Program Overview
Georgetown University Law Center has long been one of the country’s top-tier law schools and the self-described place “where theory and practice meet.” The school’s expansive network covers all fields of law and reaches across both the country and the world. Georgetown Law’s notable alumni include Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell and broadcaster Savannah Guthrie.
With easy access to the Supreme Court, Congress, federal agencies, and international organizations, Georgetown Law is particularly known for its clinical program, which offers students opportunities to work with and learn from faculty who are at the forefront of politics and lawmaking. In fact, adjunct professors and visitors are often the “who’s who” of the legal world. Georgetown Law is also a popular destination for students interested in the school’s world-renowned international and transnational law programs.
Standing apart from the main Georgetown University campus, the law school is located down the street from the US Capitol, two blocks from the cosmopolitan Union Station. Easily accessible by subway or car, the beautiful, green Georgetown Law campus rests in the center of Washington, DC’s activity. The school is within walking or subway distance of US federal government headquarters, the National Mall, world-class museums and theaters (including the Smithsonian), sporting venues, restaurants, clubs, libraries, international organizations, parks, the Potomac River shore, and thriving farmers’ markets.
Georgetown Law students have the opportunity to live on or off campus. Resident students live in the heart of the school’s campus at the Gewirz Student Center.
Curriculum
Georgetown Law is home to one of the largest full-time faculties in the world and offers a wide variety of courses in many traditional legal fields. With five sections of approximately 100 full-time students each, plus around 50 part-time students, Georgetown Law is one of the largest law schools in the nation. Each section is broken down into smaller groups of around 30 for one required course as well as the course “Legal Practice: Writing and Analysis.” The small group structure helps facilitate more interaction between students and faculty. Outside of normal office hours, students also have opportunities to interact with their professors through informal lunch programs and social gatherings throughout the year.
Georgetown Law uniquely offers two first-year curriculums to its full-time students: Curriculum A and Curriculum B. All students take the same number of credits, are subject to the same grading curve, and are taught the basics necessary to succeed in upper-level classes. However, while the four sections instructed under Curriculum A take traditional first-year courses, such as “Civil Procedure,” “Constitutional Law,” “Property,” and “Torts,” the section instructed under Curriculum B follows a more “innovative and integrated approach to the study of law,” according to the school’s website. Curriculum B (informally known as “Section 3”) looks at the evolving legal system and its shifting focus on public policy. Combined with a more interdisciplinary approach, Curriculum B first-year students take such courses as “Democracy and Coercion” and “Legal Process and Society.” Georgetown Law invites admitted students to request a spot in the Curriculum B section during the summer and ultimately offers a seat to approximately 115 students.
Dedicated to preparing students to handle legal issues in an increasingly globalized environment, Georgetown Law’s transnational law program is one of the largest in the world, with various course and clinic offerings in these fields, as well as numerous semester abroad opportunities. Additionally, first-year JD applicants can separately apply to Georgetown Law’s Global Law Scholars program, which is designed for students who plan to practice international or transnational law. The program admits only 15 to 20 students per year who demonstrate a proficiency in both a foreign language and English. Scholars follow a specialized curriculum aimed at preparing students to handle legal situations involving more than one system of law. Similarly, Georgetown Law’s Technology Law & Policy Scholars, Business Law Scholars, and Public Interest Fellows programs provide specialized opportunities to students with an interest in those fields. The school also offers 12 dual-degree programs.
Finally, Georgetown Law conducts both full-time and part-time (evening) programs. Full-time students must complete their coursework in three academic years. The part-time program, which is geared toward working students, allows students up to six consecutive academic years to complete their JD requirements.
Georgetown Law does not rank its students, although faculty may elect to present a student with one or multiple different honors: the Order of the Coif, Dean’s List, and Diplomas with Honors.
Clinical and Experiential Learning
To satisfy the six-credit experiential requirement, Georgetown Law students can choose from extensive offerings including clinics, externships, practicum courses, and simulation courses. As early as January of their first year at Georgetown Law, students have the opportunity to take a one-week, one-credit “Week One” simulation course that allows them to experience such real-world scenarios as client counseling and strategic planning.
Beyond the first year, Georgetown Law offers 20 different clinics covering a wide range of topics including the Appellate Litigation Clinic and the D.C. Street Law Program. The clinical program touts an intimate 5:1 student-to-teacher average ratio, providing students with individualized attention. Moreover, Georgetown Law offers students externship opportunities at judicial, government, or nonprofit organizations where they can earn credit while gaining practical experience.
Statistics
Class Profile (Class of 2024)
Number of Applications: 14,052
Class Size: 561
Women: 54%
Students of Color: 40%
Median LSAT: 171
Median GPA: 3.85
Career Placement (Class of 2020)
- Law Firms: 64.907%
- Public Interest: 12.422%
- Judicial Clerkships: 10.714%
- Government: 8.540%
- Business and Industry: 2.640%
- Education: 0.776%