Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
“ My favorite part of Widener Law Commonwealth is the sense of community. I immediately felt welcomed by fellow classmates, professors, and staff. Everyone was so kind and helpful from the very beginning. I quickly learned everyone at Widener Law Commonwealth is here to assist and guide me in any way possible through my legal education.�
~ Gabriella Romeo DuBois, Pennsylvania
Take the INSIDE TRACK at Widener Law Commonwealth Here, from day one, you will be an insider. From the close mentorship and support you’ll receive from our faculty, to the professional experiences that will accelerate your career, a Widener Law Commonwealth degree will prepare you for a fast start and long-term success. Widener Law Commonwealth offers a low-cost location and an exceptional learning experience that is personal, practical, and professional. You’ll experience a legal education with flexible scheduling choices, including full- and part-time options, and programs unmatched in career-building initiatives. Small class sizes will enable you to develop a mentorship relationship with internationally recognized faculty members. We invite you to learn more about Widener Law Commonwealth’s approach to legal education. Visit our campus to see firsthand the many opportunities that will put you on the inside track to a career as a leader in the legal profession.
Join our Community.
INSIDE TRACK
Study law in Pennsylvania’s state capital LEARNING IN HARRISBURG As the only law school in the capital of the nation’s fifth most populous state, Widener Law Commonwealth offers you a world of possibilities. The Harrisburg region is home to courts of every level, local and national law firms, state government, and is close to an immigration court and detention center. Because of our location, you’ll enjoy many opportunities: to witness the law in action, to secure externships, and to build a professional network. An added advantage lies in the broad representation of Widener Law Commonwealth alumni across the region. Our graduates work in every branch of state government, practice with firms and corporations of every description, work in federal government positions, and look for opportunities to open doors for fellow—and future—Widener Law Commonwealth alumni.
LIVING IN HARRISBURG Life in Harrisburg offers the best of two worlds—the energy and opportunities of an urban hub with all the advantages of a small town. With approximately 600,000 people, Central Pennsylvania features the attractions of a major population center—cultural institutions, plentiful shopping, and fabulous restaurants—without the excessive expense of living in New York City, Philadelphia, or Washington D.C. When you are ready to escape the urban environment, nature is minutes away. Take your choice of outdoor recreational activities on the Susquehanna River and the nearby Appalachian Trail, or explore Harrisburg’s Riverfront Park, one of the most scenic inland waterfronts in the nation.
INSIDE TRACK Powerhouse signature programs THE LAW AND GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE The Law and Government Institute is dedicated to the study of government law and focuses on the complex intersection of legislation, regulation, policy, and the law. The institute will equip you to explore how government works and the roles that lawyers play in making and implementing law, such as writing legislation, representing clients before state agencies, and providing legal advice to elected officials. You may earn a Certificate in Law and Government that provides hands-on experience and is a signal to employers that you focused your legal studies on government law. The Administrative/Constitutional Law Certificate concentrates on the balance of power between government branches and the laws that govern administrative agencies. The Legislation Certificate offers immersion in the process of making laws, including drafting and interpretation.
“I chose to attend Widener Law Commonwealth because of the Law and Government Institute, and my experience has been great. Because Widener Law Commonwealth is so close to the capital, the types of internships and events that the Law and Government Institute has access to is unparalleled for those interested in government law.� ~Kimberly Creech Waldorf, Maryland
THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND SUSTAINABILITY CENTER Our Motto: Law for Sustainability The Environmental Law and Sustainability Center takes on some of the most complex issues our society faces today—including environmental protection, sustainability, and climate change—that lawyers are likely to see regardless of what type of work they do. The center explores ways that the law can be used to address challenges, including climate change, environmental rights, public health, biodiversity, and the protection of the land, air, and water for future generations. The center also emphasizes powerful, practical skills, including statutory analysis, writing, legislative drafting, and oral presentation. The Environmental Law Certificate, offered in conjunction with the Law and Government Institute, enables you to explore the impact of the legislative process on environmental law.
THE BUSINESS ADVISING PROGRAM Roughly one-half of U.S. workers are employed in business enterprises with fewer than 500 employees. About one-fifth of U.S. workers work for companies with fewer than 20 employees. The Business Advising Program equips you to advise these small and midsize businesses that drive the U.S. economy, as well as entrepreneurs starting business enterprises.
