If the standard of a law school's greatness is the caliber of its students, the success
of its graduates and the dedication of its faculty, then there is no doubt that the
Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University stands among the nation's best.
Our Achievements and Rankings illustrate the breadth of our excellence.
We seek the best and brightest students to join our community of scholars, and we
prepare them for success every step of the way. You cannot get lost here. The deans
and professors will know you from the day you walk in the front door, and you will
know them.
Our alumni have achieved top leadership positions in government and in business, and
have excelled in private practice. We are proud of the number of graduates who have
attained judicial office in Pennsylvania, New York, California, and many other states.
Finally, there is one factor that distinguishes our law school, and that, quite simply,
is the fact that we are part of Duquesne University, a Catholic institution dedicated
to moral, ethical and spiritual values. In an era when ethical concerns are among
the most important questions facing the legal profession, the Duquesne Kline School
of Law reflects the University's unique emphasis on justice and service to others.
Those values are outlined in our Learning Outcomes and Performance Criteria.
This unequaled combination of attributes—with the convenience of Full-Time Day, Part-Time
Day and Evening programs—and our unparalleled location in downtown Pittsburgh, within
walking distance to the courts, technology corridor, government agencies and corporate
leaders, make the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University a leader in
legal education.
Degree Programs
Becoming a lawyer opens career possibilities. At the Duquesne Kline School of Law,
we offer diverse programs to fit your path and where you are in life to turn your
goals into reality.
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
The study of law concerns the rules and the facts. Students acquire knowledge of the
rules and the facts through broad, required courses, which are intended to provide
the requisite skills to become a competent attorney in any field of practice. Find
a program that fits your schedule - Full-time, Part-time, Day or Evening. *Admission
criteria and performance standards are the same for all J.D. students.
Students may participate in dual and joint degree programs with the Thomas R. Kline
School of Law of Duquesne University and select graduate programs. Upon admission,
students consult with each school to plan their course of study. There are joint degree
options with Business, Environmental Science, Healthcare, Philosophy, and Divinity.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University offers a Master of Laws "LL.M."
degree for candidates who have earned a first degree in law (for example LL.B.) outside
the United States. Duquesne Kline School of Law offers both a General Curriculum and
a Bar-Track Curriculum. Both provide opportunities to study and improve legal research,
writing, and analytical skills in the context of US-American federal and state law.
Set yourself apart with our innovative Business Essentials for Lawyers Micro-Credential
program. Partnering with Duquesne's Palumbo-Donahue School of Business, we offer our
law students a unique business perspective and the option to continue to earn a JD/
MBA joint degree.
The School of Law Registrar’s Office offers efficient student and alumni services and accurate academic record
information. Students turn to the office for academic planning, course registration,
current academic calendar, exams, graduation, certifications, rankings, and assistance
in many other areas. If you have questions about how we can help you, please stop
by the office, email, or call us.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University offers you a nationally ranked
Legal Research and Writing Program. Duquesne Kline Law has very small class sizes
with exceptionally low student:faculty ratios. As a result, faculty provide students
with extensive critiques using computer-based feedback techniques. In addition to
multiple faculty-supervised writing courses and student publication opportunities,
there are several advanced legal writing courses taught by faculty in the Legal Research
and Writing Program addressing writing for law practice, legislative drafting, and
law and literature.
Duquesne Law makes it a top priority to ensure that you are thoroughly prepared for
the bar examination, so you can be practice ready when you graduate. Bar-passage rates
are "the single best outcome measure...in assessing whether a law school is maintaining
a 'rigorous program of legal education'," according to the American Bar Association.
Our success in bar passage speaks for itself. And it begins early, because our admissions
practices look beyond cold statistics to see the potential in every applicant. Our
Achievements and Rankings illustrate this.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University's Tribone Center for Clinical
Legal Education is comprised of community-focused clinics, externship opportunities,
a pro bono program and fellowships. Clinical education is one of the instructional
cornerstones of the Duquesne Kline's Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education.
All of these programs provide student attorneys with hands-on client experiences and
often include opportunities to appear in court, while serving the public and earning
credit.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University equips its students with
more than knowledge of the law. A legal education at Duquesne comprises extensive
procedural and substantive knowledge, practical experience, an understanding of professional
ethics, and the skills required to be a competent member of the legal community.
