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Widener University School of Law

Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M., S.J.D., and M.J. (Master of Jurisprudence), D.L. (Doctor of Laws). 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.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.M.P. (Juris Doctor/Master of Marine Policy), J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health), and J.D./Psy.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Psychology in Law).

Students must take 12 to18 credits in their area of concentration. The Widener University School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, environmental law, litigation, health law, and technology and law. In addition, clinics for up to 8 credits include Environmental Law, Family Law, Consumer Bankruptcy, Veterans Affairs, and Criminal Defense. Clinical education also includes a comprehensive trial advocacy training program. Seminars are offered in a variety of specialized areas, to all upper-level students. Students may take part in externships 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 or directed research project. The Law School’s law journals, moot court, and trial advocacy programs, and the many institutes and organizations provide additional opportunities for scholarly research. Field work opportunities include the Wolcott Fellowship Program, which places students each academic year as part-time clerks for the Delaware Supreme Court. The Francis G. Pileggi Distinguished Lecture in Law is an annual lecture series featuring practitioners, judges, academicians, and distinguished experts in corporate law, held for the benefit of the Delaware bench and bar and Widener students. Summer-abroad programs are offered at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, and the University of Venice in Italy. The Academic Support Program provides a comprehensive program focusing on basic examination skills, study and outlining skills, and time management. The content of the program varies by academic level. An intensive Legal Analysis course is also offered for some second-year students. Specialized programs for minority students are offered through the Career Development Office, the Black Law Students Association, and the Minority Law Students Association. The Delaware Community Foundation Fellowship provides an opportunity to explore the area of trusts and estates and the Chadwick Constitutional Education Fellowship involves work with high school students in the area of constitutional law. The most widely taken electives are Wills and Trusts, Family Law, and Trial Advocacy.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 57 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, Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Methods I/Analysis, Legal Methods II/Advocacy, Property I and II, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Administrative Law, Business Organizations, Constitutional Law II, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Federal Income Tax, Legal Methods III, Professional Responsibility, and Sales and Leases. The required orientation program for first-year students is 1-week and 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.

Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 2376 applied, 932 were accepted, and 351 enrolled. Four transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 53; the median GPA was 3.13 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 20; the highest was 90.

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 recommended. 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.

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 $29,326; maximum, $46,729. 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. Deferred tuition loans are offered to students maintaining a satisfactory GPA. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

Students

About 43% of the student body are women; 15%, minorities; 6%, African American; 7%, Asian American; and 2%, Hispanic. The majority of students come from the Northeast (99%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 21 to 70. About 65% of students enter directly from undergraduate school, 12% have a graduate degree, and 35% have worked full-time prior to entering law school. About 24% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 76% remain to receive a law degree.

The primary law reviews are Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and The Widener Law Review. Other law reviews include the Widener Journal of Law, Economics and Race . The student newspaper is The Law Forum. The Health Institute publishes the Newsletter of the Society of Health Care Attorneys. The Moot Court Honor Society sponsors the G. Fred DiBona Competition and the Delaware-Harrisburg Moot Court Competition, and hosts the Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court Competition. The Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society sponsors the Hugh B. Pearce Trial Competition. Law student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include the Student Bar Association, ADR Society, Black Law Students Association, ACLU, ATLA, Phi Delta Phi, Rugby Club, Women’s Law Caucus, and Health Law Society.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed with 5 years. Evening classes are offered on a space-available basis. For part-time students, courses are offered both day and evening and some elective courses are offered on Saturdays 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.

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