Law School

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School History

University of Wisconsin Law School was established in 1868 and is a public institution. The 933-acre campus is in an urban area In the middle of one of the world’s leading research universities. The law school pioneered the belief that law must be studied in action as it relates to society, and not in isolation. The law school focuses on helping its students understand how law both affects and is affected by every other institutional force in society. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Madison area. All of the resources of the University of Wisconsin, including educational, cultural, and social opportunities, are available to law students. Facilities of special interest to law students include the State Capitol, State Supreme Court, Federal District Court, and County Court located in Madison, less than 1 mile from the law school. Housing for students is available at the university, but most students live in private rental property close to campus. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., S.J.D., and M.L.I. (Master of Arts or Master of Science in Legal Institutitions). Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits unless student credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: Law and Business, Law and Environmental Studies, Law and Latin American and Iberian Studies, Law and Library and Information Services, Law and Philosophy (Ph.D. level only), Law and Public Affairs, Law and Sociology (Ph.D.) and Rural Sociology, and J.D./M.B.A. Juris Doctor/Law and Business.

The Law School offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, securities law, sports law, tax law, torts and insurance, public interest law, and estate planning. In addition, See www.law.wisc.edu/academics/clinics/index.htm for a list of clinics offered. Numerous seminars are available, as well as internships, research programs, field work, tutorial programs, and special interest group programs. Study abroad is possible through the Germany, Holland, Italy, Chile, Peru, South Africa, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, and Asia programs. An individualized instruction service, offering writing assistance, workshops on study skills, test taking, time management, research papers, and other topics is available to all students. The Legal Education Opportunities Program is available for students of color. Many special interest programs are available. The most widely taken electives are Business Organizations, Tax, and Administrative Law.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 40 to 45 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, Contracts I, Criminal Procedure, Introduction to Substantive Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Property, and Torts I. Required upper-level courses consist of Civil Procedure II, Constitutional Law I, Contract II, International Law, and Legal Process. An extensive selection of clinical courses is available for students who wish to participate.The required orientation program for first-year students is a 3-day program that includes a check-in with the Admissions Office staff, community service day, case briefing workshop, first-year convocation, informal gatherings, and student photos.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, and have completed the upper-division writing requirement, Graduates who meet certain course requirements are admitted to the bar without taking a bar examination.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 404,061 hard-copy volumes and 163,356 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 6073 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CIS Universe, DIALOG, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, and local and Internet access to a wide range of resources are available to law students for research. Special library collections include criminal justice, foreign and international law materials, and a federal depository. Recently, the library expanded and redesigned, and added staff and additional resources to the student computer laboratory. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 5772 to 1 and to students is 480 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 7.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through mailings, law school and graduate school days, minority career fairs, and a network of alumni and current students. 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 due to enrollment pressures, transfer applications are accepted primarily on the basis of class rank in the transferring law school, or, if class rank is unavailable, on the basis of other evidence of academic performance.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2633 applied, 770 were accepted, and 264 enrolled. Nine transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 84; the median GPA was 3.58 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 11; the highest was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. When reviewing a file no one factor is more important than another. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is February 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, a nonrefundable application fee of $56, 2 letters of recommendation, and r

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School Financial Aid

About 84% 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 $30,000; maximum, $42,468. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statements are the FAFSA and student tax form. The aid application deadline for fall entry is March 1. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include need- and merit-based scholarships with criteria preference for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at the time they apply to law school.

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Law School Students

About 47% of the student body are women; 29%, minorities; 8%, African American; 8%, Asian American; 8%, Hispanic; 3%, Native American; and 2%, Middle Eastern. The majority of students come from Wisconsin (60%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 20 to 65. About 42% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 8% have a graduate degree, and 58% have worked full-time prior to entering law school.

Students edit the Wisconsin Law Review, Wisconsin International Law Journal, Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender and Society, and Praxis, a student Journal. Moot court competitions include Evan A. Evans Constitutional Law Competition, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, and Saul Lefkowitz IP Moot Court. There are numerous writing competitions. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include Black Law Students Association, Indigenous Law Students Association, Latino Law Students Association, American Constitution Society, Federalist Society, National Lawyers Guild, Intellectual Property Students Association, Asian Pacific American/South Asian Law Students Association and Business and Tax Law Association.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 6 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 13-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.