Excel in the Ethical Practice of Law

We educate lawyers to preserve the highest ideals of our profession and to promote equal justice and democratic discourse through leadership, service, and civic engagement. As a student at Duquesne Kline, you will receive a well-rounded legal education full of opportunities to practically apply your coursework—through our clinics, our appellate programs, and innovative offerings, like our Leadership Fellows Program and JD/ MBA program.


Your courses are taught by our acclaimed faculty who are committed to our students’ success. They work to ensure your legal education prepares you with the modern skills needed to excel in the practice of the law.

Prepare for Your Future

Providing a pathway to an honorable pursuit of law is at the core of who we are.

Admissions

Be the first to know about everything related to the Duquesne Kline School of Law – from insightful information about our programs and the application process to updates on upcoming admissions events.

 

Outcomes Matter

96.4% of the graduates were employed or pursuing a graduate degree*

*Class of 2023 Statistics as reported to the ABA 10 months after graduation. 96.4% (132/137 graduates) includes one graduate whose start date was deferred beyond March 15, 2024; one graduate who was employed in a law school funded position; and three graduates who were enrolled in full-time graduate studies.

Ranked a Top 10 Law School for “Professor Accessibility”

Duquesne Kline School of Law ranks in the top 10 for “Professor Accessibility,” and additionally ranks in the top 50 for “Career” outcomes. These high ranks from the TaxProf Blog are based on the recently released 2024 Princeton Review Law School ratings. The ratings are out of 168 law schools in the United States.

Top 100 U.S. News & World Report Law School

Ranked #94 out of 196 by U.S. News and World Report, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University has earned its strong reputation by what it provides inside and out of the classroom. Students graduate from our law school empowered by community-focused and collaborative learning and a drive for excellence across all aspects of the law.

 

Why Study at Duquesne Kline School of Law?

 
Law professor at chalkboard

Degree Programs and Innovative Options

Becoming a lawyer opens career possibilities. From government to business to private practice, there are many different career routes for you to choose with a law degree. Our diverse and innovative programs are designed to turn your goals into reality

Degree Programs
Ryan Williams teaching
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Acclaimed Faculty

You will learn with acclaimed faculty who are passionate about their profession and the difference it can make. Duquesne Kline Law faculty offer you a combination of legal experience, knowledge of emerging technology in the field, and commitment to excellence that gives you a legal education to prepare you for whatever is next.

Meet our Faculty
law professors

Impressive Bar Passage Rate

Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University is ranked 6th in the nation as "Top Law School for Bar Passage". Successful bar passage doesn't just happen. It starts with academic rigor, individual attention, acclaimed professors, and a carefully conceived program of special bar preparation options.

Bar Studies
Dean Barton speaking at podium

Purposeful, Professional, Ethical

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 and historical emphasis on justice and service to others. Those values are outlined in our Learning Outcomes and Performance Criteria.

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Unique and Elite

Our School of Law is unique among American law schools in offering a Law and Computing Concentration. We are among a handful of schools teaching a computer programming course for lawyers, and part of a smaller group of schools teaching multiple courses on computer programming for law students.

Duquesne - Pittsburgh Connection

I think the Tribone Center reinforces the idea that Duquesne Kline not only gives you the conceptual foundation for your profession, but also the practical side. That was a big driver in getting the clinic.

Tom Tribone, L'85CEO of Franklin Park Infrastructure, Inc.

22,304hours of legal service through clinical education programs

My educational experience at Duquesne Kline Law has instilled in me the value in aiming for excellence in my advocacy, both written and oral. This has benefited me through my training and continued development.

Brazitte Poole, L’19Labor and Employment Attorney at UPMC in Pittsburgh

15years of program excellence in Trial Advocacy

By giving students from all backgrounds the crucial support and resources they need to succeed in law school, and by striving to instill within them the values of service, leadership, and civic engagement, we will not only diversify and strengthen our profession, but we also will make strides toward a more just, inclusive, and prosperous city and society.

