Wake Forest University School of Law

Wake Forest University School of Law
Name	Wake Forest University School of Law
Established	1894
Type	Private
Parent	Wake Forest University
City	Winston-Salem
State	North Carolina
Country	United States
Dean	John S. Carroll
Students	600+
Faculty	60+

Wake Forest University School of Law is a private law school located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in the 19th century, it has developed into a nationally recognized institution with programs in litigation, business law, public interest law, and health law. The school emphasizes small-class instruction, experiential learning, and preparation for bar passage and legal practice across federal and state courts such as the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

History

The law school traces origins to institutions active during the post-Reconstruction era and formalized instruction in the 1890s, reflecting regional growth contemporaneous with figures like Raleigh builders and businessmen. Over the 20th century it expanded amid trends visible in legal education reforms associated with the American Bar Association and the Association of American Law Schools. Major milestones include relocation and campus development in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, curricular modernization paralleling initiatives at Yale Law School, Harvard Law School, and Columbia Law School, and accreditation achievements aligning with standards set by the Council on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The school’s trajectory intersected with broader legal shifts exemplified by landmark events such as decisions from the United States Supreme Court and legislative changes influenced by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Academics and Programs

The school offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), and dual-degree programs in collaboration with institutions like Wake Forest University School of Business and public policy programs drawing parallels to offerings at Georgetown University Law Center and Stanford Law School. Concentrations include business law, health law, intellectual property, and appellate advocacy, paralleling curricular tracks at New York University School of Law and University of Virginia School of Law. Faculty scholarship engages with publishers and forums associated with Harvard Law Review, Yale Law Journal, and the Columbia Law Review. Students participate in moot court competitions similar to contests sponsored by the National Moot Court Competition, advocate in settings modeled on the National Trial Competition, and produce legal scholarship within student-edited journals akin to the Virginia Law Review.

Admissions and Rankings

Admission is competitive, with median LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs reflecting selectivity comparable to peer institutions such as Duke University School of Law, University of North Carolina School of Law, and Vanderbilt University Law School. Rankings from national publications referencing criteria used by outlets like U.S. News & World Report and specialty rankings in legal writing, clinical training, and tax law inform prospective students’ choices. The school reports outcomes including bar passage rates relevant to state bar authorities like the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners and employment statistics in sectors represented by firms such as DLA Piper, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and public agencies including the Federal Public Defender system.

Clinical and Experiential Learning

Clinical programs offer representation and advocacy through clinics addressing civil litigation, criminal defense, immigration, and health law, mirroring clinical models used by Georgetown University Law Center and University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Students engage in externships with courts such as the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, tribunals like the North Carolina Business Court, and agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Simulation courses and practicum experiences are augmented by partnerships with nonprofit organizations similar to Legal Aid of North Carolina and hospitals like Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for health-law placements. Competitions in appellate and trial advocacy prepare students for practice before venues including the Fourth Circuit and state appellate courts.

Facilities and Campus

The law school’s campus features dedicated facilities for classrooms, clinical offices, and research, positioned on grounds that connect to Wake Forest University’s central campus in Winston-Salem. The law library supports collections and digital resources aligned with major repositories like the Library of Congress and law-library consortia reflecting standards at institutions such as the Biddle Law Library at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Student organizations maintain spaces for moot court, journals, and pro bono projects affiliated with statewide networks such as the North Carolina Bar Association. Campus life intersects with cultural and civic institutions in Forsyth County and regional centers like Greensboro, North Carolina.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty have held positions across the judiciary, government, academia, and private practice, with ties to offices such as the United States Senate, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and executive agencies like the Department of Justice. Graduates have joined firms including Cravath, Swaine & Moore, served as state attorneys general, and become law professors at schools like Georgetown University Law Center and University of Chicago Law School. Faculty scholarship and service have engaged with national dialogues involving entities such as the American Bar Association and commentaries appearing in outlets associated with the Harvard Law Review and Journal of Legal Education.

Category:Wake Forest University Category:Law schools in North Carolina