Villanova University School of Law

Villanova University's Charles Widger School of Law (known as Villanova University School of Law) is a law school and part of the Villanova University System. Villanova University in general is the oldest and largest Catholic University in Pennsylvania. The University is located 25 minutes from Center City Philadelphia in the Main Line suburb of Villanova, Pennsylvania.

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Parent schoolVillanova University
Religious affiliationRoman Catholic (Augustinian)
Established1953 (1953)
School typePrivate
DeanMark Alexander
LocationVillanova, PA
USNWR ranking62nd[1]
WebsiteVillanova Law Website

Opened in 1953, the School of Law is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). Approximately 720 students study full-time in the J.D. program which offers more than 100 offerings including foundation courses, specialty offerings, drafting courses, clinical experiences, seminars, simulation courses and externships. The student/faculty ratio is 17:1.[2]

In November 2007, the Villanova School of Law began construction on a new building to house classrooms, offices, and research facilities.[3] The building was completed in August 2009. The new facility was built according to LEED standards and incorporate a park like setting with a walking trail.[4]

Degrees awarded

Juris Doctor (JD)

Villanova offers a legal education designed to teach the rules of law and their application; to demonstrate how lawyers analyze legal issues and express arguments and conclusions; to inculcate the skills of the counselor, advocate, and decision maker; and to explore the ethical and moral dimensions of law practice and professional conduct.

Joint JD/MBA program

The Villanova University School of Law and the Villanova School of Business offer a joint-degree program permitting simultaneous study for the Juris Doctor and the Master of Business Administration degrees. The Villanova School of Business is one of the few business schools in the nation whose Master of Business Administration and Department of Accountancy program have been approved by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. In the program, credit is given for certain courses by both the School of Law and the School of Business. Through this program, degrees may be completed in less time than it would take to obtain them separately.[5]

Graduate Tax Program

The Graduate Tax Program is an interdisciplinary program led by Leslie M. Book conducted under the auspices of the Villanova University School of Law and Villanova's School of Business. The program has over 30 courses, which are also available to JD candidates, who are able to enroll in LL.M. courses as well as participate in the joint JD/LL.M. program.[6] Business students participating in the Graduate Tax Program may earn a Master of Science in Taxation (MST) degree.

Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law

The Jeffrey S. Moorad Center for the Study of Sports Law was created in 2012, and was funded by a $5 million donation from San Diego Padres vice chairman and CEO Jeffrey S. Moorad (a 1981 graduate of the law school). The Center prepares students for careers in sports-related fields.[7] It is one of only a few in the United States dedicated to the study of sports law, and it is run by director Andrew Brandt, a lawyer, former NFL team executive, and ESPN commentator.[8]

Special programs

Beyond the skills of written and oral expression developed in the first-year writing program and the required upper-level moot court program, drafting, and seminar courses, Villanova University School of Law students acquire the fundamental skills of the practicing lawyer—including counseling, negotiation, advocacy, mediation, dispute resolution, conciliation, and mature judgment. Hands-on clinical opportunities allow students to apply classroom experiences to real-world client representation, often while performing public service. Clinical programs include Federal Tax; Civil Justice; Asylum, Refugee, and Emigrant Services; and Farmworkers Legal Aid.[9]

The school also strives to provide leadership in information technology, law and psychology, taxation, and international law, among other fields.

Rankings and honors

The 2021 edition of U.S. News & World Report's "Best Graduate Schools" ranked Villanova Law at 62nd in the country overall.[10] In previous years, U.S. News & World Report's "Best Graduate Schools" ranked Villanova Law #71 (2020), #65 (2019), #77 (2018), #74 (2017), #87 (2016), #93 (2015), #98 (2014), #101 (2013), #84 (2012), #67 (2011), and #61 (2010).

