Boston University School of Law

Boston University School of Law
Name	Boston University School of Law
Established	1872
Type	Private
Parent	Boston University
City	Boston
State	Massachusetts
Country	United States
Dean	Angela Onwuachi-Willig
Students	approx. 900
Faculty	approx. 150

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law is a private professional school located in Boston, Massachusetts, and is one of the constituent schools of Boston University. Founded in 1872, the school offers Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and doctoral programs, and it is known for its engagement with courts, bar advocacy, and public interest work. The institution has produced judges, legislators, corporate counsel, and scholars who have served in institutions such as the United States Supreme Court, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and federal agencies.

History

The school was established in 1872 during a period of expansion in American legal education that included contemporaries such as Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School. Early ties connected the school to legal practitioners in Boston and to civic institutions like the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Boston Bar Association. Throughout the 20th century the school responded to national developments including the aftermath of the Civil War, the Progressive Era, and legal reforms following the New Deal, which influenced its curriculum and clinics. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries the school expanded programs in international law reflecting events such as the end of the Cold War and integration with transnational institutions like the United Nations system. Notable historical milestones include alumni appointments to the United States Court of Appeals and participation in landmark litigation before the United States Supreme Court.

Academics and Programs

Academic offerings include the three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs with concentrations in areas such as international law and tax, and doctoral-level study. The curriculum covers doctrinal courses tied to institutions like the United States Congress, the Federal Reserve, and the Internal Revenue Service as well as skills training related to advocacy before tribunals such as the Massachusetts Superior Court and prosecutorial offices like the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. Cross-registration and dual-degree options connect students with programs at Boston University School of Medicine, Boston University Questrom School of Business, and the Harvard Kennedy School through consortium arrangements. Special programs address contemporary fields shaped by statutes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and cases from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Admissions and Student Body

Admissions are competitive, drawing applicants who have taken the Law School Admission Test and hold undergraduate degrees from institutions including Harvard College, Yale College, Princeton University, University of California, Berkeley, and Amherst College. The entering class typically includes students from across the United States and internationally from countries with legal systems influenced by the Napoleonic Code and the Common law. Demographic and credential profiles reflect nationwide trends also seen at peer schools such as Georgetown University Law Center and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Financial aid and scholarship packages are often compared with offerings at institutions like New York University School of Law and University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

Faculty and Research Centers

Faculty include scholars with appointments and interests linked to entities such as the International Criminal Court, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Department of Justice. Research centers focus on areas including human rights, tax policy, and healthcare law, engaging with organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Civil Liberties Union. Centers and programs collaborate with think tanks and policy institutions such as the Brookings Institution, the Brennan Center for Justice, and the Urban Institute. Faculty publications and commentary appear in outlets tied to the Harvard Law Review, the Columbia Law Review, and casebooks used in courses on constitutional law shaped by precedents from the United States Supreme Court.

Clinics, Experiential Learning, and Journals

Clinical programs provide representation and advocacy in venues such as the Massachusetts Appeals Court and administrative bodies like the Social Security Administration. The school sponsors journals that publish scholarship on topics ranging from civil rights and international law to corporate governance, contributing to periodicals comparable to the Yale Law Journal and the Stanford Law Review. Externships place students with public defender offices, corporate legal departments including those of multinational firms with offices in Boston, and nonprofit organizations like Legal Aid groups and the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.

Facilities and Campus

Located on the Charles River campus of Boston University, facilities include moot courtrooms, libraries with collections complementing repositories such as the Suffolk University Law Library and partnerships with the Massachusetts Historical Society. The law school building provides research commons, simulation courtrooms modeled after the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, and technology-enabled classrooms that support seminars on subjects connected to institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Proximity to courthouses and law firms in Downtown Boston facilitates externships and practitioner engagement.

Notable Alumni and Legacy

Alumni have served in roles across the judiciary, legislatures, and executive branches, including appointments to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, seats in the United States House of Representatives, and leadership in agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Graduates include judges who have written opinions in cases cited alongside decisions from the United States Supreme Court and attorneys who argued matters before appellate tribunals like the First Circuit. The school's legacy is reflected in contributions to public policy debates involving statutes such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and in participation in landmark litigation shaping civil liberties and regulatory frameworks.

Category:Law schools in Massachusetts