University of Baltimore School of Law

University of Baltimore School of Law
Name	University of Baltimore School of Law
Established	1925
Type	Public
Parent	University of Baltimore
Dean	Ronald Weich
City	Baltimore
State	Maryland
Country	United States
Website	law.ubalt.edu

University of Baltimore School of Law is a public law school located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is an integral part of the University of Baltimore, which is a member institution of the University System of Maryland. The school is known for its practical, skills-oriented legal education and its commitment to public service, offering both full-time and part-time Juris Doctor programs along with several Master of Laws degrees.

History

The institution was founded in 1925, initially operating as an independent evening law school to serve working professionals in the Baltimore metropolitan area. It merged with the University of Baltimore in 1970, and in 1988 became a member of the newly formed University System of Maryland. A significant milestone was the 2013 opening of the John and Frances Angelos Law Center, a state-of-the-art facility designed by the renowned architectural firm Behnisch Architekten. Throughout its history, the school has maintained a strong focus on providing accessible legal education and has been a pipeline for attorneys serving in the Maryland General Assembly, the Baltimore City Council, and the Maryland judiciary.

Academics

The primary degree offered is the Juris Doctor, available through both full-time and part-time divisions. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through required clinics, externships, and simulation courses. The school offers several Master of Laws programs, including concentrations in Taxation, Family Law, and Business Law. Students can also pursue dual degrees, such as a J.D./MBA with the University of Baltimore's Merrick School of Business or a J.D./MPA with the College of Public Affairs. The Stephen L. Snyder Center for Litigation Skills hosts intensive trial advocacy training and competitions.

Campus and facilities

The school is housed in the John and Frances Angelos Law Center, a 12-story, environmentally sustainable building in the Midtown neighborhood. The facility features the Thurgood Marshall Law Library, numerous courtrooms and classrooms designed for interactive learning, and the Bob Parsons Veterans Advocacy Clinic. The building's atrium and collaborative spaces are central to student life. The location provides proximity to key legal institutions like the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the Maryland Court of Appeals, and the Office of the Attorney General of Maryland.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes scholars such as former dean Gilbert Holmes and F. Michael Higginbotham, an expert in race and law. Prominent alumni span the judiciary, government, and private sector. Notable figures include former United States Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, former Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr., and United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit judge James K. Bredar. Other distinguished graduates are Kweisi Mfume, former NAACP president and U.S. Representative, and Catherine Pugh, former Mayor of Baltimore.

Centers and institutes

The school hosts several research and policy centers that engage with the legal community and public. The Center for International and Comparative Law focuses on global legal issues, while the Center for the Study of Business Law and Regulation examines corporate governance. The Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts works on family justice system reform. The Barton Policy Center addresses urban policy challenges, and the Drug Policy and Public Health Strategies Clinic provides direct legal services and advocacy.

Rankings and reputation

It is consistently ranked among the top law schools for practical training and part-time law programs by U.S. News & World Report. The school's Clinical Law program and Legal Writing program have received national recognition for excellence. Its graduates consistently achieve high passage rates on the Maryland Bar Examination and are employed across a wide range of sectors, including the State of Maryland government, Baltimore law firms, and public interest organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic states.

Category:University of Baltimore Category:Law schools in Maryland Category:Educational institutions established in 1925 Category:University System of Maryland