.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. 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, transcripts, a nonrefundable appliction fee, and 2 are recommended letters of recommendation. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis after January 1. Check with the school for current application deadlines. The law school uses the LSDAS.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 85% 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 $18,027; maximum, $22,000. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA and institutional need-based grant form. Check with the school for current appliction deadlines. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include college funds for need-based grants and opportunity scholarships. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application from January to April for scholarships and grants and March through August for loans.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law Students

About 46% of the student body are women; 10%, minorities; 4%, African American; 3%, Asian American; 1%, Native American; and 3%, Mexican-American. The majority of students come from the Midwest (88%). The average age of entering students is 23; age range is 21 to 36. About 46% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 9% have a graduate degree, and 54% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 5% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 96% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Nebraska Law Review. Moot court competitions include the Allen Moot Court Competition for first-year students, Fall Grether Moot Court Competition for second-year students, and the National Moot Court competition. Other competitions include Client Counseling and National Trial. Student organizations include the Black Law Students Association, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Community Legal Education Project. Delta Theta Phi, ABA-Law Student Division, and Phi Alpha Delta have local chapters. Other organizations include the Multi-Cultural Legal Society, Allies and Advocates for GLBT Equality, and Equal Justice Society.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 5 years; 3 years is normal. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is a 1 3-week-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.