Temple University School of Law

Temple University School of Law
Name	Temple University School of Law
Established	1895
Type	Public
City	Philadelphia
State	Pennsylvania
Country	United States
Dean	JoAnne A. Epps (note: verify current incumbent)
Students	approx. 1,200
Website	(see Temple University)

Temple University School of Law

Temple University School of Law is a law school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for its urban legal education, emphasis on public service, and clinical training. Founded in the late 19th century, the law school has produced judges, legislators, advocates, and scholars active in municipal, state, and national institutions. The school situates students near Philadelphia landmarks and legal centers, fostering ties with courts, bar associations, and non‑profit organizations.

History

The origins trace to the establishment of a legal education program at a Philadelphia institution associated with Russell Conwell and the expansion of professional schools in the Progressive Era alongside institutions like University of Pennsylvania Law School and Dickinson School of Law. During the 20th century the school grew amid transformations in American legal training that involved figures connected to Franklin D. Roosevelt era legal reform and postwar legal professionalization comparable to developments at Columbia Law School and Harvard Law School. The law school weathered periods of curricular reform during the civil rights movement that paralleled activities at Brown v. Board of Education advocates and saw alumni serve in institutions such as the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Expansion of clinical programs in the late 20th century aligned the school with contemporaneous experiential trends at Georgetown University Law Center and New York University School of Law.

Campus and Facilities

The law school occupies urban facilities situated near Philadelphia sites including Temple University's main campus, the Philadelphia Municipal Court, and the Frankford Avenue corridor. Key buildings house moot courtrooms modeled after those in the United States Supreme Court and the Third Circuit; law libraries stock collections used by scholars working on matters related to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and regional legal histories. Proximity to cultural institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and transportation hubs such as 30th Street Station supports student engagement with civic life and internships with organizations like the Public Defender Service and local bar associations including the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Academics and Programs

The curriculum awards the Juris Doctor degree and offers Master of Laws and joint degrees with schools comparable to joint programs offered by University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. Concentrations include constitutional law topics tied to precedents such as Marbury v. Madison and statutory regulatory practice connected to agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency. Courses address transactional areas reflected in the work of entities like Goldman Sachs and litigative practice in contexts similar to matters before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The school publishes law journals engaging with scholarship in tort law, administrative law, and health law comparable to journals such as the Harvard Law Review and the Yale Law Journal.

Admissions and Student Body

Admissions evaluate applicants using metrics similar to national patterns represented by the Law School Admission Council and rely on standardized testing tied to administrations of the Law School Admission Test and undergraduate records from institutions such as Temple University, Pennsylvania State University, and other regional colleges. The student body includes candidates with backgrounds in public interest organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, internships with municipal entities such as the City of Philadelphia, and service in military-related organizations including the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. Student organizations collaborate with national associations including the American Bar Association and professional networks like the National Lawyers Guild.

Clinical and Experiential Education

Clinical offerings emulate models advanced by clinical pioneers at schools like University of Michigan Law School and include clinics handling immigration matters analogous to cases before the Board of Immigration Appeals, criminal defense clinics engaging with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and public defenders, and transactional clinics working with community lenders and organizations similar to Community Legal Services. Externships place students in venues such as the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, and non‑profit entities involved in housing and consumer protection. Moot court and dispute resolution programs prepare students for competitions hosted by organizations like the National Moot Court Competition and the American Arbitration Association.

Centers, Institutes, and Research

The law school houses centers and institutes that focus on areas comparable to centers at Georgetown University and Columbia University: centers for health law and policy addressing issues before the Food and Drug Administration, institutes for intellectual property reflecting practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and policy groups engaging with urban law topics relevant to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Research projects have produced work on civil rights issues tied to litigation like Loving v. Virginia and regulatory frameworks influenced by federal statutes and administrative decisions.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty have included judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, members of the United States House of Representatives, and state supreme court justices involved with cases at the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Faculty have participated in national conversations alongside scholars from Stanford Law School, Yale Law School, and Harvard Law School, and former students have joined firms and institutions such as Kirkland & Ellis, Dechert LLP, and public agencies like the Federal Trade Commission. Notable graduates have also served in municipal leadership roles in Philadelphia and statewide offices in Pennsylvania.

Category:Law schools in Pennsylvania