Wayne State University Law School
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
At Wayne State University Law School, we’re as committed to what the law means for an individual or business as we are to what it means for a nation. Our graduates have gone on to become leaders in the courtroom and on the bench, in top law firms, in corporate C-suites, and with small businesses and nonprofits.
With roots that run deep in the history of the civil rights movement and as a hub for modern commerce, our Detroit location makes a strong impact on future jurists, no matter what areas of law they pursue. Students choose Wayne Law because we empower them with the skills to do anything — and the spirit to do the right thing.
The Law School uses an innovative approach to train the next generation of lawyers, advocates and leaders. Our acclaimed programs allow future jurists to tailor their studies for various types of law. Wayne Law’s civil rights, business and international programs set us apart as a community of advocates dedicated to exemplifying the ideal of justice for all.
Living and learning in Detroit also leaves a lasting impression on Wayne Law students. What’s more, our instruction goes well beyond the classroom to offer real-world experiences and co-curricular activities such as Mock Trial and Moot Court.
The JD Program
Wayne Law offers three program options for the first year of study to meet the various needs of a diverse student body. They include a full-time day program, a combined day and evening program, and a flexible part-time evening program.
Choose from one of our three J.D. programs:
- Full-time day program — students take all courses during the day, completing 30 credit hours in their first year (15 hours each semester)
- Combined day/evening program — students take three courses at night, as well as one or two day courses each semester, completing 22 to 30 credit hours in their first year (11 to 15 hours each semester)
- Part-time evening program — students take three courses at night, completing 16 credit hours in their first year (eight hours each semester)
Any required courses not completed in the first year must be taken in the evening during the second year.
Clinics
Today’s employers are looking for candidates who excel in both legal theory and practice. More and more, they want to hire graduates who have already worked for legal practitioners on actual cases and have experienced firsthand the inner workings of the legal system.
Under the supervision of our expert faculty, clinic students have responsibility as first chair in a variety of settings that directly impact the legal and economic landscape in Michigan and beyond. In these clinics, student attorneys gain valuable litigation, transactional and problem-solving skills by representing individual or organizational clients.
- Appeal and Post-Conviction Advocacy Clinic
- Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic
- Business and Community Law Clinic
- Community Advocacy Clinic
- Disability Law Clinic
- Immigration Appellate Advocacy Clinic
- Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer Clinic
Externships
Externships offer firsthand, in-the-field experience, supporting the work of attorney supervisors and judges. A classroom component taught by an expert in the field includes reflective exercises and discussions with student colleagues, providing each extern with rich, real-world exposure to various legal careers. Wayne Law’s externship offerings are as varied as they are robust, including everything from judicial externships in federal courts to providing holistic services alongside social work counterparts to work in corporate counsel offices.
- Corporate Counsel Externship
- Holistic Defense Externship
- Judicial Externship
- Public Service Externship
Experiential Learning
Warrior Housing Corps
The Warrior Housing Corps is an innovative approach to engaging students in addressing the housing crisis that extends across America. Students engage in direct representation of Detroit community members facing eviction. Students are also part of a learning community that seeks to engage in dialogue about housing in Detroit and develop advocacy strategies to address housing issues.
Joint J.D./LL.M.
Wayne Law offers LL.M. degrees as part of the joint program in corporate and finance law, labor and employment law, and taxation.
Interested students may apply to the joint program after completing their first year but before entering their third year (or upon completion of equivalent credits for part-time students). Joint degree students will earn their J.D. typically upon completion of their third year of full-time study (or upon completion of equivalent credits, if part-time).
Upon completion of the J.D., a joint degree student should be able to complete the requirements for the LL.M. with only one additional semester of full-time study, although a student may extend that to complete the required LL.M. master’s thesis or if the student decides to complete the remaining requirements on a part-time basis.
Dual Degree
Wayne Law students also have the option to earn a concurrent master’s degree. Opportunities include:
- Business administration (M.B.A.)
- Economics (M.A.)
- History (M.A.)
- Political science (M.A.)
Program for International Legal Studies
The Program for International Legal Studies offers students the opportunity to explore international law through classes, summer internships abroad and co-curricular activities. International law cuts across all aspects of a Wayne Law education. One-third of the faculty teaches and writes on international subjects, and faculty members enjoy worldwide reputations as innovative and prolific scholars. Classes are available on a range of global topics.
- Summer Programs
- International Public Interest Law Fellowship
- Tata Motors Internship
- Freeman Fellowship
- WilmerHale International Arbitration Group in London
- Hogan Lovells Internship in Mexico City
Study Broad
Students can study for a semester abroad at one of several law schools with which Wayne Law has exchange agreements.
These include:
- University of Maribor in Slovenia
- National Taiwan University in Taipei
- Maastricht University in the Netherlands
Student Life
Campus Life
There’s no place on earth like Detroit. And there’s no campus on earth like Wayne State. We’re located in Midtown, the city center and one of the country’s fastest-growing neighborhoods. On campus, you’ll find 200 acres of green space, walking paths and state-of-the-art facilities surrounded by renowned cultural institutions and industry-leading employers.
Every day, Wayne Law students and faculty participate in the reinvention of a great American city as they make the most of all that Detroit has to offer. At a time of transformative growth, there’s never been more momentum on campus and in the city.
Our campus is one of the safest in the Midwest, and our safety measures have been lauded in local and national media. The Wayne State University Police Department — a fully commissioned force — patrols campus and the surrounding neighborhoods 24/7.
Law School Student Organizations
When it comes to peer support, we offer more than 30 student organizations that host social events, sponsor renowned speakers, volunteer in the community and collaborate on projects of public interest. Student organizations also play a vital role in Wayne Law’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
In addition to having the lowest tuition of any law school in the state, Wayne Law offers generous scholarships to incoming students, last year awarding more than $8.4 million.
A wide range of scholarships is available, including those that offer up to full tuition. When you submit your admission application and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’re automatically considered for Wayne Law’s scholarship program. No separate application form is required.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
At Wayne Law, we use a holistic approach in evaluating applicants. Every application is thoroughly read by an admissions professional and members of the Faculty Admissions Committee.
The Admissions Committee considers positively the following factors in reaching admission decisions:
- An applicant’s academic achievement and potential, as shown by their standardized test score and undergraduate GPA.
- An applicant’s demonstrated capacity to overcome or persevere against:
- Socioeconomic disadvantage, whether the applicant would be the first generation of their family to attend
or graduate from college or a professional program, and whether they were employed or raising a family while attending school. - Substantial obstacles such as family or personal adversity, and prejudice or discrimination.
- Socioeconomic disadvantage, whether the applicant would be the first generation of their family to attend
- Any special circumstances suggesting that the applicant’s LSAT score or academic record doesn’t accurately reflect their current academic potential, such as the age of the applicant’s GPA, a marked improvement in grades shown in the later years of college, or other special circumstances the candidate conveys in their personal statement or elsewhere in the application.
- Other factors that foster a diverse and engaged law school environment, such as geographic residence (including in the city of Detroit), work and volunteer experience, leadership qualities, commitment to community and public service, communication skills, multilingual proficiency,
and experience of life in a foreign country or on a Native American tribal reservation.
