American University Law School is undoubtedly one of the best options you have, not only in the United States but across the two American continents. The first rule you must follow, when eyeing on a career in law, is to choose the right institution. One may also visit our page law school for a detailed information and to clear relevant queries.
But how can you get admitted to this particular prestigious university? Well, we are to figure that out. By now, you must be thinking too much about the course fees and whether you will get student loan facilities.
Before we dive deep into our topic, it’s important that we get accustomed to the rich culture and history of the institution. As an aspiring student, you would definitely want to know why you should choose American university law school in the first place.
So, let’s begin without a moment’s delay!
American University Law School – How it all started?
In 1895, aspiring lawyer Delia Sheldon Jackson applied for Ellen Spencer Mussey to apprentice her as a law student. Until that time the opportunities in the legal profession open to women were very small, and they were accepted by a few law schools.
As strongly minded, committed women were denied the privilege of joining the white schools year after year, these two feminists learned that service to others was possible from their experience and they determined to do what they could to give women the door to opportunity in the legal profession.
Interestingly, Mussey had already obtained some legal training at the law office that her husband owned and was later refused admission to the law schools of National University and Columbian College because of her gender.
Realizing both the value of the opportunity and the difficulty of the challenge, Mussey sought the aid of her colleague and mentor, Emma Gillett.
On February 1, 1896, as it was then renamed, Mussey and Gillett held the first session of the Woman’s Law College, enrolling Jackson and two other students, Nanette Paul and Helen Malcolm. This date is officially known as the establishment of the Law College of Washington. One can also visit best colleges for criminal justice and law enforcement.
Let us discuss something more about the school.
Women’s Law Class
Initially, classes of American university law school were held at Mussey’s law offices during the early days, where she taught civil law, contracts, and personal property, while Gillett taught Blackstone, Bill and Notes, and Domestic Relationships. The curriculum grew quickly within a few years, as more women decided to pursue a profession related to the law.
First Graduation Degree, 1898
The curriculum of the programs grew with the help of the new faculty, and by 1898 six women were able to begin their senior year of study. Not wanting to establish a complete school of law, Mussey and Gillet asked Columbian College‘s law school to consider the six women for their final year.
When Columbian refused the proposal on the ground that “women did not have enough mindset for law,” the two women agreed to complete the education of the students by themselves and to found a school for co-educational law.
The Washington College of Law was the world’s first women-based law school; the first to have a woman dean; and the first to graduate from an all-female law school.
Significantly, when incorporated by the District of Columbia in 1898, the original articles of incorporation of WCL stated that “primarily the college intends to provide women with such legal education as to allow them to practice the legal profession.” It is noteworthy that male enrollment began as early as 1897.
American University School Of Law: Long Live the History
American University Law School, also known as Washington College of Law, is an institution with a special history. Two visionary women- Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett-founded it more than 120 years ago, during a period when women were largely excluded from the legal profession.
The founders of American University School Of Law have developed a history of providing opportunities to those traditionally outside of the legal profession’s mainstream.
The founders of American university law school also firmly believe that lawyers played a vital role in the advancement of freedoms for culture, business, government, and individuals. Their exceptional foresight and perseverance formed the foundation for this school of law.
More than 120 years later, as a center of academic excellence in education, where women and men of all backgrounds strive to follow the founders’ mission, WCL is a testament to the values and tenacity of these people.
American University Law School Ranking
WCL ‘s Master of Laws program (LL.M.) ranks 13th nationally in the AUAP rankings for 2012. Rankings for the Brian Leiter Law School have put the WCL 47th in the 2012 Top 70 Scholarly Impact Law Faculties. In 2008, American University School of Law Ranking was fifth best law school for Hispanic students by National Jurist.
It rated WCL the nation’s 4th best school of public interest law. U.S. News & World Report places WCL 77th among the 146 ranked schools in the country. Clinical school, international law, intellectual property, and part-time programs at WCL rank 4th, 6th, 9th, and 7th respectively in the country. One can also be interested to search for top 10 colleges criminal justice.
American university law school conducts activities with respect to both human rights and the rule of public interest. WCL’s Equal Justice Foundation (EJF) offers grants for students who get unpaid summer internships with organizations of public interest.
American University Law School Tuition Fees
The gross fees for the 2018-2019 academic year (indicating tuition costs, fees, and living expenses) was $81,922. The Law School Transparency median three-year debt-funded tuition expense is $293,573. Under the U.S. News & World Report, 2013 students who accumulated law school debt reported $158,636 in debt.
This number does not include debt to undergraduate students), and 88 percent of graduates in 2013 took on debt. This shows that students opting for enrollment in the university programs are eligible for the American University Law School student loan facilities.
Placement Records
According to the official ABA-required disclosures made by the WCL in 2018, 56 percent of the 2018 class obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment within the first nine months after their graduation. On the other hand, 23 percent were working in J.D. Positions after getting qualified.
After 9 months of graduation, five percent of the 2018 students employed part-time or short-term, and 1 percent sought an additional degree at American university law school. Within 9 months of graduation, 13 percent of the 2018 class were already working professionally. Also you may interested in what jobs can you get with a criminal justice degree.
