The George Washington University Law School is often abbreviated GW Law and is a school of learning at The George Washington University. It is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C., having been founded in 1865. In fact, it was actually founded in 1825, closed a year later because of financial trouble, and reorganized into a prized university in 1865.
The urban campus is located on the corner of 20th and H Streets so students there appreciate a real metropolitan experience as they earn their law degree from one of the top law schools in the United States.
Full-time students enrolled in the J.D. program represent 41 different states and seven countries other than the U.S., like South Korea, China and Canada. The other degree programs—Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science—have qualified students attending The George Washington University Law School from 45 different countries. While the school received about 9,700 applications to attend in the fall of 2009, only 1,900 students currently attend The George Washington University Law School. The strict acceptance rate makes the school one of the most competitive of the top law schools in the country. Perhaps the large number of applicants is because of the excellent academics offered by the school.
Indeed, The George Washington University Law School has one of the largest curricula out of all the top law schools in the U.S. There are more than 250 courses taught, covering every conceivable aspect of legal studies. On top of the standard degrees, there are also joint degrees offered by the university to provide students with a more well-rounded education. Six joint degrees, including a J.D. degree in combination with a Master’s in History or International Affairs, are highly sought after, as a student can earn two degrees with only a year added to their studies.
The George Washington University Law School has earned a number of honors and recognitions in regards to its academia. It ranked 20th overall in the 2011 edition of the U.S. News and World Report. This report also placed The George Washington University Law School in 3rd place for the intellectual property law category and 6th place in offering students quality education in international law. In addition, Vault ranked the school among its Top 25 Law Schools Survey with an emphasis of The George Washington University Law School’s ability to prepare students to enter the workforce immediately following graduation, among other top law school’s qualifications.