The Business Advising Programing provides a real world approach to learning inside and outside the classroom. Among the certificate requirements, students must successfully complete at least one transactional skills course that provides an intensive, hands-on drafting experience. As a Business Advising student, you will also have numerous opportunities to put your practical skills to work outside the classroom. Partnering with the local bar association’s Lawyers for the Arts program, you’ll get to work with artists and arts organizations that need legal assistance. You will also have the opportunity to compete in the Transactional LawMeet®, an educational competition designed to develop and hone transactional lawyering skills. The Advocacy Certificate prepares you for the courtroom with course work and hands-on learning opportunities in civil, criminal, and administrative litigation and dispute resolution. The program enhances placement opportunities in the region’s district attorney and public defender offices, public agencies that conduct administrative hearings, and private law firms. Opportunities include participation in our Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP), a week-long, intensive course in which local practitioners will coach you through trial simulations from opening to closing statements.
INSIDE TRACK Learn from accessible faculty who are also renowned experts “My overall experience with the faculty has been constructive and motivating. The relationships I have developed with my professors have been my most helpful resource in law school. I am confident these relationships will continue well past law school.� ~Jonathan Diamond, Gladstone, New Jersey
Our well-connected faculty make you feel like an insider from day one.
Widener Law Commonwealth faculty members will take a personal interest in your law school experience, including guidance of course selection, bar exam preparation, career counseling, and professional achievement.
Some of our distinguished faculty: • Dean and Professor of Law Christian Johnson is an internationally recognized expert on global capital markets and over-thecounter derivatives. He has testified before Congress and has spoken about the financial crisis worldwide. • Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development Juliet Moringiello is a leader in the development of commercial law on the state and national levels. Her work on bankruptcy, secured credit, and the impact of emerging technologies on commercial transactions has been cited by numerous state and federal courts. She recently served as the chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Business Law Section. • Professor of Environmental Law and Sustainability John Dernbach is director of the Environmental Law and Sustainability Center. He served two years as policy director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and is known nationally and internationally for his work on sustainable development, climate change, and environmental law. • Professor of Law and Government Jill Family is director of the Law and Government Institute. She is internationally known for her scholarly work in immigration law and administrative law. She has testified on Capitol Hill before a U.S. Senate subcommittee. • Professor Anna Hemingway is director of the Legal Methods Program. She is a leader in the national legal writing community and a frequent presenter at national and international legal writing conferences.
INSIDE TRACK Where practice ready is more than a motto “I believe that the impact of our clinic is twofold: We provide much needed legal help to members of the local community who would otherwise not be able to afford it, and we prepare students with practical experience representing real clients with real legal issues. One of my goals has been to prepare students to become more inclined to take pro bono cases and become more involved with public service as practicing attorneys because of their work participating in the clinic while at Widener Law Commonwealth.� ~Mary Catherine Scott, Esq. Interim Director, Central Pennsylvania Law Clinics
CLINICS As a participant in the Central Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinics, you will gain valuable hands-on experience working on real cases with our clinic supervisors. Our clinics include the Administrative Law Clinic, Consumer Law Clinic, Elder Law Clinic, and the Family Justice Clinic.
EXTERNSHIPS Proximity to the Capitol Complex will give you direct access to a multitude of externship opportunities, including the chance to work as a judicial or legal extern. You’ll gain hands-on experience and make valuable connections with lawmakers and leaders.
PRACTICAL LEARNING COURSES Putting the skills you learn in the classroom into practice is a large part of the curriculum at Widener Law Commonwealth. The curriculum boasts more than 20 practical learning courses you can choose from, including business planning, alternative dispute resolution, negotiation, pre-trial methods, trial methods, sustainability law practicum, and Intensive Trial Advocacy (ITAP).
An INSIDE TRACK to long-term career success
“The Career Development Office at Widener Law Commonwealth offers excellent service to students. The staff is very helpful when it comes to résumé and cover letter writing, as well as helping with interviews. It is because of the Career Development Office that I was able to get the internships I wanted.” ~Aaron D. Rosengarten Easton, Pennsylvania
CAREER DEVELOPMENT OFFICE The Career Development Office plays an essential role in your professional success. Made up of a team of experienced and dedicated staff that can help educate and connect you to career opportunities, it offers networking events and hosts educational lectures. The office also provides support by assisting with résumé writing, conducting mock interviews, and providing opportunities to gain experience in the legal profession. In addition, the Career Development Office brings in a variety of speakers to share their expertise and experience.