Student Registration Data
For its full-time program WCL receives more than 5,000 applications annually. WCL has submitted 3890 applications for the 2017 admissions process. The institution has enrolled 351 first-year full-time students, 62 percent of whom are women.
The incoming class of 2017 had a median GPA of 3.42 and a median LSAT of 156 (out of 180), respectively. In the 2017 entrant class of representation from 40 states, there was 41 percent minority representation.
American University Law School Degrees
The law school offers the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) in foreign or civil law, and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.); The Law College of Washington also offers an accredited Master’s degree in legal studies.
Additionally, students can also opt to get enrolled in any of the following dual degree programs:
- J.D./M.A. program in alliance with the School of International Service
- J.D./M.B.A. and LL.M/M.B.A programs co-operated with the Kogod School of Business
- J.D/M.P.P and LL.M./M.P.P. with the School of Public Affairs
- J.D./J.D. with the University of Ottawa in Canada
- J.D/J.D.(Master of Laws) in collaboration with the Monash University Faculty of Law in Australia
- J.D./Master I/Master II with the Paris West University Nanterre La Défense in France
- J.D./LL.M. with the Universidad Carlos III in Spain. One can also visit degree in criminal justice.
Clinical Program
American university law school’s clinical curriculum is among the nation’s most extensive. The School was one of the first law schools to establish a comprehensive system in legal clinical education. The program is one of the largest in the world, with more than 200 students enrolled in the 11 clinics each year.
The clinic serves a number of clients including immigrants and refugees, domestic abuse victims/survivors, minors, felony offenders, low-income families, family law support seekers, consumer, disability and intellectual property concerns, civic groups, and non-profit organizations. Clinics include the following:
• General Practice Clinic,
• Community and Economic Development Law Clinic,
• Criminal Justice Clinic,
• DC Law Students in Court Clinic,
• Disability Law Clinic,
• Domestic Violence Law Clinic,
• Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax Clinic,
• Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic,
• Immigrant Justice Clinic,
• International Human Rights Law Clinic, and
• Women and the Law Clinic.
Research courses abroad
American university law school’s study abroad program is considered one of the country’s strongest, with 30 percent of the student body traveling abroad each year. It was listed as one of the “most comprehensive study-abroad programs out of the 200 U.S. Law Schools” by the National Jurist in 2012.
Students will study law for a semester in over 18 nations. WCL also provides summer abroad programs in the following locations:
• Chile,
• Europe (London, Geneva, Paris, etc.),
• Turkey, and
• Israel.
College campus and facilities
American university law school is located on the Tenley Campus of American University, is about 1 mile from the Maryland state line. Construction was completed at the Tenley Campus in early 2016 and comprises three main buildings:
• Capital Hall– This building has been historically restored and renovated and contains administrative offices, student newspapers, 4 courtrooms, 2 classrooms, and an atrium.
• Warren Building– Brand new building, containing two and a half floors of the Pence Law Library, 9 classrooms, the official courtroom, an immersive learning center, and a roof deck at the law school.
• Yuma Building– Brand newly constructed, housing 13 classrooms, faculty offices, clinical and international facilities, dining, and 500-seat Claudio Grossman Space.
American university law school’s campus is hardly a mile away from the main American University campus. To make things easier, there is a shuttle system available for people associated with the university, both staff and students, to move between the two locations.
All the facilities are available to students and the faculty every day for 24 hours.
However, for access to the facilities of American university law school, you must have a valid card. Such a card is granted by the American University itself. You can simply go ahead and submit your application.
The Pence Law Library
The Pence Law Library is 54,000 square feet (5,000 m2), with more than 600,000 books, multi-database access, 14 community study spaces, and over 600 seating. The library is open to students and staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using an AU (American University) ID Card.
The library collection contains depositories of the European Union and the US government, as well as the Baxter Collection of International Law. Students and staff also have online access to the university library, Congress Library, consultant department databases, and other regional law libraries.
The National Jurist listed American university law school’s Library 41st out of 199 in its ranking of Best Law Libraries.
Programs and centers
Here is the list of all the programs and centers that you can access within the university as a student.
- Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
- Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian law
- Clinical Program
- Externship Program
- Health Law Project
- Humphrey Fellowship Program (Fulbright Exchange)
- Center on International Commercial Arbitration
- International Legal Studies Program (ILSP)
- International Visiting Scholars Program
- Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
- National Institute of Military Justice
- National Institute of Corrections/WCL Project about Addressing Rape in Prisons
- Office of Public Interest
- Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property
- Program on International and Comparative Environmental Law
- Program on Law & Government
- Special Events & Continuing Legal Education
- Trial Advocacy Program
- UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic
- War Crimes Research Office
- Women & International Law Program
Extracurricular learning
American university law school participates in many common study programs abroad and student exchanges with universities around the world, including a semester-long program with the City University of Hong Kong Law School. The College’s Jessup Moot Court Team was the top ranking team in the USA and sixth in the world in 2002.
