Law (JD)

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law offers a rigorous law curriculum that aims to prepare students for the realities of practice, combining the classic foundation of legal education with the experiential components that are so vital to both Drexel University’s mission and to legal employers today. Students have the option of completing the JD in the traditional three years, or through an accelerated two-year program designed to get students into the legal workforce faster, with the same essential skills and knowledge.

Students spend their first year on campus being introduced to the foundations of legal analysis, skills, and professionalism in a diverse learning community. The program includes traditional first-year courses—such as contracts, property, and criminal law—as well as a critical introduction to lawmaking and statutory interpretation through a legislation and regulation course. The first year also includes a comprehensive legal methods course, taught by full-time faculty, which instructs students on the fundamentals of legal writing and analysis.

The remaining curriculum exposes students to a broad array of topics relevant to the study of law. Students are required to complete courses in professional responsibility, legal writing and other practice skills, and statutory law. Students must also complete at least 50 hours of pro bono work.

Students are required to complete either a co-op placement or a clinical experience in order to graduate. This requirement provides students with an integrated learning experience that prepares them for the complexities of modern-day practice.