LEGAL WRITING Termed “Legal Methods” at Widener Law Commonwealth, our legal writing program recognizes that becoming a good lawyer requires more than learning fundamental legal principles. Legal Methods courses focus on teaching the traditional hard skills you need to succeed as a lawyer, as well as the soft skills you need to succeed in the workplace. We pride ourselves in teaching not only writing and analysis, but also teamwork and professionalism. You’ll focus on legal writing to ensure you have the best possible foundation to build on your legal education.
A Personal Approach Our foundational Legal Methods courses are designed to teach legal methods in an accessible manner. Because we incorporate technology, visuals, and small group work in almost every class, you can immerse yourself in learning lawyering skills from the first day of law school.
Teaching Practical Skills Preparing you for practice is one of our primary goals. We are nationally known for the innovative tools and technology we use to teach these courses and assess your performance. Because feedback in legal practice rarely involves letter grades and written comments, we go beyond traditional forms of grading by incorporating live critiques. Doing this gives you more than a grade—it gives you a meaningful opportunity to continue to learn through assessment.
BAR PREPARATION Successful bar preparation is key as you prepare to graduate and pass the exam. Widener Law Commonwealth offers a fundamentals course that includes basic techniques for answering bar exam questions, as well as repeated exposure to bar examination materials. In addition, faculty members are always available and happy to offer insights on and assistance with bar exam preparation. Bar preparation begins on the first day of law school.
Develop leadership skills through an engaging student life At Widener Law Commonwealth, you’ll enjoy a rich student life designed to enhance your legal education both on and off campus. Numerous clubs and organizations provide opportunities for you to network and apply your legal studies in enriching and rewarding activities. We also promote a work-life balance through various wellness initiatives.
HONOR SOCIETIES You may participate in three honors organizations: • Widener Commonwealth Law Review • Moot Court Honor Society • Trial Advocacy Honor Society
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS The Student Bar Association is the flagship organization that oversees student organizations at Widener Law Commonwealth. The groups on campus include social and academic clubs. Participating in student organizations helps you extend your learning outside the classroom, provides networking opportunities, and adds experience to your résumé. Examples of clubs include: The National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA): A national organization created to promote the professional needs and goals of black and minority law students. The Black Law Students Association focuses on the relationship of black and minority attorneys to the American legal system and holds networking and educational events throughout the year. Public Interest Law Society (PILS): A student group that aims to bridge the gap between law students and those seeking legal advice or advocacy in the community. The commitment to public interest fosters professional responsibility and personal connections through service to persons unable to pay for legal services or unsure of where to obtain such services. Veterans Association: The mission of the Veterans Association is to support, mentor, and honor the men and women who are America’s veterans through fostering community connections, leadership, diversity, service, and excellence.
INSIDE TRACK An alumni community that pays it forward to the next generation of lawyers Since 1989, Widener University Commonwealth Law School has brought together remarkable people—diverse in backgrounds and united as part of a close and supportive community. Alumni collaboration and connections have been key components at Widener Law Commonwealth since the beginning. The Alumni Association continues that tradition as it works to play an active role in shaping the law school’s future and mentoring students like you. Our alumni have a strong sense of identity, loyalty, and pride. They are eager to network with recent Widener Law Commonwealth alumni and connect them to new opportunities.
3,500+
alumni in the Widener Law Commonwealth community, creating a robust network that helps to support the school and current law students.
RECENT JOB TITLES AND EMPLOYERS OF ALUMNI
Under Secretary of the Army U.S. Army • Auditor General Commonwealth of Pennsylvania • Federal
Chief Magistrate U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania •
Partner K & L Gates • Judge Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court •
First Deputy General Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
White House Counsel Executive Office of the President of the United States • Senator Pennsylvania State Senate • Executive •
Director MidPenn Legal Services •
Deputy District
Attorney Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Attorney
York County, Pennsylvania •
•
District
SeniorCounsel Office
of General Counsel, Department of Health, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania •
Partner
Jones Day •
Vice President
of Human Resources Sheetz • Partner Weil, Gotshal and Manges •
Judge Advocate General U.S. Army 40 STATES
where alumni are
practicing
YOUR FUTURE AWAITS.
