Newsroom

Naming Guidelines

The official formal name of our institution is “Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.” This name is used for external publicity, marketing and communications as well as on official documents such as diplomas and transcripts.

Correct Usage:

First Reference: “the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law”

Subsequent references: “Charles Widger School of Law,” “Villanova Law,” “Widger School of Law,” “the Law School” or “Villanova”

Incorrect Usage:

Do not use any alternate shortened versions:

Widger Law
Villanova Law School
Villanova School of Law
Villanova University School of Law
Acronyms, such as VLS, VSL, VUSL, VUCWSL, WSL

The abbreviation used for identification of class year in Law School materials is “CWSL.” This abbreviation is used only when identifying the class year of Villanova Law alumni not as an alternative for the official school name.

Note: University style for alumni identification differs from Law School style. See chart below.

	Law School Materials	University Materials
Law students	Anticipated graduation year Diana Allen ’18	TBD based on editorial context
Law alumni	Class year John Smith ’61	Class year, degree John Smith ’61 JD
Law alumni with multiple law degrees	Identified by degree only John Smith ’61 JD and Mary Jones ’87 JD, ’90 LLM	Identified by degree only John Smith ’61 JD and Mary Jones ’87 JD, ’90 LLM
Law alumni with undergraduate degrees from Villanova	Class year, college (undergrad), then class year, college (law) Alice Roberts ’94 CLAS, ’97 CWSL	Class year, college (undergrad), then class year/degree (law school) Alice Roberts ’94 CLAS, ’97 JD
Class Notes	Class year John Smith ’61	Class year, college John Smith ’61 CWSL