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Widener University Delaware Law School

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Coordinates: 39°49′02″N 75°32′46″W / 39.817305°N 75.546042°W / 39.817305; -75.546042
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For the law school at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, see Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Delaware Law School
Parent schoolWidener University
Established1971; 53 years ago (1971)
School typePrivate law school
Parent endowment$87,246,740[1]
DeanTodd J. Clark
LocationWilmington, Delaware, United States
39°49′02″N 75°32′46″W / 39.817305°N 75.546042°W / 39.817305; -75.546042
Enrollment536 (full-time), 127 (part-time) (October 2023)[2]
Faculty33 (full-time), 56 (part-time)[2]
USNWR ranking175 (tied) (2024)[3]
Bar pass rate51.65% (2022 overall first-time takers)
64.79% (2023 PA first-time takers)
53.85% (2022 DE first-time takers)
Websitedelawarelaw.widener.edu

Widener University Delaware Law School (Delaware Law School and formerly Widener University School of Law) is a private law school in Wilmington, Delaware. It is one of two separate ABA-accredited law schools of Widener University. Widener University Law School was founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School and became affiliated with Widener in 1975.[4] In 1989, it was known as Widener University School of Law when it was combined with the campus in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 2015, the two campuses separated, with the Harrisburg one renamed to Widener University Commonwealth Law School.

History

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Founded in 1971 as The Delaware Law School, the institution became affiliated with then Widener College, later becoming 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. 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, faculty, students, and curriculum.

Campus

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Located in Wilmington, Delaware Law School's 40-acre campus is home to 686 students.[2][5]

Academics

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Widener's legal education program included legal clinics that 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.

The campus offers a variety of pro-bono work or community outreach opportunities through the Public Interest Resource Center.[6] Students also have the opportunity participate in extra and co-curricular activities such as Moot court, Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society, and two law reviews: the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and the Widener Law Review.

Admissions

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For the class entering in 2023, the school accepted 67.83% of applicants, with 32.52% of those accepted enrolling. The average enrollee had a 150 LSAT score and 3.26 undergraduate GPA.[7]

Ranking

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In the 2013 edition of the U.S. News & World Report  "Best Law School Rankings", Widener was classified as a "fourth Tier" law school and the full-time JD program was not given a numerical value, as U.S. News then only ranked the Top 145, with the rest being unranked.[8][9] For the 2022 rankings, Widener was ranked in the 147th–193rd ranking category (bottom 25%). For its 2024 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked Widener tied for #175 out of 196 ABA schools (bottom 10.71%) and in the #64-70 ranking category out of 70 part-time schools.[3] 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.[10]

Study abroad

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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.

Post-graduation

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Bar passage

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In 2022, the overall bar pass rate for Widener Delaware first-time examination takers was 51.65%. The Ultimate Bar Pass Rate, which the ABA defines as the pass rate for graduates who sat for bar exams within two years of graduating, was 84.56% for the class of 2020.[11]

Costs

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The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Widener for the 2023–2024 academic year is $81,484.[12] The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $280,753.[13]

Employment statistics

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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.[14][15]

According to Widener's official 2023 ABA-required disclosures, 63% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation (i.e., jobs as lawyers).[16] Widener's Law School Transparency under-employment score was 18.6%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2022 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[17]

Student loan debt

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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.[18]

Partnerships

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Undergraduate programs

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Qualified undergraduate students at Widener University are eligible to apply to the law school under three special admissions programs.[19]

  • Express Admissions Program – Students in the top half of their class who score in the top 50th percentile on the LSAT are eligible to apply for express admission to the law school.[20]
  • 3+3 Fast Track Program – Government and politics students can earn their undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor degree in just six years.[21]
  • Legal Studies and Analysis Minor – This minor partners the undergraduate college with the law school to help prepare Widener students for the LSAT.[22]

Stockton University

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Beginning in 2009, Widener Law has offered an express admissions option to students and alumni from Stockton University.[23]

  • Express Admissions Program – Stockton students and graduates are eligible to apply for express admission to either campus.[24]

Notable faculty

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  • Joseph R. Biden Jr., was an adjunct professor who co-taught a seminar from 1991 through fall 2008, until he assumed the role of Vice President of the United States.[25]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ^ "Widener University - US News Best Colleges". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "2023 Standard 509 Information Report -Widener Delaware School of Law". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Widener University--Delaware". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Delaware Law School at Widener University". sites.udel.edu. Delaware Law School at Widener University. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Delaware Campus Quick Facts" (PDF). Widener University School of Law. Retrieved 2011-05-10.
  6. ^ Besso, Michele (July 9, 2006). "Youths learn basics of finance". Delaware Online. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  7. ^ "2023 Standard 509 Information Report -Widener Delaware School of Law". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Best Law School Rankings | Law Program Rankings | US News". Grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  9. ^ "Methodology: 2016 Best Law Schools Rankings". US News. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  10. ^ "PreLaw - Back to School 2010". Nxtbook.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  11. ^ "Widener Delaware Law School - Bar Passage". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Tuition and Fees | Widener Law's Office of the Bursar administers tuition and bill payment". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  13. ^ "Find a Law School". LST Score Reports. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  14. ^ Rosin, Gary. "Full Rankings: Bar Admission Required, Full-Time, Long Term", The Faculty Lounge, 30 March 2013. Retrieved on 2 May 2013
  15. ^ "Home". Employmentsummary.abaquestionnaire.org. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  16. ^ "Consumer Information and ABA Required Disclosures". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  17. ^ "Find a Law School". LST Score Reports. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  18. ^ "Grad Debt Programs | Top Law Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools". Grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
  19. ^ "Widener University Partnership". Widener Law. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  20. ^ "Widener University Express Admissions". Widener Law. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  21. ^ "Widener Fast Track". Widener Law. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  22. ^ "Stockton Partnership". Widener Law. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  23. ^ "Stockton Express Admissions". Widener Law. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  24. ^ "Widener Staff Page of Joe Biden". Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2009-03-11.
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