Take the
INSIDE TRACK with flexible enrollment options designed to fit your busy schedule. You’re a working professional who wants to earn a law degree. The question is: How do you juggle classes, commitments to work and family, and get your degree in a reasonable time frame? Widener Law Commonwealth’s Extended Division part-time JD program is the answer. With evening and day programs offered, most students complete their required coursework in four years.
by knowing how to afford your law school education. SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS • Widener Law Commonwealth offers generous scholarship awards to incoming students in both the full- and part-time programs. • Your application to the law school is your application for scholarship consideration. • All incoming scholarship awards are renewable each year provided you maintain good academic standing. • Scholarship awards are determined by the Admissions Office.
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION Widener Law Commonwealth’s tuition and fees are competitive, and we offer a number of scholarships that reward academic achievement. We encourage you to complete the FAFSA to apply for the Federal Student Loan Program. We will assist you with financial need so you can make the most of your many financial aid opportunities. If you have any questions as you go through the process, the financial aid staff is happy to help. To learn more about financial aid, visit commonwealthlaw.widener.edu. Contact the Financial Aid Office E-mail: finaidcwlaw@widener.edu Phone: 717-541-3961
VETERAN FRIENDLY
START YOUR
JOURNEY
TODAY. APPLY TO WIDENER LAW COMMONWEALTH • Apply through the Law School Admissions Council at www.lsac.org. • Admissions decisions take into consideration many factors. The two most important factors are your LSAT score and your cumulative undergraduate GPA. Other factors taken into consideration include your work and life experiences, extracurricular activities, community involvement, military service, and graduate study. All applicants are required to submit: • A completed application. • A completed CAS Report which includes at least one LSAT writing sample and transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Transcripts should be sent directly from the school to LSAC. • A personal statement. • Two letters of recommendation—for students currently enrolled in college, at least one letter should be from a faculty member. • A current résumé. Optional items may include a diversity statement and an addendum explaining any “issues” with your application (typically a low LSAT or a low GPA). International applicants must submit a completed application before April 1. • Transfer and visiting students are accepted in any semester after completion of one full year of law school. • Previous law school attendees must submit an official transcript and letter of standing from their prior law school. Complete application instructions for all applicants can be found at commonwealthlaw.widener.edu. Contact the Admissions Office Email: admitcwlaw@widener.edu Phone: 717-541-3903 Website: commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/apply
• Burlington
Concord •
Albany •
• Erie Scranton •
• Morgantown
NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY Widener University adheres to all federal and state civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Widener University will not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of sex, gender, pregnancy status, age, race, national origin or ethnicity, religion, disability, status as a veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or genetic information, or any other protected category under applicable local, state, or federal law, including protections for those opposing discrimination or participating in any resolution process on campus or within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other human rights agencies. For the complete policy, visit: widener.edu/nondiscrimination
FACULTY LEADERSHIP
(from 2015–2019)
EVENING AND PART-TIME PROGRAMS Portland •
Members of the Widener Law Commonwealth faculty participate in leadership roles in Widener Law Commonwealth earn a professional organizations helps at theyou local, JD in the way that works for you and your regional, national, andbest international levels. schedule. We’ve created a curriculum that Their engagement with the professionallows makes you to complete our JD program through flexibly them uniquely situated to provide students scheduled part-time study, usually in four years. with the inside track to legal practice.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT • Boston
ENTERING CLASS PROFILE* FALL 2019
JOHN CAPOWSKI Curriculum
