Parent school Widener University School type Private Location Wilmington, DE Undergraduate tuition and fees 13,410 USD (2015) Dean Rodney A. Smolla Total enrollment 1,455 (2011) | Established 1971 Parent endowment $87,246,740 Faculty 66 Acceptance rate 52% (2011) Phone +1 302-477-2162 Founded 1971 | |
Address 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA Notable alumni Patrick Murphy, Mark B Cohen, Eugene DePasquale, Todd Stephens, Mike Missanelli Similar Widener University, Pennsylvania State University, Widener University - Harrisburg, Villanova University School of, Temple University Beasley Profiles |
"Widener University Delaware Law School" (also known as Delaware Law School) and "Widener University Commonwealth Law School" (also known as Widener Law Commonwealth) are Widener University's two, ABA-accredited law schools, which had been (until July 1, 2015) the two campuses of Widener University School of Law. The latter, unified school had been founded in 1971 as "The Delaware Law School" and operated on one of Widener's campuses, in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1989, the law school expanded to another Widener campus, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and became the Widener University School of Law. On July 1, 2015, the two campuses were separated into two distinct law schools that operate independently of each other, but remain part of the university. Each law school has its own dean.
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History
Founded in 1971 as The Delaware Law School, the institution became affiliated with then Widener College, later Widener University in 1975 and graduated its first class of 267 in August of that year. The school's name was officially changed to Widener University School of Law in 1989 when the Harrisburg campus was added. With an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, Widener Law grew to become one of the largest Pennsylvania-area law schools.
Delaware
Located in Wilmington, the corporate capital of the world, Widener's 40 acre campus is home to 817 students. The campus offers numerous degrees, many with an emphasis on corporate law. Rodney A. Smolla serves as dean of Widener University Delaware Law School.
Harrisburg
The Harrisburg campus is located minutes from the state capitol building and downtown Harrisburg. The 22 acre campus is home to the Widener Law & Government Institute, which specializes in the study and improvement of government law. The Harrisburg campus boasts a total enrollment of approximately 364 full-time and part-time students. Christian A. Johnson serves as dean of Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pa.
Overview
Widener provides a comprehensive legal education program including offering its students the opportunity to work on court cases through legal clinics. The clinics specialize in environmental law, criminal defense, and civil law; which includes family law, and legal assistance on veteran benefits cases. Another opportunity provided to its students is the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute which offers an eight-day training program that teaches students how to conduct themselves properly in a courtroom trial.
In addition to legal clinics and the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute, Widener offers certification in specialized fields of study. At the Delaware campus it offers special certification from the Health Law Institute, the Institute of Delaware Corporate and Business Law, and the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute. At the Harrisburg campus special certification is available through the Law and Government Institute.
Both campuses offer a variety of pro-bono work or community outreach opportunities through the Public Interest Initiative on the Harrisburg campus or the Public Interest Resource Center on the Delaware campus. Students also have the opportunity to participate in extra and co-curricular activities such as Moot court, Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society, and four law reviews; The Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, The Widener Law Journal, and The Widener Law Review and the Widener Journal of Law, Economics, and Race.
Degree programs
Grading curve
Widener's grading policy is self-described as rigorous.
The curve is known as a Grade Normalization Policy. The Harrisburg campus updated its policy in 2009 and the Delaware campus updated it in 2011. The policies are included in the online student handbooks for each campus. They state:
Harrisburg Grade Normalization Policy: Section 101
Delaware Grade Normalization Policy: Section 101.
Ranking
In the 2013 edition of the U.S. News & World Report "Best Law School Rankings", Widener is classified as a "Second Tier" law school and the full-time JD program is not given a numerical value, as U.S. News only ranks the Top 145, with the rest being placed in the "Second Tier" However, the part-time JD program is ranked 36th in the nation. In 2010, Widener University School of Law was named to a national list of “Top Green Schools” based on the strength of Widener’s environmental law curriculum and the school’s earth-friendly practices. The median LSAT score and the median GPA for the Delaware-campus class entering in 2012 were 150 and 3.09 respectively. The median LSAT score and the median GPA for the Harrisburg-campus class entering in 2012 were 149 and 3.17 respectively.
Study abroad
Study abroad is offered through the Summer International Law Institute. There are 3 institutes available to students: Kenya, Switzerland and Italy. While abroad, students sometimes have the ability to intern with international organizations.
Bar passage
Since 1998, over 3,600 Widener Law graduates have been admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar – more than any other Pennsylvania area law school. The bar exam pass rate for first-time takers of the July 2012 Pennsylvania exam was 80 percent for both Widener Law campuses. The bar exam pass rate for Widener University School of Law Delaware Campus students taking the February 2013 Pennsylvania exam was third highest of all 10 Pennsylvania are law schools. The July 2013 Pennsylvania bar exam pass rate for Widener University School of Law Delaware Campus and Harrisburg Campus were the lowest (71%) and second lowest (75%) respectively of the 10 Pennsylvania area law schools.
Costs
The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Widener for the 2013-2014 academic year is $59,933. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $230,150.
Employment statistics
According to the law professor blog, The Faculty Lounge, based on 2012 ABA data, 38.7% of graduates obtained full-time long term positions requiring bar admission (i.e., jobs as lawyers), 9 months after graduation, ranking 177th out of 197 law schools.
According to Widener's official 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 48% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation. Widener's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 20.3%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.
Class of 2012
Class of 2011
Class of 2010
Class of 2009
Student loan debt
According to U.S. News & World Report, the average indebtedness of 2013 graduates who incurred law school debt was $130,180 (not including undergraduate debt), and 91% of 2013 graduates took on debt.
Undergraduate programs
Qualified undergraduate students at Widener University are eligible to apply to the law school under three special admissions programs.
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
Since 1998, Widener Law's Harrisburg Campus (now the Widener University Commonwealth Law School) has partnered with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to offer streamlined admissions and scholarship opportunities to highly qualified students and alumni from the 14 state universities.
Stockton University
Beginning in 2009, Widener Law has offered an express admissions option to students and alumni from Stockton University.
Dauphin County Bar Association
Beginning in 2014, Widener Commonwealth Law School created the a joint venture with the Duaphin County Bar Association, to create a legal incubator program. The program is housed within the Dauphin County Bar Association’s office while Widener provides legal education and support. The program's mission is to allow new graduates the resources, space, and training needed to create new solo law firms which benefit the local community.
Notable faculty
Notable alumni
As of 2010, the School of Law has more than 13,000 alumni practicing around the world.