Skip to main content
CHARLES WIDGER SCHOOL OF LAW

CHARLES WIDGER

SCHOOL OF LAW

WHY VILLANOVA LAW?

Law School

At Villanova Law, our broad-based legal education is grounded in academic rigor; practical, hands-on training; and a foundation in business that primes graduates for diverse and rewarding legal careers. Wherever your interests may lie—international law, corporate law, intellectual property law or public interest law—you will find programs that will prepare you for the future.

Guided by our Where Law Meets Business philosophy, our programming infuses vital business principles, professional skills, ethical training and practical experiences into each student’s education. Through innovative coursework, six clinics and 275+ externship placements, Villanova students learn by doing—and graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today’s competitive job market.

Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures)

PROGRAMS

JURIS DOCTOR (JD)

Cutting-edge preparation for the next generation of Villanova lawyers
 

JOINT DEGREES

JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/LLM in Taxation and JD/LLM in International Studies
 

GRADUATE TAX

Interdisciplinary, in-depth examination of tax principles and policies
 

CLINICS & EXTERNSHIPS

Hands-on legal experience through our 6 in-house law firms and 275+ externship opportunities

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Preparing our students for professional success through educational offerings and one-on-one career counseling

PUBLIC INTEREST

Fostering a commitment to service in our students through curricular and extracurricular offerings

THE VILLANOVA LAW DIFFERENCE

Academics

ACADEMICS

Faculty

FACULTY

Current Students

CURRENT STUDENTS

Alumni

ALUMNI

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

Employers

EMPLOYERS

Library

LIBRARY

 

 

NEWS & EVENTS

sisterbrigidmary

A Divine Calling: Helping the Most Vulnerable Populations

Sister Brigid Mary Meeks ’22 was not a typical law student. A member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, Sister Brigid Mary always knew she wanted to attend law school, but once she realized her true calling was to religious life, the path to becoming a lawyer wasn’t as clear.

JUNE 27, 2022

SHARE   MORE  >
Sports Law Negotiation Teams Succeed in Annual Arbitration Competitions

From Villanova Law to the Pennsylvania State Capitol

Today, Pennsylvania State Representative Joanna McClinton ’06 is the House Democratic Leader with a successful legal career and a dedication to public service. As a young girl in elementary school, Leader McClinton had big dreams. "Since first grade, to anyone who asked, I always said I was going to be a lawyer," she says.

JUNE 21, 2022

SHARE   MORE  >
Ask the Grad: Class of 2022

Ask the Grad: Class of 2022

The Villanova University Charles Widger School is pleased to celebrate the graduates of the Class of 2022. This impressive group of students joins a tight-knit community of more than 12,000 Villanova Law alumni. Before they leave us, we asked members of the Class of 2022 to share more about their Villanova Law experience. 

MAY 10, 2022

SHARE   MORE  >
Don H. Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Target Corporation, to Deliver Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s 2022 Commencement Address

Don H. Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Target Corporation, to Deliver Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s 2022 Commencement Address

Mark C. Alexander, The Arthur J. Kania Dean of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, announced that Don H. Liu, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Risk Officer of Target Corporation, will deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2022 and will also receive the Villanova Law Medallion Award in recognition of his achievements.

MAY 3, 2022

SHARE   MORE  >
MORE NEWS & EVENTS

AT A GLANCE

12

MILES OUTSIDE
PHILADELPHIA

  

275+

EXTERNSHIPS IN NONPROFIT,
CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT

  

6

in-house
legal clinics

  

178

STUDENTS ENTERING
THE CLASS OF 2023

  

40+

SBA-SUPPORTED
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

  

11,000

ALUMNI
WORLDWIDE

  

Advocates. Scholars. Leaders.

Providing a Strong Foundation: Judicial Clerkships

Judicial clerkships give recent law graduates a front-row seat to how judges handle cases in trial and appellate courts, whether at the state or federal level. But clerks aren’t just watching—they are participating actively by assisting the judge with research, writing opinions and handling tasks that keep the court running smoothly. MORE...

The Write Stuff: Legal Writing at Villanova

Strong communication skills are vital for a successful legal career, with employers rating proficiency in writing as the most important skill in new hires. At Villanova Law, we’re committed to preparing our students with the legal writing skills they need to be practice-ready, day one and beyond. MORE...

Villanova Lawyers Lead

Villanova lawyers can be found everywhere–from international law firms to government agencies, from nonprofit organizations to major corporations. A Villanova Law education prepares you to be not only a great lawyer, but also a great leader. And we have the alumni to prove it with Villanovans in leadership positions in many sectors of the legal field. MORE...

Courtroom-Ready Preparation

Successful trial attorneys must be highly skilled in the complex art of the trial, and they must also possess a complete understanding of the law. At Villanova Law, we prepare students to become courtroom-ready advocates through our extensive Trial Advocacy programming and activities. MORE...

Sowing Seeds of Justice

Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law may seem an unlikely host for the Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC), but one in ten jobs in Pennsylvania is in the agriculture industry. Villanova is located just an hour away from Kennett Square, the “mushroom capital of the world,” and a few hours’ drive from central Pennsylvania’s apple and peach orchards. In terms of mission, the fit is perfect. MORE...

CENTERS & INSTITUTES

SEE ALL