Law School Profile
The University of Dayton School of Law By Teresa Cajot The University of Dayton School of Law is a part of the University of Dayton, a Catholic Marianist institution that was established in 1850. The law school, which is located near downtown Dayton, Ohio, was founded in 1922 as the University of Dayton College of Law. However, it suffered during the Great Depression and was forced to shut down operations in 1935. It was not until 1974 that the law school reopened its doors as the University of Dayton School of Law.
Today, the private ABA-certified law school has an enrollment of about 458 students and about 51 faculty members. It is nationally recognized for its leading-edge programs including its accelerated JD option which allows students to complete their studies in just two years. In addition to the accelerated JD, the University of Dayton School of Law offers the traditional three-year JD program, joint degree programs, and graduate degrees in Intellectual Property and Technology Law. The University of Dayton School of Law is widely known for its Lawyer as a Problem Solver curriculum, which features Dayton Law’s Legal Profession Program. The two-semester Legal Profession Program was designed to assist in the development of legal research, analysis, and writing skills in connection with the technology that is used in today’s legal environment. Experiential learning opportunities are encouraged through externships, which students usually participate in during their final two semesters of law school. Through the Law Clinic, students also have the opportunity to serve underprivileged clients who have been charged with misdemeanors in Dayton Municipal Court.
involvement. The school boasts more than 20 student organizations including Advocates for Child Law Awareness, the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, Moot Court, the Chess Club, the Golf Club, and the St. Thomas More Society. The school also publishes the University of Dayton Law Review three times each year. The publication is traditionally managed by second-and third-year law students. Through its Career Services Office, the University of Dayton School of Law provides students, alumni, and employers a variety of career-related resources. The office primarily serves to assist students in the process of transitioning from law student to working professional. The law school’s Dean, Paul E. McGreal , joined the law school as the Dean a couple of months before the start of the 2011 fall semester. Immediately prior to that, he held the positions of director of faculty development, professor of law, and interim associate dean at Southern Illinois University School of Law. McGreal holds an LLM from Yale Law School and a JD from Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University.
Beyond its class offerings, the University of Dayton School of Law also offers plenty of opportunities for student
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