The 2015 edition of Above the Law's Top 50 Law Schools ranked Villanova as the 38th best law school in the country.[11]

In 2015, the National Law Journal ranked Villanova Law as the #34 "Go-To" law school based on its employment statistics with the nation's largest law firms.[12]

Class Statistics

Fall 2016 Entering Class Profile:[13]

  • Total Number Applicants: 1783
  • Total Enrolled: 222
  • In-state: 49%
  • Out-of-state: 51%
  • Students of Color: 18.5%
  • Undergraduate Schools Represented: 121

GPA:

  • Median GPA: 3.54
  • 25th Percentile GPA: 3.24
  • 75th Percentile GPA: 3.7

LSAT:

  • Median LSAT: 157
  • 25th Percentile LSAT: 153
  • 75th Percentile LSAT: 159

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

Placement

According to Villanova's official 2014 ABA-required disclosures, 70% of the Class of 2014 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[33]

ABA Employment Summary for 2014 Graduates[34]
Employment Status Percentage
Employed – Bar Passage Required
 
 70%
Employed – J.D. Advantage
 
 17%
Employed – Professional Position
 
 1%
Employed – Non-Professional Position
 
 1%
Employed – Undeterminable
 
 0%
Pursuing Graduate Degree Full Time
 
 1%
Unemployed – Start Date Deferred
 
 1%
Unemployed – Not Seeking
 
 1%
Unemployed – Seeking
 
 8%
Employment Status Unknown
 
 0%
Total of 220 Graduates

Pro bono programs

Pro bono programs, such as the clinics and other projects, provide students with the opportunity to serve the disadvantaged while developing skills and positive relationships with practicing attorneys.[35]

Lawyering Together

Villanova Law's student body has the opportunity to participate in the "Lawyering Together" program. Through the program, law students are matched with volunteer attorneys who assist clients referred through Philadelphia pro bono organizations.[36] The referring organizations include Senior Law Center, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP) and the Support Center for Child Advocates.[37]

Recent Deans

Mark Sargent

Sargent graduated magna cum laude in 1973 from Wesleyan, received an M.A. in Medieval Studies in 1975 from Cornell University, and graduated from Cornell Law School in 1978. He began teaching law in 1980, was the Piper & Marbury Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of the Law & Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Maryland School of Law. He has also previously taught law at American University, Southern Methodist University and the University of Baltimore Schools of Law.[38]

In 2006, Dean Sargent worked with the Pepper Hamilton LLP to launch a diversity initiative that included two full tuition scholarships for minority students and hiring two Villanova Law School minority students each year as first-year summer associates and then as part-time law clerks during their second or third academic years.[39] In July 2009, Villanova Law School Dean Mark Sargent resigned, citing medical and personal reasons.[40] A week later, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Sargent was connected with the solicitation of prostitution, although he was never charged.[41] In February 2011, Villanova's newly appointed dean, John Gotanda, revealed that a Law School committee had determined that the under the leadership of the former Dean Mark Sargent, false statistical data including entrance LSAT scores had been reported to the American Bar Association about incoming students for several years before 2010. As a result, the American Bar Association issued a censure to the school[42] A 2-year probation was also issued by the AALS.[43] Villanova began a comprehensive internal investigation and commissioned an independent audit by Ropes & Gray to determine the nature and scope of the false reporting.[44]

John Gotanda

Dean John Gotanda became dean at Villanova University School of Law on January 1, 2011, after having previously served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Faculty Research, and Director of the J.D./M.B.A. Program.[45] Dean Gotanda received his J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the University of Hawaii Law Review. Before coming to Villanova in 1994 he was a staff attorney with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He also worked as an associate attorney with Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., and later with Goodwin, Procter & Hoar in Boston.[46] In February 2016, Dean Gotanda was named president of Hawai‘i Pacific University.

Mark Alexander

Dean Mark Alexander became dean of the law school on July 1, 2016, due to Dean Gotanda becoming president of Hawai‘i Pacific University. Alexander was previously the Associate Dean for Academics at Seton Hall School of Law. Prior to his Seton Hall Law School role, he clerked for Chief Judge Thelton Henderson of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California from 1992–93 and was a litigator with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in San Francisco from 1993-95. Alexander earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from Yale University.[47][48]

gollark: I suppose it *is* hard to construct microprocessors, given the tolerances and stuff, but it could rent a VPS somewhere.
gollark: Why'd it still run on my server if it has magic robots which could construct another?
gollark: ... wait, but it might know that I probably won't, because I'm very lazy...
gollark: I can go check the server now for any extra noise prevention.
gollark: But it records *graphs* of CPU usage! Graphs! Also, I could hear the fans from this room if it was in jet engine mode.

