| Sturm College of Law | |
| Parent: | University of Denver |
| Established: | 1892 |
| Type: | Private |
| Parent Endowment: | $620.24 million[1] |
| Dean: | Bruce Smith |
| City: | Denver |
| State: | Colorado |
| Country: | United States |
| Students: | 735 full-time138 part-time[2] |
| Acceptance Rate: | 37.66% |
| Faculty: | 155 |
| Ranking: | 89th (tie) (2024)[3] |
| Bar Pass Rate: | 83.54% |
| Website: | www.law.du.edu |
The Sturm College of Law ("Denver Law") is the professional graduate law school of the University of Denver. It is one of two law schools in the state of Colorado. Founded in 1892, the Sturm College of Law was one of the first in America's Mountain West. The college is located on the University of Denver's campus, about seven miles south of downtown Denver. According to Denver Law's 2017 ABA-required disclosures, 67.9% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[4]
The University of Denver College of Law opened 1892.[5] Westminster Law School, founded in 1912, merged with the University of Denver College of Law in 1957. It provided the only evening program west of Kansas City. One term of the merger required the development of an evening program at the College of Law. In addition, the law library was named the Westminster Law Library.[6]
The Sturm College of Law is named for Donald L. Sturm, owner of Denver-based American National Bank, who gave the College of Law $20 million in 2003.[7]
Since the fall of 2003, the Sturm College of Law has resided in the Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building located on the University Park campus near the Ritchie Center.[8] The new facility is distinguished as the nation's first certified "green" law building, having been awarded the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.[9]
The University of Denver is currently ranked 78th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.[10] According to the 2014 U.S. News Peer Reputation Rankings the University of Denver Sturm College of Law ranked 55th in the nation out of 194 ranked law schools.
The school was ranked 40th for public interest law by the National Jurist.[11] To support this initiative, the Sturm College of Law offers the Chancellor's Scholar Program with full tuition scholarships awarded to selected students.[12] Every Juris Doctor student is required to perform a minimum of 50 hours of supervised, uncompensated, law-related public service work as a prerequisite for graduation.[13]
The University of Denver is the home of the first clinical programs in the nation, founded in 1904.[5]
The University of Denver's Center for Advocacy (CFA) was established in 2009 with a focus on providing Professional Education for its law students. It emphasizes synthesizing critical thinking, the law, and the professional knowledge required to succeed in the practice of law. The CFA focuses on the four areas of advocacy: Trial Advocacy; Pre-Trial Advocacy; Appellate Advocacy; and Client Advocacy.
The CFA's national prominence and reputation are evidenced by its annual prominent position in the rankings of advocacy programs in the U.S.
The majority of the law school's graduates ultimately practice in litigation or litigation-related careers. The CFA provides a professional approach, effectively employing both theoretical and simulated educational modalities, to prepare students for success in the “Profession That Takes the Oath.” The CFA's balanced approach to preparing students provides offerings that are seeded in three primary areas.
COURSES. The CFA offers a wide array of professionally-focused courses that provide students the opportunity to earn a Concentration in Trial & Litigation with a Focus in Criminal Litigation or Civil Litigation. The majority of the courses offered by the CFA are taught by professionals and practitioners in the given field in which they are teaching.
TEAMS. The CFA sponsors competitive “teams” that participate in educational tournaments across the U.S. The CFA's teams have a rich history of winning championships in both national “open” tournaments and national invitationals. The school's National Trial Team participates in the trial advocacy arena (mock trial), and the school's 14 appellate teams compete in the moot court arena. These teams are taught by practicing attorneys and presiding judges experienced in the specific field in which they are teaching.
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. The CFA hosts numerous intra-school trial advocacy and appellate based educational tournaments throughout the academic year. Judges and attorneys are heavily involved in these educational exhibitions, providing students a wealth of professional insight and mentoring.
All of these CFA offerings provide a rigorous, professional education platform by which any student can prepare themselves for success in their legal career.
54.1% of the Class of 2013 were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs (excepting solo practitioners) nine months after graduation. 31% of the Class of 2011 were employed in part-time or short-term jobs, unemployed and seeking employment or pursuing additional education. The employment status of 1.4% of the Class of 2011 was unknown. 0.7% of the Class of 2011 obtained a federal clerkship. 4.5% of the Class of 2011 were known to be employed in law firms of 101 attorneys or more. 18.1% of the Class of 2011 were known to be employed in full-time, long-term government or public interest jobs. 9.8% of the Class of 2011 were employed in school funded jobs. 37.3% of the Class of 2011 reported a full-time salary.[14]
Tuition for the 2014–15 academic year is $42,120 for full-time students and $30,888 for part-time students. The total cost of attendance including tuition, fees and living expenses is $60,951 for full-time students and $49,687 for part-time students.[15]
Law School Transparency calculates that the total debt-financed full cost of attendance for students in the Class of 2016, who do not receive tuition discounts (scholarships), to be $208,407.[14] Law School Transparency projects that the monthly payment for the 10-year plan to be $2,477.[16]
For full-time students in the class of 2016, Law School Transparency estimates that the total debt-financed cost of attendance for students who do not receive any scholarships is $208,407. This cost includes the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses for 3 years, and the cost of student loan interest accrued over this time.
In the 2013–14 academic year, 46% of students received scholarships and the average scholarship award was $21,000.[17] Average indebtedness for 2013 graduates who borrowed at least 1 loan was $130,981.[18]