Creighton University School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
Creighton Law
Founded in 1904, Creighton University School of Law has a long tradition of preparing students for the practice of law. A member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1907, Creighton Law has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1924.
Today, Creighton Law enrolls over 400 students from more than 40 states and territories and more than 150 undergraduate institutions. Its alumni practice law in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 17 countries.
The Creighton Law Experience
Students learn in small classes where individual attention is prioritized, supported by facilities that promote focused study, including a top-tier law library. As part of Creighton University, students benefit from a Jesuit tradition that emphasizes the development of the whole person.
Each student is paired with a faculty mentor who offers guidance on course selection and career planning, along with a second- or third-year student mentor who assists with the transition into law school. Faculty are highly accessible throughout the academic day, fostering a culture of engagement and support.
Creighton Law promotes a close-knit, collaborative community rooted in the Jesuit ideal of being women and men for and with others. The law school is dedicated to creating a diverse student body that mirrors the communities the legal profession serves. As Dean Joshua Fershée, JD, observes, “Preparing lawyers to serve society effectively involves bringing together individuals from various backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.”
Faculty
Who you learn the law from matters. Creighton Law’s faculty is a vibrant and diverse group of respected educators, scholars and practicing professionals. Professors are recognized for excellence in the classroom and bring experience from a wide range of legal fields.
Faculty scholarship, including articles and commentary in major publications, adds depth and real-world perspective to the curriculum. Creighton Law also draws on an adjunct faculty of distinguished judges and practicing attorneys who teach specialty courses.
Faculty offices surround the law school’s common areas, promoting an open-door culture. Students are encouraged to interact with professors in and out of the classroom, reflecting Creighton’s belief that professional growth is supported by personal connections. The student-faculty ratio is less than 10:1 by design.
The JD Program
Multiple JD Programs
Creighton University School of Law provides flexible paths to earn the Juris Doctor degree, allowing students to complete their studies in two, three, four or more years based on their goals and circumstances. The standard full-time Juris Doctor program takes three years to complete.
Students seeking a faster route can earn their JD in two years through the Accelerated JD program. This option is tailored for motivated students who want to start their legal studies right away. Accelerated JD students begin classes in May and complete a summer term before the traditional JD cohort starts in August.
For students balancing law school with professional or personal commitments, a reduced course load option is available. Creighton Law also offers a 3+3 program that allows eligible undergraduate students to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a JD in six years instead of seven.
Dual-Degree Programs
Law and Master of Business Administration JD/MBA
The JD/MBA joint degree, offered with Creighton’s Heider College of Business, prepares students to tackle legal and business challenges in various professional environments, including private practice, business and government. Students can complete both degrees in as little as three years and gain access to numerous externship opportunities.
Law and Government Organization & Leadership JD/MS (GOAL)
Creighton Law offers a combined JD/MS in Government Organization and Leadership for students interested in public service and government leadership. In three years, students earn both a Juris Doctor and a Master of Science degree. The program includes a semester in Washington, D.C., during which the student works a full-time federal government externship.
Student Activities
The Student Bar Association (SBA) functions as the law school’s student government, encouraging professional responsibility, leadership development and student engagement through various activities. Students also have chances to engage in legal scholarship via the Creighton Law Review, a student-run journal with national and international circulation, and the Creighton International and Comparative Law Journal, an online, student-managed publication.
Beyond the classroom, Creighton Law provides a variety of student organizations that promote professional development, advocacy and community engagement. These groups offer opportunities for leadership, networking and collaboration among students with shared interests. More than 25 student organizations allow students to pursue professional interests, advocacy, service and leadership throughout law school.
Externships
Externships enable Creighton Law students to earn academic credit for unpaid legal work, mainly in the public sector. Students earn at least three credit hours while gaining practical experience with county and city attorneys, public defenders, judges, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, universities and other public-interest employers.
Externship placements are available on campus, across the state, throughout the country and internationally. Some positions require senior certification or specific course prerequisites. Responsibilities vary by placement and may include interviewing clients and witnesses, conducting legal research, drafting and filing documents, observing and participating in court proceedings or alternative dispute resolution and discussing legal strategies with supervising attorneys or judges.
When allowed by state law, senior-certified students may also serve as law clerks, representing clients before courts and administrative agencies.