References
  1. "U.S. News and World Report Law School Rankings". Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  2. "Stats and Facts". Fall 2010 Entering Class Profile. Villanova University School of Law. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  3. "Official Press Release". Archived from the original on 2007-10-27. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
  4. "Press Release". Villanova Law Brings Home the Gold. Villanova Law School. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  5. http://www.villanova.edu/business/graduate/jdmba/
  6. "Law, Villanova School of". www.law.villanova.edu. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  7. http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/jeff-blumenthal/2012/02/san-diego-padres-ceo-moorad-donates.html?page=all
  8. http://articles.philly.com/2012-09-15/business/33845015_1_sports-law-jeffrey-s-moorad-center-law-students
  9. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Academics/Clinical%20Programs/Clinics.aspx
  10. "U.S. News and World Report Law School Rankings". Retrieved 2019-03-15.
  11. "The 2015 ATL Top 50 Law Schools". Above the Law. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  12. "The Top 50 Go-To Schools". The National Law Journal. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  13. Stats and Facts: Villanova Law School VLS website
  14. "Richard Joseph Arcara". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  15. "Kelly Ayotte". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  16. "Lewis R. Carluzzo". taxcourt.gov. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  17. "J. Scot Chadwick". wayback machine. Archived from the original on May 29, 2000. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  18. "Mary Little Cooper". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  19. "Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello to run for Jim Gerlachs seat". Times Herald. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  20. "Craig Dally". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  21. "Michael J. Fitzgerald". ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
  22. "David F. Girard-diCarlo". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  23. "William J. Green, III". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  24. "Matthew F. McHugh". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  25. "Jeff Moorad". http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/. Retrieved 18 April 2013. External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. "Ed Rendell". National Governors Association. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  27. "Marjorie Rendell". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  28. "Matthew J. Ryan". 1997-2013 PG Publishing Co., Inc. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  29. "William H. Ryan, Jr". 2013 Bradford PA Today. News & Information. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  30. "Donald William Snyder". wayback machine. Archived from the original on 1 February 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  31. "About Lt. Governor Mike Stack". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  32. "Richard Trumka". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  33. "Employment Data".
  34. "Employment Summary for 2014 Graduates".
  35. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Current%20Students/Public%20Service/Pro%20Bono/Pro%20Bono%20Programs.aspx
  36. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Current%20Students/Public%20Service/Pro%20Bono/Pro%20Bono%20Programs.aspx
  37. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Current%20Students/Public%20Service/Pro%20Bono/Pro%20Bono%20Programs.aspx
  38. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 28, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. http://www.strategicdiversity.com/Press_Releases_Pepper_Hamilton_Villanova_Diversity_Initiative.htm
  40. David Lat (7/3/09) Dean Mark Sargent - You Can Call Him John Above the Law. Retrieved 2/5/11.
  41. Jeff Blumenthal (7/7/09) Villanova dean resigned over prostitution Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2/5/11.
  42. "Villanova Law censured by ABA over admissions-data fraud, but retains accreditation". Philly.com. August 11, 2011.
  43. "2011 ABA Public Censure Documents". Villanova University School of Law. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  44. Martha Neil (2/4/11) ABA Journal. Retrieved 2/5/11.
  45. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Our%20Faculty/Faculty%20Profiles/John%20Y%20Gotanda.aspx
  46. http://www.law.villanova.edu/Our%20Faculty/Faculty%20Profiles/John%20Y%20Gotanda.aspx
  47. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/academics/faculty/Facultyprofiles/MarkCAlexander.html
  48. https://www1.villanova.edu/villanova/law/newsroom/pressreleases/2016/0603.html
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