Boston University School of Law

Boston University School of Law
Name	Boston University School of Law
Established	1872
Type	Private
Parent	Boston University
Dean	Angela Onwuachi-Willig
City	Boston
State	Massachusetts
Country	United States

Boston University School of Law. It is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. The school is known for its rigorous programs in health law, intellectual property, and international law, consistently ranking among the top law schools nationally. Its alumni include prominent figures across the judiciary, public service, and private practice.

History

Founded in 1872 by a group of Boston attorneys and businessmen, including Silas Peirce, the school was originally located in Copley Square. It was one of the first law schools in the nation to admit students regardless of race or gender, welcoming its first female student, Lelia Josephine Robinson, in 1881. The school became integrated into Boston University in 1893. A significant milestone was the 1964 move to its current location on the university's Charles River Campus, consolidating its presence within the broader university.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, along with several LL.M. programs and a Master in the Study of Tax Law. Its curriculum is notable for the first-year Lawyering Program, which integrates legal writing with practical skills. Students can pursue numerous concentrations, with particular strength in the Paul J. Connolly Program for Intellectual Property Law. The school also offers extensive clinical education opportunities, such as the Immigrants' Rights Clinic and the Criminal Law Clinic, and numerous study abroad programs in locations like London and Geneva.

Campus

The law school's primary facility is the Sumner M. Redstone Building, a modern structure on the university's Charles River Campus in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood. The building houses the Pappas Law Library, one of the largest academic law libraries in the United States. The campus is adjacent to other major university facilities, including the George Sherman Union and Morse Auditorium, and is situated near the Back Bay and Fenway Park.

Notable alumni

Graduates have achieved prominence in many fields. In the judiciary, notable figures include Harold H. Greene, who presided over the breakup of the Bell System, and Sandra Lynch of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In government and public service, alumni include former FBI Director Robert Mueller, former Massachusetts Governor Paul Cellucci, and former U.S. Attorney General William French Smith. Leaders in business and legal practice include Judy K. Mencher and R. David Favreau.

Publications and centers

The school hosts several influential legal journals, including the Boston University Law Review, the American Journal of Law & Medicine, and the Review of Banking & Financial Law. Its research centers drive scholarship in specialized areas, such as the Center for Antiracist Research founded by Ibram X. Kendi, the Moraes Center for Health Law Policy, and the Center for Law, Equity & Race. Other notable institutes include the International Human Rights Clinic and the Technology & Policy Research Initiative.

Rankings and reputation

Consistently ranked within the top 30 law schools by U.S. News & World Report, it is particularly highly regarded for its Legal Writing and Health Law programs. The school is recognized for producing graduates with strong bar passage rates and employment outcomes, with many securing positions at major law firms, in public interest roles, and within the federal government. Its reputation is bolstered by the scholarly output of its faculty and the professional achievements of its extensive alumni network.

Category:Boston University Category:Law schools in Massachusetts Category:Educational institutions established in 1872