ABA-accredited private law school in Wilmington, Delaware, founded in 1971.
Widener Delaware Law offers a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in both full-time (3-year) and part-time (4-year) formats. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning through legal clinics specializing in environmental law, criminal defense, civil law (including family law), and veteran benefits. Students can pursue certification in specialized fields and participate in the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute, which provides an eight-day intensive trial advocacy program. The school publishes two law reviews: the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law and the Widener Law Review.
The 40-acre campus in Wilmington houses 686 students and features the Law School Building, Polishook Hall (classrooms and Legal Education Institute), a law library, and residence halls including Concord Residence Hall (with a wellness wing) and Shipley Residence Hall. Students engage in co-curricular activities such as moot court, the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society, and pro-bono work through the Public Interest Resource Center. Study abroad opportunities are available through the Summer International Law Institute in Kenya, Switzerland, and Italy.
For the class entering in 2023, the school accepted 67.83% of applicants, with an average LSAT score of 150 and undergraduate GPA of 3.26 among enrollees. The school offers multiple pathways including regular admission, transfer/visiting applicant status, international applicant programs, and partnership programs with Widener University undergraduates (Express Admissions, 3+3 Fast Track) and Stockton University. Trial Admissions Program (TAP) and LexScholars by AccessLex Institute are also available.
The overall bar pass rate for first-time takers in 2022 was 51.65% (Delaware), with 64.79% for Pennsylvania first-time takers in 2023. The Ultimate Bar Pass Rate (within two years of graduation) was 84.56% for the class of 2020. According to 2023 ABA disclosures, 63% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation. The Law School Transparency under-employment score was 18.6% for the Class of 2022.