Widener University School of Law

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law History

Widener University School of Law was established in 1989 and is a private institution. The 25-acre campus is in a rural area 7 miles from the capital. The primary mission of the law school is to offer students a dynamic environment from which to enter the legal profession and to encourage students to actively engage in the development of the law. Widener Law gives students a strong foundation in the fundamental theories and principles of law. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Harrisburg area. In addition, students have access to numerous resources available at the university’s main campus. Facilities of special interest to law students include extensive clinical and skills programs, moot court rooms, extensive law library, computer laboratory, lounge areas, and student dining center. Housing for students is available in several apartment complexes within walking distance of campus, including a modern apartment complex adjacent to campus. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law Academics

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.S.L.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Library Science).

Students must take 12 to 18 credits in their area of concentration. The Widener University School of Law offers concentrations in Law and Government. In the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, students represent clients in a myriad of civil litigation areas. A variety of seminars is offered in specialized topic areas to upper-level students. Students may take part in extensive externship opportunities with legislative and state agencies, district attorneys, public defenders, legal aid societies, and state and local courts. All students must complete a major research paper in a seminar or directed research. Special lecture series are provided by the Law and Government Institute and the Career Development Office. Summer-abroad programs are available at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, and the University of Venice, Italy. Widener has an Academic Support Program that provides a comprehensive program focusing on basic examination skills, studying and outlining skills, and time management. An Intensive Legal Analysis course is offered for some first-year students. Specialized programs for minority students are provided through the Career Development Office, the Black Law Students Association, and the Minority Law Students Association. The most widely taken electives are Family Law, Sports Law, and Trial Advocacy.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 66 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Legal Methods I and II, Property I and II, and Torts I and II. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Business Organizations, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Income Tax, Professional Responsibility, Sales and Leases, Secured Transactions, and Wills and Trusts. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 1-week orientation that includes an introduction to law course and informational sessions on information technology, the legal information center, stress management, student organizations, meet the faculty, financial aid, and character and fitness to practice law.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, skills requirement, Professionalism Day, and Introduction to Law.

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 284,951 hard-copy volumes and 332,719 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 6858 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Full text sources On-line, PROQUEST, UN Treaty Collection, Hein Online, CCH Research Network, RIA Checkpoint, BNA All, constitutions of the countries of the world, JSTOR, Mergent On-line, World Cat, LLMC Digital, and EBSCO Host are available to law students for research. Special library collections include state and federal depository materials, U.S. Supreme Court records and briefs, CIS Congressional library, corporate law, law and government, and health law collections. Recently, the library completed a renovation project to accommodate the growth of the collection. Wireless connections are available throughout the library. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 10,554 to 1 and to students is 642 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 programs sponsored by colleges and universities across the country. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to submit a personal statement detailing why they believe their admission would help to correct under representation of a particular minority or disadvantaged group in the legal profession. 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 submit a certified transcript and letter of good standing, and be in the top third of their law school class.

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 950 applied, 548 were accepted, and 184 enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 44; the median GPA was 3.19 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 20; the highest was 88.

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.

The application deadline for fall entry is May 15. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a nonrefundable application fee of $60, letters of recommendation are strongly suggested, but not required, and a personal statement is highly encouraged. Notification of the admissions decision is on a rolling basis. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is February. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law Financial Aid

About 85% 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 $26,911; maximum, $41,110. Awards are based on need and merit. A number of substantial scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants and continuing students. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is open. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include merit scholarships available to majority, minority and disadvantaged students, and deferred tuition. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Widener University-Harrisburg Campus, Widener University School of Law Students

About 45% of the student body are women; 8%, minorities; 2%, African American; 3%, Asian American; 2%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from Pennsylvania (92%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 21 to 53. About 65% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 8% have a graduate degree, and 35% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 18% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 82% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the Widener Law Journal, and Widener Journal of Law, Economics & Race . Moot court competitions for students include the Burton Wexler First Amendment Competition, Jerome Prince Evidence Competition, and Jessup International Law Competition. Other competitions include the Buffalo Invitational Trial Advocacy Competition, National Trial Competition, Evan Gorley Trial Advocacy Competition, and the American Association for Justice Trial Advocacy Competition. Law student organizations include the Student Bar Association, Black Law Students Association, and Minority Law Students Association. There are local chapters of ATLA, Phi Alpha Delta, and the National Association of Public Interest Law. Campus clubs include St. Thomas More Society, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and Criminal Law 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. For part-time students, courses are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 6 years. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a 7-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.