A.1. FUNDAMENTALS & BAR EXAM: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the core doctrinal areas.
A.2. LEGAL POLICY: Recognize the law's theoretical frameworks and trace their influence and the influence
of extra-legal factors (e.g., politics, history, culture, etc.) on the development
of substantive doctrine.
A.3. LEGAL SYSTEM: Explain and differentiate among key conceptual categories of law and understand the
hierarchy of authority.
A.4. PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT: Integrate information from multiple sources (e.g., opinions, statutes, regulations,
rules, scholarly analysis) to identify operative legal rules, principles and concepts.
A.5. SPECIALTY AREAS: Remember and explain the black-letter law in the substantive and procedural law on
specialized topics.
B.1. INTERVIEWING, COUNSELING, AND NEGOTIATING: Investigate and analyze facts to achieve a client's objectives or otherwise solve
a legal problem and recommend a solution.
B.2. LEGAL ANALYSIS AND REASONING: Critically read the applicable authority, including identifying the key rules within
each authority; synthesize the relevant rules into an analytical framework, identifying
which rules the court is most likely to apply, and apply the rules to the relevant
facts.
B.3. LEGAL RESEARCH: Create and execute an effective, efficient legal research strategy to conduct legal
research with the appropriate use of sources and technology.
B.4. PROBLEM SOLVING: Develop systems and procedures for effectively working with other people and to ensure
that time, effort, and resources are allocated efficiently in a legal practice.
B.5. WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMUNICATION: Draft legal and non-legal documents in the manner expected of a competent new lawyer
and communicate orally in a manner appropriate for the audience and purpose.
C.1. CULTURAL COMPETENCE: Work with others of diverse backgrounds and understand the importance of building
an inclusive community characterized by interdependence, dignity, equality, compassion,
and respect.
C.2. DILIGENCE: Demonstrate a strong work ethic, engage in productive time management, understand
the principles of timely project submittal, and be punctual and respectful.
C.3. LEADERSHIP: Exemplify servant leadership through ethical conflict resolution and emotionally
intelligent engagement in team building, collaboration, and cooperation.
C.4. PRO BONO: Possess knowledge and understanding of the lawyer's professional and civic responsibility
to advance the mission of community service.
C.5. PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY: Uphold a strong sense of honor and conduct affairs with honesty, dignity, and care,
while treating others with civility, fairness, and respect.
D.1. JUDGMENT: Recognize the importance of relevant non-legal considerations when advising clients
regarding available outcomes and avenues, such as moral, emotional, economic, social,
and political considerations.
D.2. RESPECT FOR OTHERS: Practice in a diverse society and world by engaging competently with persons from
a variety of backgrounds and holding a variety of views.
D.3. REFLECTION AND SELF-EVALUATION: Develop an ability to critically evaluate the performance of self and others when
performing legal tasks including recognizing, evaluating, and understanding one's
own roles in resolving ethical dilemmas.
D.4. SELF-CARE: Seek and use resources when necessary to address personal challenges including managing
workload and stress; recognize common causes of lawyer misconduct and be aware of
sources of support for lawyers.
Prepared for Success
At our Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University, we strive to impart complex
law and leadership skills on tomorrow's trailblazers.
Recognizing the rapidly changing landscape unfolding before us, we are committed to
equipping our lawyers for modern law practice. As part of our Vision, we are integrating
critical skills such as financial fluency and business acumen along with a sophistication
and command of emerging technology trends that are transforming our society and global
economy.
The world we occupy is in demand of ethical professionals who will dutifully serve
society according to the constitutional and moral obligations of the law. Our Spiritan
mission is a vocation of that honor-and we take our calling one step further by offering
our students leadership development opportunities. Our goal is to place within them
the necessary tools to step into the world as well-rounded individuals who are similarly
poised to lead as conscientious citizens.
Our academic law community is based on guiding principles that truth is paramount
and that our Catholic and Spiritan foundations are ever critical complimentary aspects
of the law. We model our studies on the guide that all people are equal and as such,
are deserving of respect and reverence. We realize that law instruction is demanding.
That is why we dedicate part of what we do to incorporating sustainable life habits
that center on healthy and fulfilled living.
As an ABA-accredited law school, Duquesne Kline School of Law is subject to the ABA
Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The official listing of all policies and procedures
for students of the Duquesne Kline School of Law is accessible via the link below.
