BUSINESS MODULES

Villanova’s Where Law Meets Business philosophy comes to life with the Business Modules, two required and credit-bearing courses that broaden students' business knowledge and prepares them for today’s fast-paced marketplace. 

Held in January each year, the Modules introduce students to key concepts, including financial statements, valuation and the economics of law firms, that are fundamental to success in the legal profession but traditionally are not taught in law schools. The goal of the Modules is for students to gain proficiency in areas that will be critical to their practice as attorneys.

We worked with industry experts and leading law firms to design these innovative courses that directly align with the demands of professional practice. The two Business Modules are:

Business Aspects of Law

Business Aspects of Law is the 1L Business Module, run by Visiting Professor Luke Repici. Already armed with the basic finance and accounting concepts introduced to them during their 1L year, students take a deeper dive into the structure, personnel and economics of legal practice. The course was designed in consultation with law firm and in-house leaders and tailored to what graduates need to know to succeed in their respective organizations. Practitioners from various settings – from global firms to small boutiques, from giant corporations to family businesses, from non-profits to government – show the students how different legal organizations run their business. Putting this knowledge into practice, students are broken into small teams and tasked with a simulation that requires them to run the general counsel’s office at a multinational corporation.

Joseph Del Raso Business and Financial Literacy for Lawyers

The 2L Business Module, Joseph Del Raso Business and Financial Literacy for Lawyers, introduces second-year students to critical business, finance and accounting concepts, such as financial statements and valuation principles. Under the direction of Professor Mary Ann Robinson, students work in small groups and put newly learned business and financial concepts into practice. They are challenged to work together, under the guidance of volunteer practitioners, through real-life legal scenarios—such as the negotiation of the sale and purchase of a business. By the end of the week, students can identify and understand the business and financial issues that can impact the work they are doing on behalf of clients.