College of Law

Syracuse University, College of Law History

Syracuse University College of Law was established in 1895 and is a private institution. The 200-acre campus is in an urban area 3 miles east of Syracuse. The primary mission of the law school is guided by the philosophy that the best way to educate lawyers to practice in today’s world is to engage them in a process of interdisciplinary learning while teaching them to apply what they learn in the classroom to real legal issues, problems, and clients. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Syracuse area. Housing for students is available both on and off campus. On-campus housing options include apartment complexes for law and graduate students. About 87% of the law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Syracuse University, College of Law Academics

Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in international relations), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration), J.D./M.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in communications, environmental) – law, engineering, computer science, accounting, and education) and J.D./M.S. or Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy in environmental studies).

Students must take 15 to 20 credits in their area of concentration. The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, labor law, litigation, tax law, technology commercialization law, law and economics, national security and counterterrorism, Indigenous law, and disability law. In addition, second- and third-year students may take clinics for 12 credits in Community Development Law, Disabilities Rights, Children’s Rights and Family Law, and 6 credits in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, the Securities Arbitration/Consumer Law Clinic, and the Elder Law Clinic. Second- and third-year students may also earn 1 to 2 credits per semester for seminars. A study-abroad summer program is available in London. Tutorial programs are offered to first-year students. Minority programs include the Legal Education Opportunity Program.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 87 total credits, of which 40 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.2 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Communication and Research, Legislation and Policy, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a writing requirement, Constitutional Law II, Professional Responsibility, and Third-semester research and writing course. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 5-day program that includes academic sessions, book discussions, alumni and students panels, professionalism programs, and social activities.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.2 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Syracuse University, College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 218,058 hard-copy volumes and 255,018 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 3300 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, BNA, HeinOnline, Heins Foreign and International Law Resources, Heins U.S. Congressional Documents, LexisNexis Congressional, LLMC Digital, U.S. Serial Set Digital Collection, and Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals are available to law students for research. Special library collections include legal history, legal education, New York state law, tax law and policy, Law of Indigenous Peoples, trial practice skills, and law technology and management. The law library is depository for U.S. Government documents. Recently, the library was refurbished with updated lighting, chairs and carpet. Facilities include 8 group study rooms, 2 computer clusters, an information commons, and numerous spaces for group and individual study. The law library is wireless, and service points are expanded through the law library website, which offers remote access to electronic research databases, library information, and service request forms, 24 hours a day. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 3696 to 1 and to students is 327 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 by means of an in-house Legal Education Opportunity Program, students of color law forums, the CLEO program, and by application review. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have a minimum GPA of 3, and have attended an ABA-approved law school.

Syracuse University, College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2069 applied and 223 enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 60; the median GPA was 3.29 on a scale of 4.0.

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

The application deadline for fall entry is April 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, a nonrefundable application fee of $70, 2 letters of recommendation, and a r

Syracuse University, College of Law Financial Aid

About 80% of current law students receive some form of aid. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA, the College of Law application form, tax returns, and W2s. The aid application deadline for fall entry is February 15. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include need-based tuition grants. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Syracuse University, College of Law Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 19%, minorities; 4%, African American; 10%, Asian American; 3%, Hispanic; 1%, Native American; and 4%, Foreign nationals. The average age of entering students is 24; age range is 21 to 47. About 7% of students have a graduate degree.

Law students edit the Syracuse Law Review, Journal of International Law and Commerce, The Labor Lawyer, The Law & Technology Journal, and The Digest. Annually, students compete in the Mackenzie Lewis Competition, Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition, and Jessup Moot Court competition. Law student organizations include Black Law Students Association, Phi Alpha Delta, Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association, Law Student Senate, Syracuse Public Interest Network, and Latin American Law Students Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 4 <1/2> years. For part-time students, courses are offered days only and must be completed within 4 <1/2> years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a 7-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.