University of Pennsylvania Law School

University of Pennsylvania Law School
Name	University of Pennsylvania Law School
Established	1850
Parent	University of Pennsylvania
Dean	Sophia Z. Lee (interim)
City	Philadelphia
State	Pennsylvania
Country	United States

University of Pennsylvania Law School. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States, founded in 1850 as the Department of Law within the University of Pennsylvania. The school is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach, integrating legal education with other top-ranked programs at Penn, particularly the Wharton School. It consistently ranks among the top law schools nationally and produces graduates who assume prominent roles in the judiciary, private practice, public service, and academia.

History

The institution traces its origins to a series of law lectures in 1790, with its formal establishment as a distinct department occurring in 1850 under the leadership of George Sharswood. A pivotal moment in its development was the 1900 relocation to its current campus in West Philadelphia, facilitating closer ties with the broader University of Pennsylvania. Throughout the 20th century, it evolved significantly, admitting its first female students in 1881 and establishing influential programs like the Law Review. Under deans such as Jeffrey Lehman and Michael A. Fitts, the school greatly expanded its global and interdisciplinary initiatives, including the creation of numerous joint-degree programs with schools like the Wharton School and the School of Arts and Sciences.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, along with a suite of joint-degree programs such as the JD/MBA with the Wharton School and JD/PhD options with the Department of Political Science. Its curriculum emphasizes a cross-disciplinary approach, often termed the "Penn Law model," encouraging study alongside other graduate disciplines. Students can also pursue a Master of Laws for foreign-trained lawyers and a Doctor of Juridical Science. The academic experience is anchored by renowned clinics like the Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic and the Transnational Legal Clinic, and includes semester-long opportunities at institutions like the University of Cambridge.

Campus and facilities

The law school is centered on the Sansom Street campus in University City, Philadelphia. The primary facility is Gittis Hall, which houses classrooms, faculty offices, and the Biddle Law Library, one of the nation's premier legal research libraries with extensive collections in international law and legal history. Adjacent Tanenbaum Hall contains additional classrooms, the Levy Conference Center, and student organization spaces. The campus is integrated with the wider University of Pennsylvania and is near major legal institutions including the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and numerous leading law firms.

Notable alumni and faculty

Its alumni network includes three U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Owen Roberts, James Wilson, and William J. Brennan Jr.. Other distinguished graduates are Guido Calabresi of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, former Governor of Pennsylvania Ed Rendell, and former White House Counsel John Dean. The faculty has included seminal legal scholars such as C. Edwin Baker, Leo Levin, and Catherine T. Struve. Notable past professors also include former United States Attorney General John G. Johnson and economist Simon Kuznets.

Publications and centers

The school sponsors the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, one of the most cited legal journals in the world. Other major student-run publications include the Journal of Constitutional Law and the Journal of International Law. Its research mission is advanced through numerous centers and institutes, such as the Center for Technology, Innovation and Competition, the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice, and the Institute for Law and Economics, a collaborative venture with the Wharton School and the Department of Economics.

Rankings and reputation

It is perennially ranked within the top 10 law schools by U.S. News & World Report, often noted for its specialties in corporate law, health law, and intellectual property. The school is a core member of the so-called "T14" group of elite law schools. Its graduates enjoy one of the highest bar passage rates and employment outcomes, frequently securing positions at premier firms like Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, in federal clerkships, and within influential government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice.

Category:University of Pennsylvania Category:Law schools in Pennsylvania Category:Educational institutions established in 1850