Areas of Concentration
Students seeking focused study can pursue an area of concentration to customize their legal education to their specific interests. Concentrations enable students to gain specialized knowledge and skills through coursework guided by faculty with expertise in the subject.
Students who complete the requirements earn a certificate indicating their area of concentration, which is also listed on the official transcript. Regardless of concentration, the curriculum prepares graduates to practice law in any state.
Areas of Concentration:
Business, Commercial, and Tax Law
Criminal Law and Procedure
Dispute Resolution
Energy, Environmental and Sustainability Law
Family Law
Health Law
International and Comparative Law
Litigation
Sports Law
Study Abroad
Creighton Law offers study-abroad and international programs that let students earn academic credit while experiencing other legal systems and cultures. These opportunities support education in international and comparative law.
Programs include the Howard A. Kaiman “Nuremberg to The Hague” Summer Abroad Program, which explores the Holocaust and international criminal law within the historical context of the Nuremberg Trials, and the Spain Student Exchange Program at Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid. Additional opportunities include the Ronald Volkmer Dominican Republic Immersion Trip and the London Law Program, which introduces students to English criminal court advocacy.
Clinics
Creighton Law operates four in-house legal clinics that give students hands-on client experience while helping the local community, especially people who cannot afford legal services or are underserved in the legal system. These clinics operate like small law firms, enabling students to take primary responsibility for real cases under close faculty supervision.
The Juvenile Justice Clinic provides free legal representation to youth involved in cases at the Douglas County Juvenile Court. Each semester, up to eight third-year students certified under the Nebraska Supreme Court student practice rule serve as student attorneys. Participants receive rigorous advocacy training and act as lead counsel, managing all aspects of their assigned cases.
The Milton R. Abrahams Legal Clinic gives third-year students the chance to serve low-income clients in various civil cases. Students interview clients, do legal research and writing, prepare pleadings and appear in court for hearings and trials, all under the guidance of clinic faculty and licensed attorneys.
In the Bankruptcy Clinic, senior-certified students represent clients in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nebraska. Students act as lead attorneys, managing cases from client intake to filing and court proceedings, including preparing bankruptcy schedules. They also help clients with preventative financial measures, such as debt consolidation.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Clinic assists people who cannot afford legal services in starting new businesses and building generational wealth in North and South Omaha.
Facilities
Located in the Creighton Ahmanson Law Center, the Klutznick Law Library functions as the main legal research hub for Creighton Law students and faculty, as well as members of the local legal community and the public. The library offers a quiet space for study and research, as well as areas that facilitate collaboration.
Law Library staff provide research support and access to a wide array of legal resources essential for academic and professional success. Creighton employs lawyer-librarians (JD/MLS) who provide reference services and instruction, helping students develop strong legal research skills.
The Klutznick Law Library houses one of the most extensive legal collections in the region, including a notable rare-book collection of British legal texts and treatises from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The library also maintains the Tokyo Papers, a collection of materials from the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal donated in 1985 by alumnus Thomas Ronald Delaney (JD ’30), and four cuneiform tablets dating from 500 to 4500 years old.
Career Development
The Office of Career Development provides extensive support to Creighton Law students throughout law school and beyond. Services include personalized career counseling, access to a nationwide alumni network, on-campus and off-campus interview programs, alumni networking events in cities across the country and online resources that assist students in exploring legal career opportunities worldwide.
Creighton Law consistently achieves strong employment outcomes, supported by early and ongoing career preparation. More than 93% of 2025 graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees within 10 months of graduation. Of those employed, the majority secure positions that require a Juris Doctor degree or where the JD provides a clear professional advantage.
Scholars Program
The Creighton Scholars Program is aimed at highly talented applicants who see Creighton University School of Law as a strong fit for their goals. The program provides substantial financial support and early admission opportunities for students with outstanding academic achievements.
Applicants are typically characterized by strong LSAT scores and undergraduate GPAs, along with demonstrated leadership, service or meaningful extracurricular involvement. Creighton Scholars enjoy early clarity in the admission process and access to enhanced scholarship opportunities.
The Creighton Scholars Program is a binding admission option. Applicants admitted through the program are required to withdraw their applications to other law schools upon acceptance.
Dean's Fellowship Program
The Creighton Law Dean’s Fellows Program is a selective opportunity for outstanding law school candidates rooted in Creighton University’s Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The program aims to identify students with strong academic skills, leadership potential and a dedication to service.
