Case Western Reserve University School of Law
ttp://law.case.edu/
History
Last Updated 10/7/2009 9:10:46 AM
Tradition of Excellence
Case Western Reserve University School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the country, having opened its doors in 1892. In many ways, the School of Law played a leading role in legal education from its inception. It was one of the first law schools in the nation to require a three-year course of study. Furthermore, it was a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools, a charter member of the Order of the Coif (the national scholastic honor society), and was on the first American Bar Association list of accredited law schools, published in 1924.1
The law school is part of Case Western Reserve University, formed in 1967 through the federation of Case Institute of Technology (founded 1880) and Western Reserve University (founded 1826). Case Western Reserve University is a top independent research institution with one of the largest collegiate endowments.
History of Diversity
The School of Law has a proud tradition of diversity. We admitted students of color with our first class in 1892 and women in 1918. Since that time we are pleased to count many distinguished attorneys from all walks of life among our graduates.
Leader in Legal Education
From an original size of four permanent members, the law school faculty has grown in number and expertise. Their scholarship and dedication over the years have allowed the School of Law to develop many cutting edge programs. The oldest health law program in the U.S., the Law-Medicine Center, was established at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1953. This academic center has developed into one of the most highly respected programs in the country. Other academic centers that have achieved national recognition include the Frederick K. Cox Center for International Law, established in 1991, and the Center for Law, Technology, and the Arts, established in 2002.
The faculty of the School of Law has long focused on creating great lawyers. In 1957 the adviser on legal education of the American Bar Association noted:
No school excels Western Reserve in emphasis and attention to legal draftsmanship and legal writing… No doubt the outstanding success of the graduates… is attributable to the personalized instruction and the emphasis on the proper use of the tools of the profession.2
We believe that one of the most effective ways to teach students the "proper use of the tools of the profession" is through experiential learning. We were on the forefront of clinical education with the first Juvenile Court Intern Program in the nation. We continue to believe in the importance of our clinical programs in educating students while also serving clients. Moreover, CaseArc, our Integrated Legal Skills Program launched in 2003, has again broken new ground. This program follows a sequenced and comprehensive approach to help students develop interviewing, counseling, fact-gathering, legal research, writing, oral advocacy, and negotiation skills.
Preparing Leaders in All Areas of Law Practice
Today, our faculty members are known for being distinguished in their scholarship and for their excellence as educators. We offer a legal education that combines theory with practice and a curriculum of more than 200 courses that prepares students for leadership in the practice of law. Our student body is selected from a competitive national pool, with over 60 percent of our students coming from states other than Ohio. With graduate employment statistics that far exceed national levels, including a placement rate of over 95 percent, Case Western Reserve University School of Law is a leader among law schools.