Indiana University Maurer School of Law—Bloomington

Introduction

The Indiana University Maurer School of Law—Bloomington provides the highest quality legal education in a relaxed, collegial setting. Founded in 1842, the law school is located on the beautifully wooded campus of one of the nation's largest teaching and research universities. The presence of the university, including the world-famous Jacobs School of Music, offers students cultural opportunities available in few urban areas, while retaining the advantages of a small university town. With a student body of fewer than 675 students, drawn from more than 200 undergraduate schools in the United States and abroad, the law school is small enough to retain its distinctive sense of community and collegiality, while large enough to facilitate a stimulating, cosmopolitan environment. The school is a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Library and Physical Facilities

With nearly 450,000 bound volumes, over 1.6 million microfilm pieces, and more than 34,000 electronic titles, the law library is one of the premier law libraries in the United States, the largest in the state of Indiana, and was named one of the top law school libraries in the nation by a national law school magazine. Law-trained librarians give instruction in research techniques and provide reference assistance. While continuing its commitment to a high-quality print collection, the library is a national leader in computer applications in legal education. Through Internet access (from the School of Law or their homes), students can utilize systems specific to law, such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, or access the rapidly expanding array of global information sources. All students are required to possess a laptop computer. Students may write their examinations using their laptops, but are not required to do so. The law school building features wireless access throughout, laptop-ready classrooms, and an outstanding law library where students can enjoy spectacular views of the wooded campus as they study. Recent renovations added three new classrooms to the second floor, new technology and seating in all classrooms, and several faculty offices. Across the street, a brand-new professional skills building houses additional classrooms and clinical space, including offices, student workspace, interview rooms, and more.

Curriculum

Indiana Law has an innovative course on the legal profession. In the four-credit, first-year, spring course, students explore the economic and sociolegal structure and substance of the modern legal profession through in-depth ethnographic studies of—among others—solo and large firm practice, in-house counsel, government agencies, judges, and public interest practice. With this integrated first-year foundation as a guide, decisions regarding areas of study and career goals become more meaningful. Upper-level courses support a formative education that develops skills alongside traditional scholarship, culminating in a meaningful capstone course.

The school also offers traditional specialized courses, such as intellectual property, communications and Internet law, law and biomedical advances, immigration law, international business transactions, and environmental law. The school offers intensive training in litigation and dispute resolution. Students may participate in clinics that enable them to deal with client problems and, in some cases, represent clients in local courts, all under close faculty supervision.

Joint-Degree Programs

Formal joint-degree programs combine the award of a JD degree with a master's degree in business, accounting, public affairs, environmental science, journalism, telecommunications, or library science. The duration of most joint-degree programs is four years. However, the School of Law and the Kelley School of Business have recently established an intensive three-year JD/MBA program. Informal concurrent-degree programs with other disciplines (pursuing a JD and a master's or doctoral degree) are frequently designed to meet students' learning and career goals.

Opportunities to Study Abroad

The School of Law provides students with a wide variety of opportunities to study abroad. A limited number of second- and third-year students can take advantage of the unique opportunity to study in and immerse themselves in the legal education system and culture of another country. Semester- long opportunities are available through exchange programs with Université Panthéon-Assas (Paris II), France; ESADE Law School in Barcelona, Spain; Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany; China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing (CUPL); Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Germany; University of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland; the University of Auckland in Auckland, New Zealand; University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China; and Peking University School of Transnational Law in Shenzhen, China. All classes, with the exception of those taken at Bucerius, Hong Kong, Auckland, and Zhejiang, are taught in the school's respective native language. Finally, the law school offers all students the opportunity to participate in summer study-abroad programs hosted by the Institute on International and Comparative Law in England, France, Italy, and Spain. All courses are taught in English.

Summer-Start Program

A summer-start program is offered for students who wish to begin their legal studies in the summer session. This program allows students to take one four-credit class in the summer in a small, intimate environment as they make the transition into the law school.

Admission

Generally, the quality and size of the applicant pool forces the Admissions Committee to rely heavily on the undergraduate grade-point average and the LSAT score. However, numerical indicators are not the only considerations used in evaluating applications. The committee considers the quality of the applicant's undergraduate institution, level and rigor of coursework, letters of recommendation (particularly those from faculty), graduate work, employment during and after college, extracurricular activities, potential for service to the profession, educational/geographic/socioeconomic diversity, and personal statement. Applicants are encouraged to explain matters that may have adversely affected their undergraduate performance. Applicants who feel they have been disadvantaged because of economic, educational, racial, or cultural factors are urged to bring this to the attention of the Admissions Committee.

Housing

The Bloomington area offers a variety of housing options for students. There are numerous apartments and houses available as off-campus rentals as well as on-campus housing. Information regarding off-campus housing options is provided to admitted students throughout the spring and summer.

Student Activities

A variety of student organizations present opportunities for involvement in groups focused on specialized areas of the law and public service. Some of the most active groups include the Black Law Student Association, Women's Law Caucus, Public Interest Law Foundation, Latino Law Student Association, and the Environmental Law Society. Students may also obtain practical experience through a number of clinical opportunities, including the Community Legal Clinic; Conservation Law Clinic; Criminal Law Externship; Disability Law Clinic; Elmore Entrepreneurship Law Clinic; Viola J. Taliaferro Children and Mediation Clinic; Inmate Legal Assistance Project; Tenant Assistance Project; Public Interest Internship Program; Federal Courts Clinic; Immigration Law Practicum; Indiana Legal Services Externship; Intellectual Property Practicum; Student Legal Services Externship, Washington, DC; Public Interest Program; and the Protective Order Project. Second- and third-year students are offered the opportunity to gain valuable writing, editing, and advocacy skills through participation in the moot court competition or on one of our three journals. The Indiana Law Journal publishes articles by legal scholars, practitioners, jurists, and Indiana University law students. The Federal Communications Law Journal is the nation's oldest and largest-circulation communications law journal. The Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies is a multidisciplinary journal that specializes in international and comparative law articles.

Career Placement

The Office of Career and Professional Development actively provides career planning and employment assistance to law students and alumni. Both on- and off-campus interviews are coordinated to facilitate contact between students and employers. In recent years, more than 96 percent of graduates have secured employment within nine months of graduation. More than half are located outside the state of Indiana. Graduates are found in all 50 states and in 31 foreign countries.

Applicant Profile

Indiana University Maurer School of Law—Bloomington

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.