Washington College of Law
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American University Washington College of Law (WCL) was founded in 1896 as the culmination of the pioneering efforts of two women, Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett, who wished to open the field of law to women. Their efforts yielded the Washington College of Law, the first women's law school in the world to be founded by women, the first to have a female dean, and the first to generate an all-female law class.
WCL merged with American University in 1949. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley area of Northwest Washington, DC.
Today, WCL enrolls 1,646 students, both male and female. Of the enrollment figures, 60 percent are female, WCL ranks 9th in racial diversity among top law schools, and all U.S. states and over 60 foreign countries are represented. In 2006, WCL was ranked 43rd of the top 100 Law Schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report's college and university rankings. WCL is nationally renowned for its international law, clinical and trial advocacy programs (ranked 7th, 2nd and 11th in the country, respectively, by U.S. News & World Report). WCL is also reputed to have one of the strongest human rights programs in the world and has an excellent reputation for public interest work. WCL participates in several popular study abroad and student exchange programs with universities around the world, including a semester-long program with the School of Law at City University of Hong Kong. WCL has four student-edited law journals: American University Law Review, Administrative Law Review, American University International Law Review, and American University Journal of Gender, Social Police & the Law. The Administrative Law Review is the Official ABA Section on Administrative Law Publication. WCL's moot court program is consistently competitive--in 2002, the Jessup Moot Court Team was the top ranked team in the United States and Third in the World. WCL's newer Mock Trial Honor Society enjoyed success during the last several years and continues the school's commitment to excellence in Trial Advocacy. WCL's student magazine is The American Jurist, which has won the "Best Law Student Magazine" award from the American Bar Association on several occasions. In 2005, The Business Law Brief, a two-year old student-run publication, won the award for "Best Law Student Magazine" from the American Bar Association.
WCL offers the J.D. (Juris Doctor), LL.M. (Master of Laws), and S.J.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) degrees. Additionally, students can enroll in one of several dual degree programs offered at WCL, including a J.D./M.A. program with the School of International Service, and J.D./M.B.A. and L.L.M/M.B.A programs with the Kogod School of Business.
Prominent faculty members include former U.S. Presidential candidate Ralph Nader, Stephen Wermiel, Paul Williams, Michael Tigar and Jamie Raskin among others. Prominent alumni include Senator Robert Byrd, Tom Goldstein, Karen Lockwood, and Reggie Walton.
While many alumni pursue law firm and government careers, the school is known for its focus on public interest law. For example, WCL offers grant money through the Equal Justice Foundation for students working in the public sector and offers special loan repayment assistance programs.
