Washington University School of Law
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| Washington University School of Law | |
|---|---|
| Name | Washington University School of Law |
| Established | 1867 |
| Type | Private |
| Parent | Washington University in St. Louis |
| City | St. Louis |
| State | Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Dean | __ |
| Students | __ |
Washington University School of Law is a private law school affiliated with Washington University in St. Louis located in St. Louis, Missouri. The school offers Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and doctoral degrees and is known for programs in corporate law, intellectual property, health law, and dispute resolution. Its alumni and faculty have influenced American jurisprudence through service on the Supreme Court of the United States, federal appellate and district courts, state supreme courts, and leadership roles at institutions such as the United States Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and multinational law firms.
History
Founded in 1867 during the post‑Civil War era, the law school traces roots to legal education movements that produced institutions like Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School. Early development paralleled the growth of St. Louis as a gateway to the American West and the expansion of commercial law following the Missouri Compromise era transformations. The school’s faculty and graduates have intersected with major legal moments such as appointments to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, involvement in litigation before the United States Supreme Court, and advisory roles in landmark regulatory frameworks like the Securities Act of 1933 and the Sherman Antitrust Act's modern interpretations. Over time the school expanded curricula in response to innovations associated with entities like the Federal Trade Commission, the Internal Revenue Service, and the rise of intellectual property litigation linked to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Campus and Facilities
The law school sits on the Midtown campus of Washington University in St. Louis, adjacent to landmarks such as Forest Park and the Missouri Botanical Garden district. Primary buildings include a historic hall complemented by modern law libraries and clinical suites modeled after trial courts like those in the Thurgood Marshall United States Courthouse and administrative hearing rooms akin to Federal Communications Commission hearing facilities. Facilities support legal research in collections referencing materials from the Library of Congress, archival holdings related to cases argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, and specialized resources for scholars working on issues connected to institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Academics and Programs
The curriculum emphasizes doctrinal courses alongside experiential learning and joint-degree offerings with schools such as Olin Business School and the Brown School. Concentrations include corporate and transactional law reflecting matters handled by firms like Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and Latham & Watkins; intellectual property tied to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office; health law engaging with policy debates involving the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration; and dispute resolution with connections to arbitral institutions like the International Chamber of Commerce and the American Arbitration Association. Graduate offerings encompass LL.M. programs attracting alumni from courts such as the European Court of Human Rights and regulatory agencies like the European Commission.
Admissions and Rankings
Admissions are competitive, drawing applicants who have clerked for judges on the United States Court of Appeals and held fellowships with organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Brookings Institution. Selectivity is comparable to peer institutions including Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, University of Chicago Law School, and Duke University School of Law. National rankings by outlets that evaluate factors like bar passage and employment place the school among the leading law faculties, alongside programs at Columbia Law School and New York University School of Law depending on methodology. Graduates pursue clerkships with judges from courts like the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and careers at firms, corporations, and agencies including the Federal Reserve Board and United Nations offices.
Clinical Programs and Centers
Clinical offerings include litigation and transactional clinics modeled on practices before courts such as the Missouri Supreme Court and administrative bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency. Centers focus on areas including the interplay of law with public health institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, intellectual property in collaboration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and international law engaging with the International Criminal Court. Research centers host conferences drawing participants from universities such as Harvard Law School, think tanks like the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and judges from appellate benches.
Student Life and Organizations
Student organizations encompass journals, moot court teams, and societies that network with external groups such as the American Bar Association, the National Association of Attorneys General, and the Federalist Society. Competitive advocacy teams compete at tournaments sponsored by entities like the American Arbitration Association and the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Student-run clinics partner with local stakeholders including the St. Louis Circuit Court and nonprofit legal service providers resembling Legal Services Corporation affiliates.
Notable Alumni and Faculty
Alumni and faculty have included federal judges appointed to the United States Courts of Appeals, state chief justices of the Missouri Supreme Court, cabinet officials at the United States Department of Transportation and the United States Department of State, CEOs and general counsels at corporations such as Boeing and Anheuser-Busch, and academics who have published alongside scholars from Yale Law School and Stanford Law School. Faculty have served as visiting professors at institutions like Oxford University and advisers to bodies including the World Health Organization and the National Academy of Sciences.