Online Education Programs
As we have slowly stepped into the digital era, more number of schools, colleges, and universities are preferring online education. Even students, especially working ones, are looking forward to some easily accessible educational content.
And this is where online courses come in handy. The Law School, as a result, has started providing online programs as well.
Online Master of Legal Studies Program
American university law school offers an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) that was designed for practitioners with law-related duties. The MLS program provides an overview of the U.S. legal system to practitioners in a number of fields but is not intended for students who wish to become a practicing lawyer.
The curriculum provides the following tracks of concentration: General MLS, Business, Health Care Enforcement, and Technology. Every specialization includes practical legal training and industry-specific expertise to strengthen the capacity of a student to make educated decisions and legitimize their reputation with clients, colleagues, and associates. One can also be interested to know about criminal justice masters programs.
The MLS can be accomplished in as few as 15 months and does not involve a GRE / LSAT.
American University Law School LSAT – Basic Idea
The Admission Council of Law Schools (LSAC) administers the LSAT for prospective law school students.
This is structured to test the understanding of reading, as well as the ability to think objectively and verbally. The exam is an important part of the law school process, Canada (common law programs only), the University of Melbourne, Australia, and an increasing number of other countries.
The exam had existed in some form since 1948 when it was developed to provide law schools with a structured way of testing applicants in addition to their GPA. The exam has six total sections that include four multiple-choice sections scored, an unscored experimental section, and an unscored section on writing. The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or American University Law School LSAT is a standardized half-day test conducted seven days a year around the globe at approved examination centers.
Raw scores are translated to a high scaled score of 180, a low score of 120, and a median score of about 150. If an applicant applies to a law school, all scores from the past five years must be recorded, using either the highest score or an average of scores.
Composition of the test
The LSAT consists of 5 multiple choice sections of 35 minutes (one of which is an unscored experimental section) accompanied by an unscored sample portion of the writing.
Within an administration, numerous different test types are used, each presenting the multiple-choice sections in various orders, designed to make it difficult to cheat or guess which is the experimental section.
Logical reasoning
The LSAT includes two parts of logical reasoning (“LR”), generally known as “arguments,” intended to assess the ability of the taker to interpret and evaluate arguments. Sections of the LR each have 24–26 questions. Any problem begins with a brief statement or collection of evidence.
This is accompanied by a prompt demanding that the test taker consider the premise of the argument, choose an alternate inference to the argument, locate errors or logical omissions in the argument, consider another argument with parallel reasoning, or choose a statement to weaken/strengthen the argument.
Reading comprehension
The LSAT includes one portion of reading comprehension (“RC”) consisting of four passages of 400–500 words, and 5–8 questions relevant to each paragraph. Sections complete include 26–28 questions. Although no specific rules govern this section’s content, the passages are usually related to law, the arts, and humanities, physical sciences, or social sciences.
The questions typically ask the examinee to decide the principal idea of the author, locate relevant details in the passage, draw inferences from the text, and/or explain the passage structure. One of the four passages was replaced by a “comparative read” issue in June 2007. Comparative reading introduces two shorter passages on a subject, with different perspectives.
There are comparisons between the topic of comparative reading, the critical reading portion of the SAT, and the ACT’s science portion. This segment is considered the hardest to progress in.
Logic games
The new LSAT includes one segment on logic games (LG), officially known as the segment on “analytical reasoning.” One section consists of four “games” which fall into a number of categories including grouping, matching, and item ordering. Every segment of LG contains 22–24 questions.
Every game starts by outlining the premise; like, “there are five people who may attend the meeting this afternoon” and set out a set of conditions governing the relationships between the subjects.
The applicant of American university law school is then required to fill conclusions from the statements, such as, “What is the minimum number of individuals that might be present?”
The particular section is a bit more difficult than the other sections is because of the fact that there aren’t any set rules that can establish a standard “right” set of relationships among all the elements included in the question.
Instead, the student will be evaluated based on their ability to interpret the variety of possibilities contained in a set of rules. So, you have to use your logic to figure out the probable answers.
Individual questions sometimes add rules or change existing rules which require a rapid reorganization of known knowledge. The LG section is generally considered, at least at first, by LSAT takers as the most challenging section of the exam, but it is also the section that can most be strengthened with practice.
As part of a litigation settlement on accessibility for disabilities at American university law school, the LSAC reported that it will begin exploring “alternative methods of measuring logical thinking skills,” which would be phased in by 2023.
Getting ready
LSAC encourages advanced training for the LSAT because of the significance of the LSAT in American university law school applications and that the grades at the test usually correlate to the study time. The format of the LSAT and the types of questions asked are generally consistent from year to year, enabling candidates to prepare on question types that also occur in exams.
Take Mock Tests
LSAC recommends at least that students study official practice assessments, or PrepTests, to familiarize themselves with the types of questions that appear on the school exams before the test day. LSAC recommends conducting practice tests under real-time limits and realistic environments to define problem areas to be worked on in further analysis for better outcomes.
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