Seattle University School of Law

Seattle University School of Law
Name	Seattle University School of Law
Established	1972
Type	Private Jesuit
City	Seattle
State	Washington
Country	United States
Dean	Molly Torsen
Students	~600
Website	seattleu.edu/law

Seattle University School of Law is a private Jesuit law school located in Seattle that specializes in practical legal education and public interest law. Founded in the early 1970s during a period of expansion in American legal education, the school emphasizes social justice, experiential training, and connections to regional institutions. It draws students and faculty engaged with courts, NGOs, administrative agencies, and local and national bar associations.

History

The law school opened in 1972 amid national changes in legal training alongside institutions such as Georgetown University Law Center, Harvard Law School, and Yale Law School. Early leadership forged ties with regional institutions including the King County Superior Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, and the Washington State Bar Association. The school developed clinical programs inspired by models at University of Michigan Law School, New York University School of Law, and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Over decades it expanded facilities and programs in dialogue with Seattle-area organizations such as Microsoft Corporation, Boeing, Amazon (company), and nonprofit entities like American Civil Liberties Union chapters. The school navigated accreditation processes with the American Bar Association and engaged with state legal reforms from the Washington State Supreme Court and legislative initiatives in Olympia, Washington.

Campus and Facilities

The law school occupies a dedicated building near downtown Seattle with proximity to landmarks like Pike Place Market, Seattle Art Museum, and the Washington State Convention Center. Facilities support courtroom simulation and trial practice modeled after venues such as the King County Courthouse and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The campus network connects with nearby higher education institutions including University of Washington, Seattle Pacific University, and Cornish College of the Arts. Library resources complement collections found at law libraries like Boalt Hall and Columbia Law School through interlibrary arrangements and access to databases used by firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Perkins Coie. Student organizations meet in spaces used for conferences with partners such as Aviation Week, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, and professional groups including the National Lawyers Guild and the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

Academics and Programs

The curriculum offers a three-year Juris Doctor program with emphases similar to offerings at Georgetown University Law Center, Columbia Law School, and New York University School of Law, including courses in constitutional law referencing the United States Constitution, administrative law linking to the Administrative Procedure Act, and environmental law engaging with statutes like the Clean Air Act and cases from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Faculty publish alongside scholars from Stanford Law School, Harvard Law School, and Duke University School of Law and teach interdisciplinary courses partnering with programs like Seattle University School of Theology and Ministry and Albers School of Business and Economics. Graduate options include joint degrees with public policy programs influenced by the Woodrow Wilson School model and externships placed with offices such as the Seattle City Attorney and the King County Prosecuting Attorney.

Clinical Legal Education and Centers

Clinical offerings connect students to community organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and administrative bodies such as the Washington State Office of the Attorney General. Clinics cover immigration work paralleling efforts by National Immigration Law Center, civil rights advocacy akin to NAACP Legal Defense Fund projects, and transactional clinics reflecting models at Stanford Law School. Centers and institutes collaborate with entities like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, and local nonprofits including Solid Ground and Public Defender Association. The school’s litigation training intersects with trial practice in venues such as the King County Superior Court and appellate practice relevant to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Admissions and Student Body

Admissions select applicants from applicants who often possess backgrounds at institutions such as University of Washington, Western Washington University, Gonzaga University, and national colleges including University of California, Berkeley and University of Michigan. The cohort includes veterans who have served in units related to United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force, and applicants with experience in nonprofits like Planned Parenthood and corporate settings such as Nordstrom. Student organizations reflect affiliations with national groups like the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association, and international legal networks including Human Rights Watch.

Rankings, Reputation, and Outcomes

The school’s reputation is shaped by clinical performance, bar passage rates measured against standards set by the Washington State Bar Association, and employment outcomes reported to the American Bar Association. Graduates practice at firms ranging from regional boutiques to national firms like Perkins Coie and Davis Wright Tremaine, serve in public offices including the King County Prosecuting Attorney and judicial posts in the Washington State Courts, and join organizations such as Legal Aid Society and federal agencies like the United States Department of Justice. The school has been recognized in regional rankings alongside peers such as University of Washington School of Law and national lists produced by publications similar to U.S. News & World Report.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni have included judges on the Washington State Court of Appeals, leaders in municipal government such as officials from Seattle City Council, prosecutors in the King County Prosecuting Attorney office, and advocates at organizations like Earthjustice and ACLU. Faculty have published with scholars associated with Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School and have served in advisory roles to bodies such as the Washington State Legislature and commissions of the American Bar Association. Prominent practitioner alumni have joined firms like Perkins Coie, held federal clerkships with judges from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and taught comparative law drawing on exchanges with institutions such as Oxford University and University of Cambridge.

Category:Law schools in Washington (state)