Program Overview
The Juris Doctor (JD) program at Western New England University School of Law equips students with critical thinking, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills to prepare them for practicing law in any American jurisdiction. The program offers a comprehensive curriculum with required courses and optional concentrations to customize studies. Experiential learning opportunities through clinics, externships, and moot court competitions enhance practical knowledge, while dual degree programs provide additional marketability.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Juris Doctor (JD) program at Western New England University School of Law is designed to prepare students for the practice of law in any American jurisdiction. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. Students will learn to analyze legal and social issues, conduct thorough legal research, write persuasive legal arguments, and apply their knowledge in practical settings. The program is taught by full-time faculty who teach all required day and evening courses.
Outline:
The JD program is structured to provide a comprehensive legal education. It includes several required courses that form the foundation for more advanced legal studies. Students can customize their studies through electives and experiential learning opportunities.
Required Courses:
- Academic Success
- Advanced Legal Analysis I and II
- Business Organizations
- Civil Procedure
- Constitutional Law
- Contracts
- Criminal Law
- Evidence
- Introduction to Law
- Introduction to the Legal Profession
- Income Tax or Legislative & Administrative Process
- Lawyering Skills I and II
- Professional Responsibility
- Property
- Torts
Concentrations:
Students can choose to focus their studies on a specific practice area by pursuing a concentration. Concentrations are optional and are not required of any student.
- Concentration in Criminal Law Practice
- Concentration in Gender & Sexuality Law
- Concentration in International and Comparative Law Practice
- Concentration in Public Interest Practice
- Concentration in Transactional Law Practice
Experiential Learning:
The JD program includes a variety of experiential learning opportunities, such as:
- Clinics: Students can assist real clients in one of the many clinics offered by the law school.
- Externships: Students can gain practical experience through externships with legal organizations.
- Law Review: Students can research and write scholarly notes for the Law Review.
- Moot Court: Students can participate in moot court competitions.
- Study Abroad: Students can receive credit through study abroad programs.
First Year Practical Lawyering Courses:
- Introduction to Law: This course prepares students for the study of law.
- Introduction to the Legal Profession: This week-long simulation course provides students with practical experience in a law firm setting.
Dual Degree Programs:
Students can enhance their marketability by pursuing a dual degree program, combining their JD with another advanced degree.
Teaching:
The JD program is taught by full-time faculty who teach all required day and evening courses. The program emphasizes small class sizes, allowing for personalized attention and interaction between students and faculty.
Careers:
The JD program prepares students for a wide range of legal careers, including:
- Attorney
- Judge
- Prosecutor
- Public Defender
- Legal Scholar
- Legal Researcher
- Corporate Counsel
- Government Lawyer
Other:
- The law school offers a Public Interest Scholars Program, which provides scholarships and mentorship to students interested in public interest law.
- The law school is committed to helping students prepare for the bar exam and offers comprehensive bar preparation resources.
- The law school has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion.
- The law school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, which provides students with access to a variety of legal and professional opportunities.