Dean’s Fellows work closely with the dean and members of the law school’s leadership team, building connections with faculty, staff, alumni and fellow students. Through structured discussion, experiential learning and engagement both on campus and in the community, participants develop leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the legal profession.
The program helps students who want to promote justice and make meaningful contributions to their communities during and after law school.
Student Life
Student Life
Omaha
Creighton Law benefits from its location in Omaha, a city that blends the energy of a metropolitan area with a strong sense of community. Omaha was ranked the No. 2 best large U.S. city for recent college graduates by CNBC, recognizing its strong job market, affordability and quality of life. Omaha provides a variety of cultural, recreational and entertainment opportunities, along with a vibrant food scene and nationally recognized sporting events like the College World Series and Big East athletics.
The city is consistently recognized for its quality of life and economic opportunity. Nebraska was ranked among the top states for education and job availability by U.S. News & World Report, and Omaha has been acknowledged as one of the nation’s best places to live. The region also offers a cost of living below the national average, making it an accessible place to live while attending law school.
Housing
Creighton Law is dedicated to supporting students both academically and personally. Law school is challenging, so selecting a location that helps students concentrate on their studies is an important factor.
Omaha offers an affordable cost of living, with housing prices below the national average. Students have access to housing resources, including guidance on neighborhoods and connections with current students. The Office of Admissions provides assistance throughout the transition to law school and is available to answer questions as students prepare to join the Creighton Law community.
Alumni Network
The success of a law school is reflected in the achievements of its graduates. Creighton Law has a long history of alumni success and a multigenerational network that supports students during law school and beyond.
For students, this network offers access to mentorship, externships and career opportunities across the legal profession. Creighton Law alumni have distinguished themselves in roles including the United States Congress, Cabinet positions, district and state supreme courts, state attorney general offices and leadership roles in business and nonprofit organizations. This wide range of experience helps students make connections and explore career paths across the country.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$55,692.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$92,416.00
|
* Tuition is estimated based on 16 credit hours per semester for first-year students. Tuition above includes university fees (except health insurance, which can be waived).
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Creighton Law offers two types of financial aid: merit-based scholarships and federal government loans. Students seeking financial aid and scholarships must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Creighton University participates in the US Department of Education’s Direct Loan Program. Students may also seek out private student loans, and ELMSelect is a good resource for reviewing and comparing options.
All first-year scholarships have merit requirements, including, but not limited to, LSAT score and undergraduate grade-point average. Admitted applicants with an LSAT score and undergraduate grade-point average above Creighton’s medians for the previous year will receive strong consideration for scholarship assistance. Applicants who qualify for a scholarship will be notified 3-4 weeks after acceptance. An additional national resource for scholarships is found at AccessLex.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Admissions Requirements and Process
Regular Admission – Full-time, Part-Time or Accelerated JD Program
To be considered timely and eligible for scholarships, an applicant for regular admission must:
- Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than March for AJD applicants and traditional applicants.
- Applicants have the option of taking the JD-Next course and exam instead of the LSAT exam.
- Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This includes applicants presenting foreign credentials.
- Complete the Law School Admission Council Electronic Application.
- To receive priority scholarship consideration, applicants should submit a completed application by February 1, including LSAC, your complete application* and a $50 application fee.
Final application deadline: June 1.
Early Admission (Non-binding)
For applicants who want to start planning for law school early, applying under Early Admissions will guarantee a decision within 14 business days of the completed application. Applicants to the Early Admission program will have a decision (admit, deny or hold) within 14 business days of the completed application. Applications put on hold will move into the regular admissions process.
To be considered timely, an applicant for Early Admission (non-binding) must:
- Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than September.
- Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This includes applicants presenting foreign credentials.
- Complete the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Electronic Application.
- The Early Admission option expires on October 1.
*In order for an application to be complete, it must include:
- All transcripts
- LSAT scores(s) from LSAC
- Your personal statement - no more than two double-spaced, typed pages
- Your resume- no more than three pages
- Detailed explanations to affirmative answers to any Character & Fitness questions
- Your electronic signature or certification on the completed application
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Supplemental statements (optional)
Documents and application fees should be submitted through LSAC. In order to matriculate with us, you will need your bachelor’s degree prior to the start of classes.
2025 Class Profile
