Washington University School of Law: A Comprehensive Overview

Washington University School of Law (WashULaw), situated within Washington University in St. Louis, is a private law school committed to providing its students with an outstanding legal education within an intellectually stimulating and collaborative environment. This article delves into various aspects of WashULaw, including its history, academics, clinical programs, career development initiatives, student life, and location advantages.

A Legacy of Excellence

Originally known as The St. Louis Law School, WashULaw holds the distinction of being one of the oldest law schools west of the Mississippi River. Its commitment to inclusivity is evident in its early embrace of women in law, being among the first law schools to admit female students. In 1869, Lemma Barkeloo and Phoebe Couzins enrolled, marking a significant step towards gender equality in legal education.

Academics: A Foundation for Success

WashULaw offers a broad-based, flexible curriculum designed to cultivate applied lawyering skills. The school confers JD, LLM, MLS, and JSD degrees, along with dual-degree programs in collaboration with other university schools, and graduates approximately 230 to 250 JD students annually.

JD Program

The three-year, full-time Juris Doctor (JD) program forms the cornerstone of WashULaw's academic offerings.

First-Year Experience

All first-year students benefit from small class sizes, with half of their courses held in sections of 45 students or fewer. These intimate settings foster active participation in class discussions and facilitate individualized interaction between students and faculty. The first-year curriculum includes core courses such as Contracts, Property, Torts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, and Criminal Law. Students also complete Legal Practice I & II and Legal Research Methodologies I & II throughout the year.

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Upper-Level Flexibility

Second- and third-year students enjoy complete freedom in selecting their courses, allowing them to tailor their studies to align with their specific interests. Students can also enroll in courses from other graduate programs at the university, applying up to six credit hours towards their JD requirements. To graduate, JD students must complete 86 semester hours of credit.

Joint Degree Programs

WashULaw offers a variety of joint-degree programs, allowing students to combine their legal studies with other disciplines. These include:

JD-MBA, with the Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School
JD-MSW, with the Washington University in St. Louis Brown School

LL.M. Programs

For students seeking advanced legal knowledge, WashULaw offers several Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs:

LL.M. in U.S. Law for international students
LL.M. in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
LL.M. in Intellectual Property & Technology Law
LL.M. in Taxation

Additional Programs

Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program
Dual LL.M. in Taxation
Online LL.M. in U.S. Law for international students
Online Master of Legal Studies

Experiential Learning: Bridging Theory and Practice

WashULaw distinguishes itself through its commitment to experiential learning. With 19 clinics and externships, the Clinical Education Program provides students with invaluable opportunities to hone professional skills and values by working with clients, attorneys, judges, and legislators under the guidance of experienced faculty. WashULaw ensures that all students have at least one experiential learning opportunity during law school through its Practical Experience Guarantee.

Semester-in-Practice (SIP) Externship

This program allows second- and third-year law students to gain hands-on professional experience anywhere in the United States. Students earn academic credit by working full-time for a nonprofit, government, or in-house corporate law office in their chosen location. They work directly with an attorney/field supervisor and receive oversight from a faculty supervisor at the law school.

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Academic Partnership with the Brookings Institution

WashULaw has established an academic partnership with the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, further expanding opportunities for students to engage with policy and research.

Commitment to Public Service

WashULaw demonstrates a strong commitment to public service and lawyering in the public interest through various initiatives:

Webster Society Scholarship: Provides full tuition for three years and an annual stipend to entering JD students with exemplary academic credentials and a demonstrated commitment to public service.
Guaranteed Funding for 1L Summer Internships: Ensures funding for first-year students who work in summer internships in public service.
Mel Brown Family Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP): Assists graduates beginning their careers in public service positions.
Public Interest Law and Policy Speakers Series: Brings prominent lecturers to campus each year.

Career Development: Launching Successful Careers

The Center for Career Development (CCD) at WashULaw plays a crucial role in connecting students with outstanding employment opportunities nationwide. The CCD offers a range of services, including:

On-campus and off-campus recruiting programs
Workshops
Mock interview program
Networking and skill development programs
Clerkship and fellowship information
Employer research resources
Informational sessions on different practice areas

With a team of JD Strategists and professional staff, the CCD adopts a proactive, individualized approach to working with students. WashULaw graduates practice in all 50 states and 24 countries, reflecting the school's national and international reach.

Student Life: A Vibrant Community

WashULaw fosters a supportive and engaging student community. Students describe their peers as friendly, social, and laid-back. The school promotes a culture of hard work and sociability, where students are competitive yet supportive of one another. Social events, such as the weekly Friday Happy Hour and the SBA-organized bar review, provide opportunities for students to connect and unwind.

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Location Advantages: St. Louis and Beyond

WashULaw's location in St. Louis offers several advantages:

Thriving Legal Community: St. Louis boasts a sophisticated legal community with numerous major corporations, law firms of all sizes, governmental agencies, and advocacy groups, providing ample opportunities for internships and practical experiences.
Affordable Cost of Living: Compared to other major metropolitan areas, St. Louis offers a lower cost of living, making it an attractive option for law students on a budget.
Access to Cultural and Recreational Amenities: The neighborhoods surrounding Washington University offer desirable housing, bookshops, coffee shops, cultural institutions, sports, restaurants, and more. Forest Park, one of the nation's great urban green spaces, is located across the street from campus.
Housing Concierge: The Admissions Office provides a Housing Concierge to assist incoming first-year students in finding suitable housing in St. Louis.

Facilities: State-of-the-Art Learning Environment

The law school is housed in Anheuser-Busch and Seigle Halls, state-of-the-art facilities that provide vibrant spaces for collaboration and community building. These buildings incorporate the latest computing and multimedia technologies, including wireless connections and digital signage. The law library, with its collection of over 675,000 volumes and access to online databases, serves as the focal point for intellectual activity at the law school.

Admission and Financial Aid

All admitted students are automatically considered for scholarships. The majority of students receive some scholarship assistance, and two-thirds receive loans. The school's low cost of living and financial aid opportunities help to make legal education more accessible.

Notable Alumni

WashULaw has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to law, government, business, and academia. Some notable alumni include:

Francis J. Beckwith: Philosopher and professor
Jonathan Kanter: Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust
Whitney R. Harris: Prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials
David Bohigian: Assistant Secretary of Commerce from 2005 to 2009 under George W. Bush
Victor J. Miller: Mayor of St. Louis

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