Experience an Exceptional Legal Education

Saint Louis University School of Law offers a diverse curriculum designed to prepare our students for all areas of legal practice.

J.D. Program

SLU LAW’s J.D. program offers extensive courses and personalized interaction with nationally recognized professors. Students will be directly exposed to practicing attorneys and clients through experiential courses, legal clinics and field placement programs.

Part-Time Program

If going to law school full time is not for you because of your job or other obligations, SLU LAW provides the opportunity to earn a J.D. degree on a part-time basis.

LL.M. Opportunities

SLU LAW offers an LL.M. in Health Law, an LL.M. in American Law for Foreign Lawyers, as well as a 2-year J.D. program for foreign lawyers.

Start your SLU LAW Journey

Choosing where to pursue your degree is an important decision. SLU LAW is a globally connected Catholic, Jesuit law school in an urban setting with 175 years of history. Are you ready to start your journey?

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Build on A strong Legal Foundation

A J.D. degree requires 91 credit hours to graduate. The first year of law school is built on a set core curriculum taken by all students. For part-time students, the core curriculum is split according to their day or night program and entering class year.

Upper-division students who have completed the core curriculum choose courses ranging from traditional bar preparation classes to highly specialized legal topics to supervised clinical practice. Students develop critical skills in areas such as appellate advocacy, trial practice and client counseling. The School of Law offers a robust selection of courses and seminars in diverse areas of the law that reflects a commitment to public service and professional ethics.

J.D. Program full time Required Courses

The law school's required core curriculum includes 30 credits of classes designed to allow students to develop foundational analytical and writing legal skills necessary for the practice of law. First-year, full-time students are required to take these courses in the first two semesters. Part-time students complete these courses within the first two years of study. The core curriculum includes:

  • Civil Procedure
  • Constitutional Law I
  • Contracts
  • Criminal Law
  • Introduction to Legal Studies
  • Law Office Technology
  • Legal Analysis, Research and Communication
  • Property
  • Torts

Part-Time day Required Courses

Students in the Part-Time Day Program complete their required first-year core curriculum over the course of two academic years.

Year One Fall (11 Hours)

  • Civil Procedure (4 hours)
  • Criminal Law (3 hours)
  • Introduction to Legal Studies (1 hour)
  • Legal Analysis, Research and Communication (3 hours)

Year One Spring (11 credit hours)

  • Constitutional Law I (3 hours)
  • Contracts (4 hours)
  • Law Office Technology (1 hour)
  • Legal Analysis, Research and Communication (3 hours)

Year Two Fall (up to 11 credit hours)

  • Torts (4 hours)
  • Electives (up to 7 hours)

Year Two Spring (up to 11 credit hours)

  • Property (4 hours)
  • Electives (up to 7 hours)

Remaining Upper-Division Required Courses

  • Legal Profession (Professional Ethics)
  • Experiential Courses (minimum of 6 hours)
  • Seminar

Part-Time evening Required Courses

Students in the Part-Time Evening Program complete their required first-year core curriculum in two years by taking courses scheduled in the evening. Part-time students both in their first and second year will be in some of the same classes. Course sequencing will be determined based upon your matriculating year (odd-numbered year seen below).

Year One Fall (11 credit hours)

  • Criminal Law (3 hours)
  • Torts (4 hours)
  • Introduction to Legal Studies (1 hour)
  • Legal Analysis, Research and Communication (3 hours)

Year One Spring (11 credit hours)

  • Contracts (4 hours)
  • Legal Profession (3 hours)
  • Law Office Technology (1 hour)
  • Legal Analysis, Research and Communication II (3 hours)

Year Two Fall (up to 11 credit hours)

  • Constitutional Law I (3 hours)
  • Property (4 hours)
  • Electives (up to 4 hours)

Year Two Spring (up to 11 credit hours)

  • Civil Procedure (4 hours)
  • Electives (up to 7 hours)

Remaining Upper-Division Required Courses

  • Experiential Courses (minimum of 6 hours)
  • Seminar
Maureen Hanlon , Class of 2018, ArchCity Defenders, says,

“Every professor I have had here is just incredibly intelligent and accomplished, and yet so happy to spend the time to help students with their individual questions.”

— Maureen Hanlon, Class of 2018, ArchCity Defenders

Centers of Excellence

SLU LAW has three Centers of Excellence: the Center for Health Law Studies, the William C. Wefel Center for Employment Law and the Center for International and Comparative Law.

Through specialized courses, directed research projects and practical experience, you can earn a concentration in health law, employment law and international and comparative law. You also have the opportunity to earn a concentration in intellectual property law.

What Kind of Law are You interested In?

Though a J.D. is a general degree and does not require a major, students have the opportunity to specialize in a specific area of law.

  • Business Transactional Law
  • Civil Litigation Skills
  • Criminal Litigation Skills
  • Employment Law
  • Entrepreneurship Law
    • Health Law
    • Intellectual Property Law
    • International & Comparative Law
    • Taxation

Michael Kolnik, dean of admissions, discusses "Navigating the Law School Admissions Process" on the SLU LAW Summations podcast.


SLU LAW · Navigating the Law School Admissions Process - Dean Michael Kolnik

Law Journal opportunities

SLU LAW offers opportunities for students to participate in (and receive credits for) one of three student-run law journals.

The law journals are an elite collection of scholarly writing that showcase the intelligence, education, research and hard work of students from the School of Law, as well as professionals working in the field of law. Qualifying students have the chance to write and edit for one of these three prestigious publications and collaborate closely with faculty editors and advisors. [Learn more >]( https://www.slu.edu/law/academics/journals/index.php)

Are you ready for law school?

SLU LAW seeks to admit students who will enrich our institution in ways that their undergraduate grades and standardized test scores alone sometimes fail to reveal. Our Summer Institute is a conditional acceptance program designed to identify students with the high degree of personal motivation necessary to succeed at SLU LAW and give those students a chance to demonstrate the ability to be competitive in a law school class.

Learn More

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Explore Our Dual Degrees

Choose from 10 dual-degree programs that will allow you to tailor your education to fit your interests while distinguishing you as highly specialized in your chosen field.

Gaining Real World Experience

SLU LAW students have a variety of opportunities to gain practical experience through legal clinics, experiential learning courses and internships.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Services can help you find out what kind of financial support is right for you.