School of Law

Villanova University, School of Law History

Villanova University School of Law was established in 1953 and is a private institution. The 250-acre campus is in a suburban area 15 miles west of Philadelphia. The primary mission of the law school is to provide the opportunity for students to develop an understanding of Anglo-American law in the common-law tradition, a knowledge of federal and state statutory and administrative developments, and the analytical and practice skills required by the modern lawyer and to do so in a community with a strong sense of ethics and values. The curriculum is broad-based, especially in the profession’s obligation to the poor, and responsive to the needs of modern law practice. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Villanova area. They also have access to the numerous colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area. Facilities of special interest to law students include the library, which has 88 Pentium IV computers in multi-purpose workstations in the main reading room, 21 additional PC workstations elsewhere, 9 high-speed printers connected to library PCs, and 181 study carrels where students with laptops can access the network and Internet. Wireless connectivity is available throughout the building. Housing for students is in off-campus apartments and other facilities. On-campus housing is not available. The university’s Director of Residence Life and the law school’s admissions office assist students in finding housing. About 98% of the law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Villanova University, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./LL.M. (Juris Doctor/Master of Law in Taxation) and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).

The law school does not have concentrations but suggests curricula for a broad range of specialties. In addition, clinics, open to second- and third- year students, include Farm workers Legal Aid (6 credits), Federal Tax (4 credits), Civil Justice (6 credits), Asylum, Refugee, and Emigrant Services (8 credits), and Advance Advocacy (2-4 credits). Seminars, also open to second- and third- year students, give students 2 credits of intensive learning, research, and writing, working closely with a faculty member. Internships/externships include the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Philadelphia, Delaware), EPA, IRS, NLRB, various District Attorney’s and judge’s offices, University Counsel’s Office, Legal Aid, the U.S. Department of Justice (Antitrust Division), Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, in-house counsel and Defenders. Research assistantships are available. Two practicum’s are offered: a Capital Defense Practicum, in which students work representing death row inmates, and a Mediation Practicum, in which students are trained for and then handle, mediations for the courts and public interest agencies. Special lecture series include Donald A. Giannella Memorial Lecture, Law Review Symposium, Environmental Law Symposium, Sports and Entertainment Law Symposium, Law and Psychology lecture series, BLSA Symposium, Symposium on Law and Catholic Thought, and Martin Luther King lectures. Villanova offers a summer program in Rome, Italy. The school also accepts up to 6 credits from an accredited American Law summer program abroad, provided it meets the standards of the school. Academic support is provided after the first semester to students at risk and to upper level students with identified learning issues or who are at risk of failing the bar exam. In support of its minority students and diversity, the law school offers a summer pre-orientation program, an active Minority Alumni Society, a minority mentoring program, several affinity groups including BLSA, LALSA, and APALSA, and a joint student/faculty/staff committee charged with fostering inclusiveness. The most widely taken electives are Corporations, Evidence, and Trial Practice.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 44 are for required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Criminal Law/Criminal Procedure, Legal Research, Legal Writing, Analysis, and Oral Advocacy, Property I and II, and Torts I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of a practical skills writing course, a research paper course, Appellate Advocacy, Constitutional Law I and II, and Legal Profession. A wide variety of clinics, practicum’s, and externships is available. Students are encouraged, but not required, to take advantage of these opportunities. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 2 1/2 day course, Introduction to Legal Analysis and Legal Studies and an introduction to law school with an emphasis on public service.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 1.75, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and Constitutional Law I and II, and upper level Appellate Advocacy and Legal Professional. The upper-division writing requirement consists of a research paper course and a practical writing course.

Villanova University, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 338,121 hard-copy volumes and 1,103,221 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 1130 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CIS Universe, DIALOG, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, CCH Tax Library, RIA Checkpoint, Social Science Research network, HeinOnLine, TRAC, BNA Tax Management Library, PA Law Library, and UN Treaty Collection are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a government documents depository. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 9138 to 1 and to students is 465 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 at LSAC forums, through outreach programs offered by various minority student groups on campus through the Deirdre Bailey Leadership Scholarships and by targeted mailings and targeted college visits. 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.

Villanova University, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2557 applied, 1111 were accepted, and 254 enrolled. Eleven transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 80; the median GPA was 3.4 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 52; the highest was 98.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include GPA, LSAT results, letter of recommendation, and a 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, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, and a nonrefundable application fee of $75. Letters of recommendation are not required, but 2 or 3 are suggested. Deposits are required of students after acceptance. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis beginning in December. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is February. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Villanova University, School of Law Financial Aid

About 82% 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 $42,145; maximum, $73,789. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is March 1. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include Deidre Bailey Scholarships. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Villanova University, School of Law Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 16%, minorities; 4%, African American; 8%, Asian American; 4%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from the Northeast (83%). The average age of entering students is 23; age range is 21 to 45. About 48% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 7% have a graduate degree, and 52% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 1% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 99% remain to receive a law degree.

Law students publish the Villanova Law Review, Villanova Environmental Law Journal, and Villanova Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. Law students edit, with the faculty, the Journal of Catholic Social Thought and the Journal of Law and Investment Management, Women’s Law Forum (online), and the Villanova International Law Quarterly Newsletter. Students contribute to The Gavel Gazette, the school’s weekly newsletter. Annually, the school sponsors the Reimel Moot Court Competition and students participate in numerous outside moot court competitions, including Jessup Law and Benton. Other competitions include the ABA Client Interviewing and Counseling Competition and Trial Practice. Competition is offered by students in the for-credit trial competition courses. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include Women’s Law Caucus, Public Interest Fellowship Program, Gay-straight Alliance (Outlaw), Student Bar Association, Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), Phi Delta Phi, the Justinian Society, and the Federalist Society.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. The majority of courses are offered during the day and must be completed within 3 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is no summer session. Transferable summer courses are not offered.