Duke University

Law School Overview

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

Rank Category Name #11 Best Law Schools

Specialties #10 in Environmental Law Locked in Intellectual Property Law #10 in International Law

Law School Overview

The School of Law at Duke University has an application deadline of February 15. The full-time program application fee at the School of Law at Duke University is $70. Its tuition is full-time: $50,750 per year. The student-faculty ratio is 9.1:1. The School of Law at Duke University has 115 full- and part-time faculty on staff.

Students and faculty at the Duke Law School are guided by the Duke Law Blueprint, which stresses the importance of integrity, professionalism, and leadership for young lawyers, among other attributes. In addition to the traditional J.D. program, students can earn dual degrees including a J.D./M.B.A. in conjunction with the Fuqua School of Business and a J.D./M.D. with the Duke Medical School, as well as a J.D./Master of Environmental Management through the Nicholas School of the Environment.

A floor of the law school is reserved for clinics, where students get hands-on experience in eight different clinics, including the Guantanamo Defense Clinic and the Animal Law Project. There are about 10 legal centers and programs to gain additional experience, including the Global Capital Markets Center and the Center on Law, Race, and Politics. Every student pledges to complete at least 50 hours of pro bono work before graduation. There are nine law journals for students to join and more than 40 student organizations, including the ABA Law Student Division and Parents Attending Law School.

Law students may apply for limited on-campus housing, and priority is given to foreign students who have never gone to school outside their home country. The surrounding area of Durham, N.C. offers many off-campus housing, dining, and entertainment options. Notable alumni of Duke Law include former President Richard Nixon and Tucker Max, author of I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell.

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Year founded	1930
Public/private	Private
Law school designation	National

Admissions

Application deadline	February 15
Full-time program application fee	$70
Part-time program application fee	N/A
Admissions Phone	(919) 613-7020
Admissions E-mail	admissions@law.duke.edu
Web site	http://www.law.duke.edu

Academics

Full- and part-time faculty	115
Student-faculty ratio	9.1:1
Total faculty	134

Student Body

Enrollment (full-time)	660
Gender distribution (full-time)
J.D. candidates graduating in 2011-2012	223

Cost

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $50,750 per year
Room and board	$11,916

Careers

Employed at graduation 2	72.9%
Median private sector starting salary	$160,000
Median public service starting salary	$57,000

Library

Total volumes and volume equivalents

682,678

* Law School Overview details based on 2012 data