Chair, Association of American Law Schools Section on Evening and part time students receive the same Evidence, 2015–2016 comprehensive legal education as those attending full time. Upper class students typically maintain a schedule JOHN DERNBACH of three or four nights per week. Our Extended Division Member, American Bar Association Task Force on day programDevelopment, schedule varies each year. Sustainable 2013–2015
TypicalDIEHM First Year Schedule JAMES Elected Member, American Law Institute Fal 2019 Civil Procedure I
3 credits
MICHAEL DIMINO 3 credits Contracts I
CONNECT WITH Senior Associate Editor, Italian LawUS! Journal, 2017– present Legal Methods I WITH 3 credits US! CONNECT Member, of Law Schools Torts I Southeastern 2Association credits JAMES W. DIEHM EUGENE A. DEPASQUALE Resource Teams for Constitutional Law and Election Law,
Follow byourfollowing us. Spring 2020 “I would like toyour do3.08 what dreams I can to prepare students to become Class Year — 2002 Median GPA: Member, Southeastern Association of Law Schools Civil Procedure II 149 3them credits Median LSAT: good lawyers by educating notby onlyfollowing about the subject us. matter, Follow your dreams Current Job Title/Employer — Pennsylvania Auditor General Moderator and Program Committees, 2018–present Median Age: 24 Contracts II 2 credits but also about the importance of integrity and professionalism.” Age Range: Widener Law Commonwealth Facebook Page 67 3 credits Hometown — 20 Pittsburgh, PA Legal Methods II –Law Committee Member, Free Speech and Election Executive Widener Commonwealth Facebook Page Facebook.com/WidenerLawCommonwealth Colleges Represented: 76 Class Year Law Group, Federalist Facebook.com/WidenerLawCommonwealth TortsPractice II — 2018 3 credits Society for Law and Public Current Location York County, PA Residents of PA: — 72% Policy Studies, 2014–2015 Instagram Title — Professor of Law, States Represented: 15 Widener University Commonwealth Instagram @WidenerLawCW Undergrad Institution — College ofof Wooster from Law As aSchool part-time student,Association you in(MPA a full Executive Committee, American Law Minority Enrollment: 29%can participate @WidenerLawCW University of Pittsburgh) Schools Election Law, range ofSection curricular and extracurricular options, including Female: 53% Education — BA,on Pennsylvania State2014–2015 University; Twitter JD, Georgetown University Center Widener Law Journal, theLaw Widener Journal of Law, Male: 47% Twitter @WidenerLawCW FullFAMILY Time:and 95 Race, the Moot Court Honor Society, and JILL Economics Experience — Presidentially United States Attorney, @WidenerLawCW “Widener helped me not onlyAppointed develop critical thinking skills 22 Honor thePart-Time: Trial Society. Just like our full-time District ofAdvocacy the Virgin Islands | Partner, Law Firm of Isherwood, Chair, Association of American Law Schools Section on butTotal also Enrollment: exposed me to117 some of the nation’s best law professors. Hunter andpart-time Diehm | 2019–2020 Assistant General for the United students, students Attorney may qualify for substantial Immigration Law, Combine thisIslands with developing the balancing necessary for States Virgin | Assistant Statesskills Attorney for the scholarships to defray the costUnited of tuition. DEGREES OFFERED Chair, County District of Columbia eveningDauphin division law schoolBar andAssociation it is clear myGovernment four years helped JD (Juris Doctor) 2019 Lawyers Committee, me tremendously.” Courses Taught — Criminal Law, Evidence, Criminal 2018–present
JD/MBA (Online Master of Business Administration) Procedure, Advanced Criminal Procedure, and Comparative Nominating Member, American Bar Association JD /MSLS Committee (Master of Library Science) Criminal procedure Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, “The Evening Division program at Widener made going to Best advice received in law school —
2015, 2017 Don’t waste timeAND that professor. don’tsPROGRAMS matter. INSTITUTES SPECIALTY law school a reality me. Widener’ program “Professor Diehm isonfor anthings amazing I tookenables four ofthose the Law and Government Institute who work full-time or who have family responsibilities to classes he taught.course He hasor so extracurricular much experience activity in various ways, it Most valuable ( C onstitutional/Administrative, Environmental Law ANNA HEMINGWAY achieve their dreams of becoming a lawyer.” makes for great stories and hypotheticals during class. He makes during law school — Moot Court and Legislation certificates available) Chair, Pennsylvania Bar Association Plain English the classes fun and memorable. I highly recommend Environmental Law and Sustainability Center him for any Committee, 2015–2018 Mission statement to live by — Learn to be comfortable being criminal law classes.” Advocacy Certificate Program uncomfortable. It is how we grow and become better people Board Member, Journal of the Legal Writing Institute Business and the bestAdvising possible Program versions of ourselves. ~Kristy L. Darby ’19 Widener Law Commonwealth Public Interest Initiative
