Widener University School of Law

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Widener University School of Law

Established:	1971
Type:	Private
Dean:	Linda L. Ammons
Students:	1,589 ^[1]
Location:	Wilmington, Delaware, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Campus:	Urban
Affiliations:	Widener University
Website:	law.widener.edu

The Widener University School of Law is an ABA accredited program which operates on two campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

1 History
2 Campuses
- 2.1 Delaware
- 2.2 Harrisburg
3 Academics
- 3.1 Study abroad
- 3.2 Degrees
4 Grading Curve
5 Notable alumni
6 Notable faculty
7 References
8 External links

[edit] History

Originally founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, the institution became affiliated with Widener University in 1975 and graduated its first class of 267 that year. The Harrisburg campus was added to the School of Law in 1989.

[edit] Campuses

[edit] Delaware

The Delaware campus is located north of Wilmington and has a student body of 1,100. It is situated on a forty acre campus.^[2] The campus is an East Coast Center for the National Judicial College, hosting continuing legal education opportunities for the nation's judges.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Harrisburg

The Harrisburg campus is located minutes from the Capitol building and what is known as the Capitol Complex. It has a student body of 500 full time and part time students.^[3]

[edit] Academics

Widener provides a comprehensive legal education program by providing 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 bankruptcy, family law, and legal assistance on veteran benefits cases. Another opportunity offered to its students is the Trial Advocacy 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 Trial Advocacy 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 Law, and Trial Advocacy Institute. At the Harrisburg campus special certification is available through the Law and Government Institute.^[4]

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.^[5] Students also have the opportunity to participate in extra and co-curricular activities such as Moot court, Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society, and three law reviews; The Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, The Widener Law Journal, and The Widener Law Review.

Members of the faculty have published more than 40 articles and books in the past year.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Study abroad

Study abroad is offered through the Summer International Law Institute. There are four institutes available to students; Africa, Switzerland, Italy, and Australia. While abroad students sometimes have the ability to go out on internships with international organizations.

[edit] Degrees

Juris Doctor degrees are available through both the Delaware and Harrisburg campuses either full time or part time. Also available are specialty degrees varying per location. Available at the Delaware campus is the JD/MBA in Law and Business Administration and the J.D./Psy.D. in Law and Psychology.^[6] The Harrisburg campus has the J.D./M.S.L.S. program that allows students the opportunity to get both a Juris Doctor degree and a Masters in Library Science through a partnership with Clarion University.^[7]

Graduate degrees via the Delaware campus include Master of Laws in Corporate Law and Finance (LL.M.), Master of Laws in Health Law (LL.M.), Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.), Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law (M.J.), Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.), and Doctor of Laws (D.L.).^[6] The graduate Health Law program has been ranked by the 2007 U.S. News & World report as one of the top ten graduate school programs in the nation.^[8]

[edit] Grading Curve

Widener's grading policy is self-described as difficult and rigorous. ^[9] Unlike most law schools, Widener's policy allows the average grade for first-year courses to be set as low as 2.3, which equates to a "C+." The average grade for upper level courses purports to be only slightly more lenient. ^[10] This low grading curve has been the source of controversy for some students. According to a 2007 student survey conducted by the Princeton Review and sanctioned by the school, "Widener's C grading curve is also a source of frustration. Students worry that their curved 'grade point averages might not stack up' to their competitors, 'causing us to lose out on job opportunities.'" In the same survey, students insist that the current grading policy requires some much needed reform. ^[11] This grading curve is especially arduous considering that a student needs a 2.7 GPA to participate in any journals or moot court competitions.

[edit] Notable alumni

As of 2007, the School of Law has 11,771 living alumni.^[1]

Kyle Bowser (1991 - Delaware campus), Los Angeles entertainment industry executive.
Jon D. Fox (1975 - Delaware campus), Former Congressman (R-PA) earned his J.D.
Patrick J. Murphy (1999 - Harrisburg campus), Congressman (D-PA) earned his J.D.^[12]
Cynthia R. Ryan (1979 - Delaware campus) General counsel to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
John C. Sigler, current president of the National Rifle Association.
Brian Tierney, publisher of the The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Pat Quinn, former NHL Coach and General Manager.
R.E. Clarke, Family conflict resolution specialist, former NHL player and General Manager.