Professor Megan E.K. MontcalmDirector of Academic Excellence and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills

I came to Pittsburgh for my American dream. I couldn’t be happier with my experience at Duquesne Kline. Not being from the area, it was really important to be connected to someone in the Pittsburgh legal community, to know what is going on, and good paths to take.

David McPeak, L'23Associate Attorney, Flaherty & O'Hara

8,500+graduates who practice in every field of law

 

Outstanding Academic Experience

We are dedicated to excellence. Your experience here will give you the knowledge, analytical skills, ethical strength, and leadership mindset to succeed.

Law alumni at an event dinner

Prepared

Over 8,500 Kline School of Law Alumni are currently practicing law across multiple areas of the profession. They make an impact around our nation and the world. They are ready to help you blaze your professional path with advice, internships, and experience.

Two students smiling in class

Empowered

Duquesne Kline Law has long history of making a legal education accessible, and our part-time program is among the best in the nation. We offer several ways for individuals to pursue a valuable law degree.

Group of law students talking out the law school building.

ENGAGED

Leadership, service, and civic engagement can be discussed in the classroom, but they are developed through practice, via active participation in group settings, and by working with and for the larger community.

 

125 local high school students attend “Future Voices of the People” event

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University welcomed 125 students from eight Pittsburgh area high schools for its fourth annual “Future Voices of the People” event on November 7. The program has continued to grow, doubling in size from the 60 students who attended the inaugural “Future Voices of the People” event.

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PA Justice Administers Bar Oath to nearly 100 Duquesne Kline School of Law Graduates

Nearly 100 Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University new graduates participated in a Bar Swearing-In Ceremony hosted by the School of Law on October 17. The event, held for graduates who recently passed July’s Pennsylvania Uniform Bar Exam, was located at the Allegheny City-County Building in the stunning Supreme Court Courtroom.

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Duquesne Kline School of Law Grads Again Exceed State Averages in July 2024 PA Bar Exam

Recent graduates of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University achieved an impressive 88.72% first-time taker pass rate on the July 2024 Pennsylvania bar exam, which is six percentage points higher than the statewide overall passage rate of 82.56%.

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Artificial Intelligence for Judges and Lawyers: A Comprehensive Course

Presented by:The National Judicial Collegein collaboration withThe Thomas R. Kline Center...

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Admissions Virtual Information Session

Please join us for a Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University Virtual Information...

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Law Student Testimonials

Jamilah Wesley, L'24, headshot

"I wanted to go to school somewhere that felt genuinely supportive and student focused. Duquesne Kline has many great opportunities and programs but still feels close knit and very personal."

Jamilah Wesley, L'24
Duquesne Kline Mission
Megan Penn, 3L, headshot

"I chose Duquesne Kline because of the amazing scholarship opportunities. Additionally, the high bar passage rate was important to my decision because I want to be successful inside and outside of law school."

Megan Penn, 3L
Bar Studies
Kayla Ford-Weisser, L'23, headshot

"Duquesne Kline offered me the opportunity to work full time and step into the legal field while pursuing my dreams of becoming a lawyer. I know that no matter what lies ahead, the evening program has prepared me for bar prep and my future career."

Kayla Ford-Weisser, L'23
Program Options
Fallon Howard, L'23

"It was really important for me to go to a law school where I felt like I belonged and am supported, and I feel that here at Duquesne Kline."

Fallon Howard, L'23
Community Well Being
Flora Dellishad

“Duquesne Kline School of Law’s Clinical Legal Education program merged my academic training with real-world legal experiences. Pro bono programs, externships, and community service prepared me for a smooth transition from law school to law practice."

Flora Dellishad, L'23
Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education
Corey Stanford, L'21

"I chose Duquesne Kline School of Law because I was attracted to Duquesne’s strong alumni network and its commitment to making practice-ready lawyers in Pittsburgh."

Corey Stanford, L'21
Alumni network

Consumer Information

As part of the accreditation process for all law schools in the United States, the American Bar Association requires that schools publicly disclose certain consumer information on their websites. This report appears in the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools. Duquesne Kline School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

The American Bar Association law school data for the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University is available for download.

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