Washington College of Law

Infobox_University
name =The American University Washington College of Law


established =1896
type =Private
faculty = Full-time: 58 [ [http://www.american.edu/trustees/overview.html :: AU : Board of Trustees ] ]
dean =Claudio Grossman
city =Washington, D.C.
country =USA
campus =Urban
nickname =WCL
website =http://www.wcl.american.edu/
publictransit =Tenleytown-AU on the Washington Metro.

The American University Washington College of Law (WCL) is a private ABA-certified American law school. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley area of Northwest Washington, DC.

WCL is internationally renowned for its International Law, Clinical and Trial Advocacy programs, which are ranked 5th, 2nd and 11th in the nation, respectively, by "U.S. News & World Report". In 2008, WCL was included on "U.S. News & World Report"'s college and university rankings list of the Top 100 Law Schools, where WCL consistently ranks in the top 50. In its overall rankings, U.S. News ranked WCL 46th out of 195 U.S. law schools in 2008. [U.S. News & World Report, "Rankings: Best Graduate Schools: Best Law Schools: Top 100 Law Schools," http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/law/search/page+2 (last visited July 16, 2008)] In 2007-08, U.S. News' index of diversity recognized WCL as the most diverse top-tier law school in the Washington, D.C. area, and the third most diverse among top-tier law schools in the nation. Furthermore, WCL is known for its strong programs in both human rights and public interest work.

Degrees offered

WCL offers the J.D. (Juris Doctor), LL.M. (Master of Laws), and S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) degrees. [American University-Washington College of Law, "Admissions," http://www.wcl.american.edu/admissions.cfm (last visited July 16, 2008).] Additionally, students can enroll in one of several dual degree programs offered at WCL, including a J.D./M.A. program with the School of International Service, J.D./M.B.A. and L.L.M/M.B.A programs with the Kogod School of Business, and J.D/M.P.P and L.L.M./M.P.P. with the School of Public Affairs. [American University-Washington College of Law, "Admissions," http://www.wcl.american.edu/admissions.cfm (last visited July 16, 2008).]

Campus

Located in the northwest edge of Washington, D.C., near the Maryland state line, the law school is 20 minutes from the White House, yet it is set within the green boundaries of a residential neighborhood. WCL's six-story building is located at 4801 Massachusetts Avenue in Washington, D.C., with another set of offices located down the street at 4910 Massachusetts Avenue.

Enrollment

Today, WCL enrolls 1,646 students, 58 percent of which are female. For the 2006 admissions cycle, WCL received 8,600 applications for 469 available seats in the Juris Doctor program. The Juris Doctor program's 2006 incoming class boasted a median undergraduate GPA of 3.42 (out of 4.00) as well as a median LSAT of 162 (out of 180), a score which is higher than those of roughly 90 percent of all test-takers nationwide. Furthermore, WCL ranks 9th in racial diversity among top law schools, and all U.S. states and over 60 foreign countries are represented.

Programs & Centers

* Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
* Clinical Program
* Externship Program
* Health Law Project
* Humphrey Fellowship Program (Fulbright Exchange)
* International Arbitration Program
* 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 on Addressing Prison Rape
* 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
* War Crimes Research Office
* Women & International Law Program
* Women & the Law Program

Publications

* The Administrative Law Review
* The Alternative Dispute Resolution Newsletter
* The American Jurist
* The American University International Law Review
* The American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law
* The American University Law Review
* The Business Law Brief
* The Criminal Law Brief
* The Human Rights Brief
* The Modern American
* Sustainable Development Law & Policy
* Health Law & Policy

Notable faculty

* Kristine Huskey
* Paul Williams
* Michael Tigar
* Jamie Raskin

Notable alumni

* Robert Byrd
* Tom Goldstein
* Joe Johns
* Gerald Bruce Lee
* Roy Lee, film producer
* John Moot Former General Counsel of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC")
* Sophia A. Nelson, Attorney and Political Commentator
* Alice Paul
* Kirill Reznik, State Delegate (D-Md), Maryland House of Delegates
* Hugo Teufel III
* Reggie Walton
* Rick Lazio

Facts worth noting

*WCL participates in several popular study abroad and student exchange programs with universities around the world, including a semester-long program with the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong.

*The Administrative Law Review is the Official ABA Section on Administrative Law Publication.

*WCL's moot court program is exceptional--in 2002, the Jessup Moot Court Team was the top ranked team in the United States and Third in the World.

*WCL's student magazine "The American Jurist" has won the "Best Law Student Magazine" award from the American Bar Association on several occasions.

*In 2005, The "Business Law Brief", a two-year old student-run publication, won the award for "Magazine of the Year" from the American Bar Association.

*While many alumni pursue law firm and government careers, the school is known for its focus on public interest law. For example, WCL offers grant money through the Equal Justice Foundation for students working in the public sector and offers special loan repayment assistance programs.

Notes & References

External links

* [http://www.wcl.american.edu/ Washington College of Law website]
* [http://www.wcl.american.edu/faculty/ Washington College of Law faculty listing]