Temple University Beasley School of Law


The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of Temple University, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1895, the law school has an enrollment of about 530 students. In 2018, Temple Beasley School of Law was ranked the 47th best law school overall and 2nd best for Trial Advocacy training by US News & World Report. Temple Law consistently boasts a top-three national ranking in Trial Advocacy, and is a perennial powerhouse in national Mock Trial competition. Temple Law also offers a highly rated evening program for working students; its evening program was ranked 6th overall by U.S. News & World Report.

Student body

Admission for the Fall 2019 entering class was highly competitive, with 232 applicants being enrolled from a pool of 2,350. The median GPA was 3.56 and the median LSAT score was 161. The 25th/75th percentile of entrants had GPAs of 3.28/3.72, and LSAT scores of 158/163. The class represented 113 different colleges, and came from 32 states and countries. Women represented 49% of the class, 34% were students of color, and the average age was 26.

Faculty

Temple Law School currently employs 68 full-time faculty members and retains numerous local attorneys as adjuncts. The faculty is well balanced and diverse. Gregory N. Mandel, a noted intellectual property law scholar, was named dean in May 2017. JoAnne A. Epps, a professor at Temple Law since 1985, served as dean from 2008 to 2016, when she was appointed provost of Temple University. Robert J. Reinstein served as dean of the law school from 1989 to 2008.

Specialized coursework

Temple Law School offers two study abroad programs that are open to students from any ABA approved law school: the summer session in Rome and the spring semester in Tokyo. The Tokyo program is perhaps the most notable, as it is the only ABA-accredited semester program for law students in Japan.
Additionally, Temple JD students are eligible to study at the following partner institutions:Tsinghua University, University College Cork, Tel Aviv University, Utrecht University, Jindal Global Law School, University of Lucerne, InterAmerican University, Bocconi University, and University of Muenster.
Study abroad credits from any program can be used toward the J.D. program or the joint JD/LL.M. in Transnational Law.

Graduate Law Programs (LL.M., S.J.D., Certificate, Teaching Fellowship)

The Law School offers several advanced degree programs, including Master of Laws Degree in Trial Advocacy, Transnational Law, Asian Law or Taxation. Certificate programs in Estate Planning and Employee Benefits are offered through the Taxation program. International lawyers also have the opportunity to design their own curriculum through Temple's General LL.M. program. In addition to the LL.M., Temple offers an advanced degree for aspiring scholars, the Doctor of Juridical Science, and a Graduate Teaching Fellowship program.
The Graduate Tax Program is designed to provide understanding of complex taxation issues. The program provides candidates with a strong foundation in tax law, as well as the opportunity to develop expertise beyond the level of study offered in J.D. programs. A degree candidate must satisfactorily complete 24 credit hours of course work, including all core curriculum requirements and a writing seminar. Candidates may study on a full-time or part-time basis and all coursework must be completed within four years of matriculation. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed a basic income tax course in law school or demonstrated comparable work experience. An applicant who cannot meet this requirement must take the basic course in taxation offered in Temple's J.D. program in the student's first term after admission to the LL.M. program.

LL.M. in Asian Law

Temple's LL.M. in Asian law is designed for J.D. holders and students who wish to focus on the law of Asian countries, particularly China, Japan and India, the more powerful economies of the region. Students complete the first of two semesters at the Philadelphia campus, taking foundational courses such as Chinese Law, Japanese Law, and Law in Asia. Students are then required to spend the second semester at one of either Temple University Japan in Tokyo, Jindal Global Law School in the National Capital Region of India, or Tsinghua University Law School in Beijing, China. Students must maintain a G.P.A. of at least 2.50 over the course of the 24 credits they must earn to graduate.

General LL.M. for International Lawyers

Temple offers a general studies LL.M. program for foreign-trained lawyers. With the exception of two required research and writing courses, students can design their own curriculum from more than 180 courses offered annually in American and International law. General LL.M. degree candidates must successfully complete 24 credit hours of course work with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. The program can be completed in two semesters beginning in August and continuing through May. In addition to the main campus in Philadelphia, the General LL.M. is offered in Tokyo and Beijing. Students may transfer up to 4 credits at Temple's six-week summer law program in Rome, Italy to the Main campus L.L.M.

Doctor of Juridical Science

The Doctor of Juridical Science is a research-oriented degree program designed for those seeking to pursue careers as law teachers and scholars of law. Candidates enrolled in the S.J.D. program are required to spend their initial academic year in residence at the main campus in Philadelphia.

Estate Planning and Employee Benefits Certificates

An Estate Planning Certificate and Employee Benefits Certificate is offered through the Graduate Tax Program for practitioners who do not wish to pursue an LL.M. degree. The Estate Planning Certificate exposes students to federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxation issues, as well as federal income taxation of trusts and estates.

Law School Organizations

Moot Court

Temple Law's Moot Court was started in the 1950s. Moot Court members are selected as second-year law students through the Samuel L. Polsky Selection Competition, which is held during the fall semester. Polsky participants research and write an appellate brief, then argue both sides of the case before experienced attorneys who serve as appellate court justices. Students receiving the highest scores for brief writing and oral argument are invited to join the society.

Law journals

Temple Law is home to two student-edited journals and law reviews. The Temple Law Review is published quarterly, and the Temple International and Comparative Law Journal is published on a bi-annual basis.

Employment statistics

According to 2021 U.S. News & World Report, 59.8% of the graduating class obtained jobs at graduation, 83.3 acquired jobs in 10 months after graduation. Temple's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 16.3%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2016 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job ten months after graduation.

Rankings and recognition

Notable alumni