LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA [By Heather Jung] A Top 10 law school, the University of Pennsylvania Law School received more than 5,600 applications for the class of 2009. When classes begin this fall, the class will consist of fewer than 250 of those potential applicants. The average GPA of the entering class was 3.7, and the median LSAT score was 170. Although the school follows a traditional J.D. program of study, it is known for being extremely rigorous.
According to the school’s website, the
Students interested in practicing for
politics, including national politics
“curriculum also has unrivaled depth,
•
their futures can participate in one
and major campaigns.
allowing you to choose from a dizzying array
of three moot court or mock trial
of electives from your first year to your
competitions.
•
third, from these more traditional courses to those in emerging fields, and also allowing
Students who want to learn how to foster their professional
•
Affinity programs such as the Asian
and spiritual development can
you to supplement your legal education
Pacific American Law Students
participate in religious groups
with courses at the esteemed graduate and
Association, Jewish Law Students
such as the Muslim Law Students
professional schools at the University of
Association, Lambda Law, and
Association and the Christian Legal
Pennsylvania through our cross-disciplinary
United Law Students of Color
Society.
program.”
Council allow students of particular ethnic, cultural, and identity groups
•
Social groups like the Iron Chef
In an effort to keep up with the ever-blurring
to come together and discuss
Club, Law School Light Opera
lines and parameters of “traditional” legal
the issues affecting them daily
Company, and Melange Wine Tasting
issues, the law school has created a cross-
while striving to increase diversity
Society allow students to show
disciplinary program. The program exposes
awareness and sensitivity.
off their talents or educate the
students to a multitude of other disciplines in order to enhance their critical thinking and
community about various topics. •
ability to navigate today’s world.
Differing greatly from traditional student organizations, the sole
•
Sports groups keep students fit
purpose of conference-only groups
while allowing them to network and
Students at Penn Law can customize their
is to allow students to meet to
engage in healthy competition with
law school experiences through several
organize conferences and raise
their classmates.
out-of-the-classroom options, such as study-
awareness about varying topics. The
abroad programs, student organizations and
school’s conferences invite scholars,
publications, and various clinics.
professionals, and public interest
today’s hottest issues (such as the
advocates to address students.
feminist movement, abortion, and
•
Penn Law offers multiple options for students to study abroad. It offers six formal
Students who are passionate about
the environment) can get their voices •
Cross-disciplinary groups such
heard by participating in special-
study-abroad programs in conjunction with
as the Chinese Legal Studies
interest groups.
Wharton’s Lauder Institute in locations such
Association, Penn Law Real Estate
as Japan, Germany, China, Israel, Spain, and
Club, and Environmental Law Society
France. Areas of study include international
are geared toward students who are
student views to faculty and
business law, international trade law,
interested in particular areas of law.
the school administration than
contracts, and litigation.
•
There is no better way to represent
through participation in a student •
The two political groups (Penn
government organization like the
The school offers more than 70 organizations
Law Democrats and Penn Law
Pre-Law Mentoring Program or the
in which students can participate:
Republicans) allow students to
National Lawyers Guild.
become involved in various facets of
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LAWCROSSING
THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH
LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
•
www.lawcrossing.com
1. 800.973.1177
Since the school requires students
Transnational Clinic, Criminal Defense
schools as you will find in the country.
to do pro bono work prior to
Clinic, and upper-division “Lawyering in the
Students can easily enhance their first-
graduating, it is no wonder there
Public Interest” seminar.
rate legal education through study in many associated disciplines, either through
are whole organizations devoted to the cause. The public service
Dean Michael A. Fitts describes Penn Law
matriculation in a joint-degree program
program plans special events for the
best when he states:
or by taking up to four courses in other departments.”
community. “Society in the 21st century increasingly
ON THE NET
Students can also choose to participate in
demands lawyers who are not only well
one of the school’s clinics, which, according
prepared in the conventional areas of legal
to the director for clinical legal studies,
education but are also knowledgeable of
University of Pennsylvania Law School
“prepares students to become skilled
and comfortable in fields intertwined with
www.law.upenn.edu
practitioners by applying theory learned in
the law. At Penn Law, our top-tier faculty
the classroom to the realities of actual legal
are leaders in more traditional as well as
Student Activities at Penn Law
problems. Students also experience the
cross-disciplinary scholarship, and they—
www.law.upenn.edu/prospective/
challenges and satisfaction of representing
and our talented students—are thoroughly
studentactivities.html
real clients in need of legal services while
integrated into the broad intellectual life of
benefiting from first-rate faculty supervision
the University of Pennsylvania. Unlike most
Clinical Program at Penn Law
and guidance.” Students can choose from
law schools that remain isolated from their
www.law.upenn.edu/clinic
the Civil Practice Clinic, Entrepreneurship
universities, Penn Law has followed the
Clinic, Mediation Clinic, Legislative Clinic,
opposite path, nurturing relationships with
Interdisciplinary Child Advocacy Clinic,
as fine an array of law-related professional
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