commonwealthlaw.widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
*as of 8/13/19
3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
FACULTY LEADERSHIP
(from 2015–2019)
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Members of the Widener Law Commonwealth faculty participate in leadership roles in professional organizations at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Their engagement with the profession makes them uniquely situated to provide students with the inside track to legal practice. JOHN CAPOWSKI Chair, Association of American Law Schools Section on Evidence, 2015–2016
JOHN DERNBACH Member, American Bar Association Task Force on Sustainable Development, 2013–2015
JAMES DIEHM Elected Member, American Law Institute
MICHAEL DIMINO Senior Associate Editor, Italian Law Journal, 2017– present Member, Southeastern Association of Law Schools Resource Teams for Constitutional Law and Election Law, 2018–present Member, Southeastern Association of Law Schools Moderator and Program Committees, 2018–present Executive Committee Member, Free Speech and Election Law Practice Group, Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, 2014–2015 Executive Committee, Association of American Law Schools Section on Election Law, 2014–2015
JILL FAMILY Chair, Association of American Law Schools Section on Immigration Law, 2019–2020 Chair, Dauphin County Bar Association Government Lawyers Committee, 2019 Nominating Committee Member, American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice, 2015, 2017
ANNA HEMINGWAY Chair, Pennsylvania Bar Association Plain English Committee, 2015–2018 Board Member, Journal of the Legal Writing Institute
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON Co-Editor-in-Chief, Brill Research Perspectives in International Banking and Securities Law, 2015–present Chair of Veterans’ Legal Issues, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force on Veterans, 2016–present Director, Mid Penn Legal Services, 2018–present
ROBYN MEADOWS Member, Executive Committee, and Membership Chair, Honorable William W. Lipsett Inn of Court, 2011–2015
JULIET MORINGIELLO Elected Member, American Law Institute Commissioner for Pennsylvania and Division Chair, Uniform Law Commission Fellow, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers Member, Board of Regents, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers, 2018–present Chair, Pennsylvania Bar Association Section of Business Law, 2017–2018 Executive Editor, Business Law Today (American Bar Association Section of Business Law), 2017–present Chair, Task Force for the Enactment of the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, Pennsylvania Bar Association Section of Business Law, 2014–2017
SUSAN RAEKER-JORDAN Secretary, Association of American Law Schools Section on Law and Mental Disability, 2015–2018
CHRISTOPHER ROBINETTE Elected Member, American Law Institute United States Representative, European Group on Tort Law, 2019–present Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Tort Law, 2016–present Chair, American Association of Law Schools Section on Torts and Compensation Systems, 2017–2018 Advisory Board Member, New Appleman on Insurance, 2011–2016
3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
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EVENING AND PART-TIME PROGRAMS Widener Law Commonwealth helps you earn a JD in the way that works best for you and your schedule. We’ve created a curriculum that allows you to complete our JD program through flexibly scheduled part-time study, usually in four years.
Curriculum Evening and part time students receive the same comprehensive legal education as those attending full time. Upper class students typically maintain a schedule of three or four nights per week. Our Extended Division day program schedule varies each year.
Typical First Year Schedule Fall 2019 Civil Procedure I
3 credits
Contracts I
3 credits
Legal Methods I
3 credits
Torts I
2 credits
Spring 2020 Civil Procedure II
3 credits
Contracts II
2 credits
Legal Methods II
3 credits
Torts II
3 credits
As a part-time student, you can participate in a full range of curricular and extracurricular options, including the Widener Commonwealth Law Review, the Moot Court Honor Society, and the Trial Advocacy Honor Society. Just like our full-time students, part-time students may qualify for substantial scholarships to defray the cost of tuition.
