Administration
Interim Dean Heather L. Hughes
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs Brandon M. Weiss
Associate Dean of Experiential Education Binny Miller
Associate Dean for Part Time & Evening Programs Cynthia E. Jones
Associate Dean for Scholarship Elizabeth Beske
Associate Dean for Student Affairs David B. Jaffe
Assistant Dean of Academic Services Hilary T. Lappin
Assistant Dean for Adjunct Faculty Affairs William J. Snape III
Assistant Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid Akira Shiroma
Assistant Dean of Diversity, Inclusion & Affinity Relations Lisa Taylor
Assistant Dean of the Office of Academic Excellence Joni Wiredu
Academic Programs
The academic program leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) degree is designed to allow students to develop special skills in public law, business and commercial law, international law, property and land use, and related fields. In addition to the JD program, Washington College of Law offers the Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD), Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and Master of Laws (LLM) in Advocacy; Gender, International, and Comparative Law; Intellectual Property and Technology; International Arbitration and Business; International Business and Trade; International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law; Derechos Humanos y Derecho Humanitario; International Legal Studies; Legislation; and Law and Government.
WCL also participates in joint degree programs with other American University (AU) schools and International Dual Degrees with partner universities abroad. Within the U.S., students have the opportunity to receive both a JD from the Washington College of Law and a master’s degree in International Affairs (MA) with the School of International Service ; Justice, Law and Criminology (MS) , Public Administration (MPA) , or Public Policy (MPP) with the School of Public Affairs ; or Business Administration (MBA) with the Kogod School of Business . Joint degree LLM programs are also available with the MBA, MPA, or MPP. Opportunities for JD students outside of the U.S. include: earning a JD from the Washington College of Law and a terminal professional law degree from the University of Ottawa Common Law Section in Canada (JD); Université Paris Nanterre in France (M1 & M2); or an LLM with the Universidad Carlos III in Spain; or LUISS in Italy.
American University’s law school has a strong national and international substantive focus, offering a broad range of courses in addition to the basic program necessary for state bar examinations. Clinical programs engage students in providing representation, under close faculty supervision, to individuals and organizations in litigation, administrative, transactional, and policy matters. Students have responsibility for every phase of cases, from the initial client interview through the trial, appeal, or other substantive resolution of the case. The Clinics include Community and Economic Development Law, Entrepreneurship, Criminal Justice, Disability Rights Law, Civil Advocacy, Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law, Housing Advocacy and Litigation, Janet R. Spragens Federal Tax, Immigrant Justice, International Humans Rights Law, Re-Entry, and Women and the Law. For more information, go to: www.wcl.american.edu/clinical.
Beyond the classroom, clinical programs, and supervised externships and field placements at federal, state, and local agencies, courts, and legislatures, academic offerings are enriched by an extensive independent study program allowing for intensive faculty-student work on complex legal research projects. In addition, Washington College of Law publications, including The American University Law Review, The American University International Law Review, The Administrative Law Review, The American University Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law, and The American University Business Law Review provide opportunities for students to develop expertise in traditional legal writing and research. For more information and a full listing of WCL publications, go to: www.wcl.american.edu/pub.cfm.
The basic first-year classes are taught using case analysis and dialogue as well as the problem method. First-year students take Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, and a year-long course in legal research and writing. Upper-class courses are mostly elective and include a wide variety of teaching styles and formats.
Law Library
The Pence Law Library is the intellectual heart of the Washington College of Law. In a beautiful and light filled space, the Law Library supports WCL students and faculty with innovative services and extensive holdings of print and electronic materials, databases and journals. The Law Library provides access to many databases, including HeinOnline, ProQuest Central, Law.com, West Academic Study Aids, Aspen Learning Library, Access UN and many more. All currently enrolled WCL students have password access to Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law.
Services for WCL alumni include off-site access to HeinOnline’s Law Journal Library, the ABA Law Library Collection Periodicals, federal and state case law via Fastcase, as well as JSTOR, Academic Search, Alumni Edition, Project Muse and more. Please see our
research guide at https://wcl.american.libguides.com/alumni for further information about Law Library services to alumni.
The Library’s special collections include depositories of U.S. and European Union documents; the Goodman Rare Book Collection; the Richard Baxter Collection in International Law; a collection of litigation documents, including transcripts from the Iran-Contra controversy of the late 1980s; the archives of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia; and the Washington College of Law archives. Learn more about the Law Library on our website at https://www.wcl.american.edu/impact/library/ and search the Library’s holdings in LEAGLE, the Law Library catalog.
Legal Study in Washington, DC
American University Washington College of Law is a leading law school dedicated to equipping students to successfully practice in all areas of the law. With six specialty programs ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News and World Report, AUWCL offers a comprehensive legal education that prepares graduates to tackle a breadth of challenges in Washington, DC, nationally, and globally.
The law school’s 8.5-acre campus, located in the nation’s capital, serves as a gateway to countless internship and externship opportunities across DC. The unique setting transforms the entire city into an extension of the classroom, providing unparalleled access to government agencies, international organizations, top law firms, and numerous NGOs. The dynamic environment also ensures abundant opportunities for practical experience and engagement with leading legal minds.
An American University Washington College of Law education builds upon the first-year doctrinal courses with a wide variety of experiential opportunities as students enter their second year and beyond.
Backed by a stellar faculty comprising practitioners and top scholars in their fields, AUWCL delves into cutting-edge legal issues spanning intellectual property, international law, environmental law, and more. Professors leverage their extensive networks in Washington, DC, and around the world to facilitate invaluable professional connections and actively involve students in specialized programs.
For information regarding Washington College of Law admissions, financial aid, or programs, please contact:
Office of Admissions
Washington College of Law
4300 Nebraska Avenue, NW, Suite C201
Washington, DC 20016-2132
202-274-4101
wcladmit@wcl.american.edu
www.wcl.american.edu/admiss/
For more information, visit wcl.american.edu
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