Georgetown University Law Center

Georgetown University Law Center
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Name	Georgetown University Law Center
Established	1870
Type	Private
Parent	Georgetown University
Dean	William M. Treanor
City	Washington, D.C.
Country	United States

Georgetown University Law Center is one of the professional graduate schools of Georgetown University. Located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., it is the largest law school in the United States and is consistently ranked among the top law schools nationally. The institution is renowned for its extensive curriculum, influential legal clinics, and prominent faculty and alumni who hold significant positions across the judiciary, government, and private practice.

History

Founded in 1870, it is the oldest law school in the District of Columbia. Its early years were marked by association with the Society of Jesus, though it has long been a non-sectarian institution. A pivotal moment in its history was the 1950 appointment of Paul R. Dean as dean, who initiated a period of significant expansion and modernization. The school moved to its current location on New Jersey Avenue in 1971, cementing its physical and professional presence in the heart of the nation's legal and political landscape. Throughout the late 20th century, it grew in stature, establishing many of its now-famous specialized programs and think tanks.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, along with several Master of Laws programs and a Doctor of Juridical Science. It is particularly noted for its wide array of specialized courses and its strength in areas such as international law, tax law, clinical legal education, and constitutional law. The curriculum is supported by an extensive network of legal clinics, including the Institute for Public Representation and the Appellate Courts Immersion Clinic. Students also engage with practical law through the school's many moot court competitions and its influential law journals, such as the Georgetown Law Journal.

Campus

The campus occupies several city blocks near Union Station and the United States Capitol. The main complex includes the iconic Edward Bennett Williams Law Library, the Gewirz Student Center, and the modern Eric E. Hotung International Law Building. Facilities also include the Campus for Continuing Legal Education and numerous courtrooms designed for moot court proceedings. Its location provides students with unparalleled access to institutions like the Supreme Court of the United States, the Library of Congress, and numerous federal agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Centers and institutes

The school houses numerous research centers that shape public policy and legal scholarship. These include the Center on National Security and the Law, the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, and the Institute for Technology Law and Policy. Other prominent entities are the Georgetown Climate Center, the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession, and the Center on Privacy and Technology. These institutes often collaborate with entities like the World Bank, the United Nations, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes distinguished scholars such as former U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal, constitutional law expert Randy Barnett, and tax authority David A. Super. Its alumni network is vast and influential, encompassing figures like former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former FBI Director Robert Mueller. Other notable graduates include Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, television personality Star Jones, and former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Rankings and reputation

It is perennially ranked within the top 15 law schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, with several of its specialty programs, including its clinical training and part-time law program, often ranked first. It is recognized globally for its programs in international law and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The school is known for its competitive admissions and its graduates' high employment rates at major law firms, in the federal government, and within the judiciary.

Category:Georgetown University Category:Law schools in Washington, D.C. Category:Educational institutions established in 1870