“Widener Law Commonwealth’s Extended Division program allows me to continue working while going to law school. Without this program, law school wouldn’t have been an option. With smaller classes in the evenings, I created bonds with classmates that will last a lifetime.” ~Evelyn Stoner, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
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3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
GENNA MOSCATO Class Year — 2018 Current Job Title/Employer — Law Clerk to the Honorable Therese A. Cunningham, Criminal Division, in Ocean County, NJ Hometown — Howell, NJ Current Location — Howell, NJ Undergrad Institution — Monmouth University
“Widener Law provided me with a well-rounded education. The classes provided the foundational tools to understand and research law. The extracurriculars such as Moot Court and the Student Bar Association provided experiences that directly translate to the legal profession as well.” Best advice received in law school — Get involved! Yes, your grades are very important but they are not what makes a complete and successful attorney. Most valuable course or extracurricular activity during law school — Moot Court and the Legal Methods classes Mission statement to live by — To do justice. To recognize the flaws that your side may have and to get the case to be the fairest resolution for all parties involved.
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3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
EUGENE A. DEPASQUALE Class Year — 2002 Current Job Title/Employer — Pennsylvania Auditor General Hometown — Pittsburgh, PA Current Location — York County, PA Undergrad Institution — College of Wooster (MPA from University of Pittsburgh)
“Widener helped me not only develop critical thinking skills but also exposed me to some of the nation’s best law professors. Combine this with developing the balancing skills necessary for evening division law school and it is clear my four years helped me tremendously.” Best advice received in law school — Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter. Most valuable course or extracurricular activity during law school — Moot Court Mission statement to live by — Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It is how we grow and become better people and the best possible versions of ourselves.
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3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
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JAMES W. DIEHM “I like to do what I can to prepare our students to become good lawyers by educating them not only about the subject matter, but also about the importance of integrity and professionalism.” Title — Professor of Law, Widener University Commonwealth Law School Education — BA, Pennsylvania State University; JD, Georgetown University Law Center Experience — Presidentially Appointed United States Attorney, District of the Virgin Islands | Partner, Law Firm of Isherwood, Hunter and Diehm | Assistant Attorney General for the United States Virgin Islands | Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia 12-time winner of the Outstanding Faculty Award, which is selected by the graduating class Courses Taught — Criminal Law, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Advanced Criminal Procedure, and Comparative Criminal Procedure
“Professor Diehm is an amazing professor. I took four of the classes he taught. He has so much experience in various ways, it makes for great stories and hypotheticals during class. He makes the classes fun and memorable. I highly recommend him for any criminal law classes.” ~Kristy L. Darby ’19 Widener Law Commonwealth
3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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ENTERING CLASS PROFILE*
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FALL 2019
Median GPA: 3.08 Median LSAT: 149 Median Age: 24 Age Range: 20 – 67 Colleges Represented: 76 Residents of PA: 72% States Represented: 15 Minority Enrollment: 29% Female: 53% Male: 47% Full Time: 95 Part-Time: 22 Total Enrollment: 117
DEGREES OFFERED JD (Juris Doctor) JD/MBA (Online Master of Business Administration) JD/MSLS (Master of Library Science)
INSTITUTES AND SPECIALTY PROGRAMS Law and Government Institute ( Constitutional/Administrative, Environmental Law and Legislation certificates available)
Environmental Law and Sustainability Center Business Advising Program Advocacy Certificate Program Public Interest Initiative *as of 8/13/19
STUDY ABROAD Madrid, Spain University of New Mexico School of Law
STUDENT AND HONORS ORGANIZATIONS Widener Commonwealth Law Review Moot Court Honor Society Trial Advocacy Honor Society Student Bar Association
CLINICAL PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Central Pennsylvania Civil Law Clinics ( Administrative, Consumer, Elder, Family Justice, and Veterans) Clinical & Judicial Externships
TUITION FOR 2019–20 ACADEMIC YEAR Full-Time: $47,130 per year Part-Time: $34,562 per year
APPLICATION PROCEDURES Application available online at LSAC.org or CommonwealthLaw.Widener.edu All documents should be submitted electronically.
APPLICATION FEE $60.00 — Waived if you apply on or before December 31, 2019
APPLICATION DEADLINE May 1, 2020
SCHEDULE A VISIT Contact the Admissions Office at 717.541.3903, or by e-mail at admitcwlaw@widener.edu or online at commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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CONNECT WITH US!
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Follow your dreams by following us. Widener Law Commonwealth Facebook Page Facebook.com/WidenerLawCommonwealth Instagram @WidenerLawCW Twitter @WidenerLawCW
commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-541-3903 • admitcwlaw@widener.edu commonwealthlaw.widener.edu
The INSIDE TRACK to OUTSIZED SUCCESS.
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