Drake University Law School: A Comprehensive Overview

Drake University Law School, with roots tracing back to 1865, stands as one of the nation's 25 oldest law schools. Fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), Drake Law provides a personalized educational experience, underscored by a low student-to-faculty ratio. Situated in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city, it is the only law school in the area.

A Legacy of Legal Education

Founded by Iowa Supreme Court Justices George G. Wright and Chester Cole, the institution was established with the vision of providing legal education in close proximity to the courts, allowing students to witness the law in action. Justice Chester C. Cole, a co-founder of the University of Iowa, alongside Justice George G. Wright, played a pivotal role in Drake Law's establishment, marking it as the second law school founded west of the Mississippi River, following the University of Iowa.

Admissions and Costs

Prospective students applying to Drake University Law School should note the application deadline of August 1st. The application fee is $0 for both full-time and part-time programs. For the full-time program, the tuition is $49,908. The student-faculty ratio is 6.3:1, ensuring personalized attention.

The total cost of attendance, encompassing tuition, fees, and living expenses, is $68,974 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Approximately 90% of entering students receive scholarships, making legal education more accessible. The Admissions Committee carefully considers all submitted information, including LSAT scores, undergraduate academic records, writing skills, letters of recommendation, leadership experience, community and extracurricular involvement, and work and life experiences.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

Drake Law School offers a wide array of programs and courses, including:

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Clinical Training: Providing hands-on experience in real-world legal settings.
Dispute Resolution: Equipping students with skills in mediation, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Environmental Law: Focusing on legal issues related to environmental protection and sustainability.
Health Care Law: Addressing the legal and ethical considerations within the healthcare industry.
Intellectual Property Law: Exploring the legal framework surrounding patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
International Law: Examining legal principles and practices governing international relations.
Business/Corporate Law: Focusing on the legal aspects of business organizations and transactions.
Constitutional Law: Delving into the interpretation and application of constitutional principles.
Contracts/Commercial Law: Covering the legal rules governing agreements and business transactions.
Criminal Law: Addressing the legal framework for criminal offenses and procedures.

Drake Law School emphasizes practical experience, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations. The school has been nationally recognized among the “Best Law Schools in Practical Training.” Drake Law Students have ample opportunities to use the legal theories they learn in class. They represent clients at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center’s Legal Clinic and Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights and intern for state and federal judges at the trial and appellate levels, with state and federal administrative agencies, the Iowa Legislature, state prosecutors and legal aid programs; and work for insurance companies, law firms and private companies in Iowa’s capitol city.

Experiential Learning

Drake’s First-Year Trial Practicum offers students the unique opportunity to observe an actual state court trial-from jury selection to verdict-in the courtroom of the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center. This program adds an important experiential learning dimension to the first-year curriculum. Drake’s clinical programs allow students to build professional experience by applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations in a state-of-the-art training facility.

Specialized Centers and Programs

Agricultural Law Center: This internationally recognized program addresses important issues in American and international law and policy regarding food production. Students conduct research, publish an agricultural law journal, and write articles on a wide range of topics. The center also offers the Summer Agricultural Law Institute.
Business Law Certificate Program: Designed to guide students interested in business or transactional practice, preparing them for careers in business law, including private practice, with state or federal agencies, or as inside counsel for private and public companies.
Constitutional Law Center: Drake is one of only four schools selected to receive a congressional endowment for the establishment of a Constitutional Law Resource Center. The center sponsors a lecture series and annual symposia featuring nationally recognized constitutional scholars.
Center for Legislative Practice: One of the few schools in the country offering a Legislative Practice Certificate. Classroom study and a wide range of internships expose students to the underpinnings of legislative and rule-making processes.
The Middleton Center for Children’s Rights: Pursues a broad agenda, advancing children’s rights through the legal process, training, public information, and public policy formation.
Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution Certificate: Drake Law School has achieved a well-deserved reputation for its education and training of future litigators, mediators, negotiators, and judges.
Public Service Certificate and Social Justice and Public Interest Lawyering Certificate: Drake Law School promotes public service not only through its academic programming such as coursework, clinics, and internships, but also through volunteerism.

Joint Degree Programs

Students may combine their Juris Doctor degree with other graduate degrees from Drake University, including:

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)

Qualified students can also earn an undergraduate degree and a law degree in six years through the 3+3 program.

International Opportunities

Students can add an international element to their legal education by participating in the summer program at the University of Nantes Law School in France.

Read also: Opportunities at Drake University

Student Life and Resources

Drake Law students participate in many student organizations and co-curricular activities. They publish two journals, the Drake Law Review and the Journal of Agricultural Law. The Drake Law Review is among the country’s most court-cited legal periodicals. The award-winning Student Bar Association and honorary societies provide students with leadership, public service, and learning opportunities.

The Career Services Office offers career planning and counseling services, assistance with résumé and cover letter preparation, salary and geographical employment statistics, nationwide job postings, and state bar examination information. The office also arranges interviews-both on and off campus-and exchanges job listings with over 100 other law schools around the country.

Graduate Law Programs (LLM/MJ)

Drake Law School’s graduate law program is open to both American and international students on a full-time or part-time basis, allowing each student to pursue an individualized course of study toward a Master of Laws (LLM) degree. Any applicant who holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school, an LLB, or an equivalent degree from an international law school is eligible for the LLM program.

An LLM degree is ideal for American students who seek an advanced curriculum that facilitates their transition to practice or for practitioners who seek to expand their practices into new areas. For an international student, an LLM degree attests to the student’s knowledge and understanding of American law and culture, as well as to the student’s English language proficiency.

Drake Law offers an LL.M. in Individualized Legal Studies, an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law, and an LL.M. in Compliance and Risk Management. The LL.M. and international legal principles and is qualified to compete effectively in the globalized legal environment. and who holds an LL.M.

LLM in Intellectual Property Law: Provides an exceptional learning environment to prepare transnational IP lawyers for today’s global business environment.
LLM in Individualized Legal Studies: Allows each student to build his or her own program to fit their individual career goals and interests.

Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.)

The Master of Jurisprudence program is open to students who have received a bachelor's degree, but have not earned a J.D. or its foreign equivalent. Credits earned as an M.J. student are not transferrable should a student later decide to pursue the J.D.

Master of Jurisprudence in Compliance and Risk Management (M.J.): Drake University’s 100% online Master of Jurisprudence trains non-lawyers in the legal concepts and systems needed to ensure companies are meeting government regulations and adhering to ethical standards in fields such as financial services, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, and utilities.

Facilities and Location

Drake Law School's facilities include the award-winning Dwight D. Opperman Hall and Law Library and state-of-the-art Neal and Bea Smith Legal Clinic.

With more than a half million residents, the Des Moines metropolitan area is home to art and music festivals, a thriving nightlife, several professional sports teams, world-class restaurants, and Broadway shows. There are hundreds of miles of recreation trails, and Des Moines’ vibrant downtown is only a few minutes from campus. Des Moines offers numerous opportunities for affordable housing within walking distance to campus.

Notable Alumni

Roscoe Jones, Jr.

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