School of Law

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law History

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law was established in 1961 and is a private institution. The 92-acre campus is in an urban area 60 miles from San Juan. The primary mission of the law school is to develop lawyers with a thorough training in the law and a practical mastery of legal techniques within the context of Catholic teachings. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Ponce area. Housing for students is available.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).

Clinical training is provided through the school’s downtown Ponce Legal Aid Clinic for indigent clients and through judicial clerkships in superior and federal district courts and placements with district attorney’s offices. The Center for Legal and Social Investigations allows for research under the supervision of a faculty director.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 94 total credits, of which 82 are for required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Family Law, Inroduction to Law, Legal Bibliography and Writing, Logic and Redaction, Moral and Dogmatic Theory, Obligations, and Property Law. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Advanced Logical Analysis, Appellate Practice, Civil Procedure I and II, Corporations, Evidence, Federal Jurisdiction, Legal Clinics, Legal Ethics, Mercantile law, Mortgages, Negotiable Instruments, Notarial Law, Special Contracts, Special Logical Procedures, Successions and Donations, and Torts.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 135,000 hard-copy volumes and 15,000 microform volume equivalents. Special library collections include deposits of U.S. government and United Nations documents.

Special Consideration

Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 2. Preadmissions courses consist of allowing students with an undergraduate GPA of lower than 2.5 or who don’t achieve adequate scores on the admissions exam to enroll in special remedial courses and then be admitted conditionally.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law Admissions

The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 13; the median GPA was 2.9 on a scale of 4.0. Figures in the above capsule are approximate.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable GPA is 2.5 on a scale of 4.0. The most important admission factors include GPA, LSAT results, and general background. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Check with the school for current application deadlines. Applicants should submit an application form, transcripts, and PAEG. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is June. The law school uses the LSDAS.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year about 52% 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 $2000. Awards are based on need and merit. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce, School of Law Students

About 50% of the student body are women. The average age of entering students is 24; age range is 21 to 51. About 50% of students enter directly from undergraduate school. About 11% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons.

The primary law review is the Revista de Derecho Puertorriqueno, which is edited by a student board. Law student organizations include the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, National Law Students of Puerto Rico, and the Women’s Rights Organization. Local chapters of national associations are Delta Theta Phi and Phi Alpha Delta.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time and part-time students are offered both day and evening. New full- and part-time students are admitted in the fall. There is a summer session. Transferable summer courses are not offered.