Duke University School of Law

Duke University School of Law is a prominent professional school within Duke University, located in Durham, North Carolina. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States, known for its selective admissions, rigorous academic programs, and influential faculty. The school emphasizes interdisciplinary study, public service, and global legal perspectives, producing graduates who serve in leading roles across the judiciary, government, academia, and private practice.

History

The origins trace to 1868 as the Trinity College School of Law, a department of the institution that would become Duke University. The modern law school was formally reestablished in 1930 under the leadership of President William Preston Few and Dean Justin Miller, coinciding with the transformation of Trinity College into Duke University following the endowment from James Buchanan Duke. The school moved to its current location on Science Drive in 1957, with subsequent expansions including the construction of the iconic Star Commons and the addition of the J. Michael Goodson Law Library. Key historical figures in its development include deans like John S. Bradway, who pioneered clinical legal education, and Pamela Gann, who oversaw significant curricular reforms and international initiatives.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, along with a suite of advanced degrees including the Master of Laws for international lawyers, the Master of Judicial Studies for sitting judges, and the Doctor of Juridical Science. Its curriculum is noted for a low student-to-faculty ratio and strengths in areas such as constitutional law, intellectual property law, environmental law, and international law. Students can pursue dual degrees with other prestigious units of Duke University, such as the Fuqua School of Business, the Sanford School of Public Policy, and the Duke University School of Medicine. The school also operates several unique academic programs, including the Duke in D.C. externship program and the Guantanamo Defense Clinic, which provides representation to detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

Centers and programs

Numerous research centers and institutes foster specialized scholarship and policy engagement. The Center for International and Comparative Law supports global legal studies, while the Center on Law, Race and Policy examines issues of equity and justice. The Duke Center for Firearms Law is a leading academic forum on the Second Amendment. Other significant entities include the Bolch Judicial Institute, which provides education for the judiciary, the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic, and the Duke Law Center for Innovation Policy. The school also houses the Duke Law Innocence Project, which works to exonerate the wrongfully convicted through DNA evidence and investigative work.

Publications

The school's student-edited journals are influential in legal academia. The flagship Duke Law Journal is consistently ranked among the most cited law reviews in the nation. Other major publications include the Alaska Law Review, which uniquely focuses on legal issues affecting the state of Alaska, the Duke Journal of Comparative & International Law, and the Duke Journal of Constitutional Law & Public Policy. The Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum addresses critical issues in sustainability and regulation. These journals regularly feature contributions from leading scholars, practitioners, and jurists, including United States Supreme Court justices.

Notable people

The alumni and faculty include many distinguished figures in law and public life. Notable graduates include former U.S. President Richard Nixon, former White House Counsel Robert Bauer, and former United States Senator Kay Hagan. Jurists include United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit judges J. Harvie Wilkinson III and Allyson K. Duncan. Prominent faculty have included constitutional scholar Walter Dellinger, who served as United States Solicitor General, and former United States Secretary of Labor Seth Harris. The current dean is Kerry Abrams, a leading scholar in immigration law and family law.

Category:Duke University Category:Law schools in North Carolina Category:Educational institutions established in 1868