| Delaware Law School | |
| Parent: | Widener University |
| Type: | Private law school |
| Parent Endowment: | $87,246,740[1] |
| Dean: | Todd J. Clark |
| City: | Wilmington |
| State: | Delaware |
| Country: | United States |
| Coordinates: | 39.8173°N -75.546°W |
| Students: | 536 (full-time), 127 (part-time) (October 2023) |
| Faculty: | 33 (full-time), 56 (part-time) |
| Ranking: | 175 (tied) (2024) |
| Bar Pass Rate: | 51.65% (2022 overall first-time takers) 64.79% (2023 PA first-time takers) 53.85% (2022 DE first-time takers) |
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. 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.
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.
Located in Wilmington, Delaware Law School's 40-acre campus is home to 686 students.[2] [3]
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.[4] 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.
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.[5]
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.[6] [7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
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.
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.[10]
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.[11] The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $280,753.[12]
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.[13] [14]
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).[15] 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.[16]
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.[17]
Qualified undergraduate students at Widener University are eligible to apply to the law school under three special admissions programs.[18]
Beginning in 2009, Widener Law has offered an express admissions option to students and alumni from Stockton University.[22]