Widener University Commonwealth Law School


Widener University Commonwealth Law School, located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is one of two separate ABA-accredited law schools of Widener University. It was founded in 1989 as an expansion of Widener University's law school in Wilmington, Delaware. It awards the Juris Doctor degree in its full-time and part-time programs and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

History

The Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg was founded in 1989, as an expansion of Widener University's existing law school in Wilmington, Delaware. Anthony J. Santoro, who served as Dean of law from 1983–1992, felt that there was a need for legal education in Harrisburg, the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The law school became one of two law school campuses operated by Widener University.
On July 1, 2015, the two campuses separated into two distinct law schools that operate independently of each other, but remain part of the Widener University. Each law school has its own dean, faculty, students, curriculum, and accreditation. The first Dean of the renamed Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg was Christian A. Johnson. The law school chose the name Commonwealth to reflect its mission and ties to the Pennsylvania government and in recognition of Pennsylvania as one of four commonwealths in the nation.

Campus

Located in Pennsylvania's capital of Harrisburg, the campus spans 19 acres and includes 4 academic and administrative building as well as recreation and parking areas. The law library houses significant regional legal collections.

Academics

Specialized programs

Widener Law Commonwealth offers four specialized programs:
Widener Law Commonwealth offers certificate programs in the following areas:
Widener Law Commonwealth operates the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinics which provide legal services to the local community. The CPLC runs four clinics:
Beginning in 2014, the law school created the a joint venture with the Dauphin County Bar Association, to create a legal incubator program. The program is housed within the Dauphin County Bar Association's office while Widener provides legal education and support. The program's mission is to allow new graduates the resources, space, and training needed to create new solo law firms which benefit the local community.

Dual degrees

Widener Law Commonwealth offers two dual degree programs:
Below are the Ultimate Bar Passage rates from the law school's ABA reports:
According to the American Bar Association's Employment Reports, 75% of the law school's 2018 graduating class is employed in Pennsylvania and the largest employment type is state and federal judicial clerkships.

Admissions

The law school offers several 3+3 early admissions programs with partner schools: