District of Columbia -- Washington College of Law, American University -- Accreditation: Full ABA -- Year Founded: 1896

American University Washington College of Law (WCL) is the law school of American University. It is located on Massachusetts Avenue in the Spring Valley neighborhood of northwest Washington. WCL is ranked in the top 50 law schools by US News and World Report. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association.

WCL was founded in 1896 by Ellen Spencer Mussey and Emma Gillett in response to a lack of legal educational opportunities for women in the region. Mussey herself learned the law by apprenticeship at her husband's law offices.



Rankings

WCL is well known for its Clinical, International Law, and Trial Advocacy programs, which are ranked 2nd, 5th, and 11th in the nation, respectively, by U.S. News & World Report. In 2008, WCL was included on U.S. News & World Report's college and university rankings list of the Top 100 Law Schools, where WCL consistently ranks in the top 50. In 2007-08, WCL was recognized as the most diverse top-tier law school in the Washington, D.C. area, and the third most diverse among top-tier law schools in the nation in U.S. News' index of diversity recognized. Its master of laws (LL.M.) program ranks 13th nationally in the 2008 AUAP rankings.

WCL is also known for its strong programs in both human rights and public interest work. WCL offers grant money through the Equal Justice Foundation for students working in the public sector and offers special loan repayment assistance programs.

Degrees offered

WCL offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.) in either international law or constitutional law, and Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) 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, J.D./M.B.A. and L.L.M/M.B.A programs with the Kogod School of Business, and J.D/M.P.P and L.L.M./M.P.P. with the School of Public Affairs.

Programs and centers

• Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
• Clinical Program
• Externship Program
• Health Law Project
• Humphrey Fellowship Program (Fulbright Exchange)
• Center for International Arbitration
• International Legal Studies Program (ILSP)
• International Visiting Scholars Program
• Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project
• National Institute of Military Justice
• National Institute of Corrections/WCL Project on Addressing Prison Rape
• Office of Public Interest
• Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property
• Program on International and Comparative Environmental Law
• Program on Law & Government
• Special Events & Continuing Legal Education
• Trial Advocacy Program
• UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic
• War Crimes Research Office
• Women & International Law Program
• Women & the Law Program

Contact info

American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
P: (202) 274-4000

Web: http://www.wcl.american.edu/

Office of Admissions - JD Program
Suite 507
P: (202) 274-4101
F: (202) 274-4107
Email: wcladmit@wcl.american.edu

International Legal Studies Program - LL.M. Program
Suite 340
P: (202) 274-4110
F: (202) 274-4116
Email: llminfo@wcl.american.edu