Anthony Varona, JD, Dean
John Eason, JD, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs
Erin Fullner, JD, Associate Dean for Student Development
Web: https://www.law.seattleu.edu/
Degrees Offered
Juris Doctor (JD)
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA)
Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Finance (JD/MSF)
Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Criminal Justice (JD/MACJ)
Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA)
Seattle University School of Law, the Pacific Northwest’s most diverse law school, educates great lawyers to be powerful advocates for justice. The school enrolls about 700 students representing more than 100 undergraduate schools and drawn from the top third of the national law school applicant pool. The law school offers a rigorous curriculum, outstanding teacher-scholars, and exceptional lawyering skills training from the country’s #6 ranked Legal Writing Program, clinics, and externships that provide real-world experience. The School of Law also offers a variety of joint degrees with the Albers School of Business and Economics and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Juris Doctor (JD)
Full-time Summer Entry
All entering students may choose to start early by completing a single class in the summer, thereby reducing their course loads for the rest of their first (1L) year. Availability can vary but the course typically meets Monday through Thursday. Summer term is six weeks.
Full-time Fall Entry
Students who begin studies in the fall complete their first-year legal studies over the traditional nine-month period. Classes generally convene between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Flex JD - Part-time Program
This is a hybrid-online program designed for students with employment or personal obligations during the day and/or not in the Seattle area. The program is designed for 3.5 years and requires some in person meetings over 4-6 weekends a year. Options exist for a summer or fall semester start.
Admission Requirements
In determining those applicants who will be admitted to the School of Law, the Admissions Committee considers three primary factors:
At least two evaluators review each application. In all cases, qualitative factors weigh heavily in the admission decision. These might include exceptional professional achievements, outstanding community service, or evidence of particular talents or backgrounds that will contribute especially and significantly to the law school community.
Seattle University embraces a wholly nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy. We welcome applications from all persons without regard to age, gender, race, religion, national origin, marital status, sexual or political orientation or disability.
Candidates for admission must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment. In addition, applicants must have received a competitive score on the LSAT, GRE General Test, or the JD-Next examination, and have registered with the Law School Credential Assembly Service. Applicants should submit required application materials at the earliest possible date after they are available and complete their applicant file by the priority deadline of March 1 of the year they wish to attend.
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
Approximately up to five new doctoral students may begin annually in the SJD program. Admission is highly competitive. Generally, students may begin only in the fall semester. Students are paired with their academic committees as part of the admission and onboarding process. The first year is in residence with the second and third years intended to nurture robust research. Partial-tuition scholarships apply to the first year only, which is charged as a flat fee, after which dissertation credits apply. Application materials include evidence of prior legal research and a dissertation topic proposal. The program requires applicants to possess a LLM, almost always from a common law country. SJD application instructions and materials may be accessed here. Before beginning the first semester’s coursework, new students will need to provide an evaluation of their official transcripts from foreign institutions. This is after the point of admission. The SJD program provides a modest credit toward tuition to offset the cost.
Master of Laws (LLM)
The LLM program employs a holistic admission model, as incoming students already have law degrees in their home countries. Students may begin in fall or spring semesters, and they generally may take classes in the summertime. Applications are through Slate. LSAC files are welcome although the Slate app is preferred. Successful LLM applications require strong grades or marks, a personal statement, a letter of reference, and a scholarship letter. Instruction in English qualifies for the test waiver, as does at least one year of work within an English-speaking environment. Before beginning the first semester’s coursework, new students will need to provide an evaluation of their official transcripts from foreign institutions. This is after the point of admission. The LLM program provides a modest credit toward tuition to offset the cost.
The LLM program currently offers two tracks: American Legal Studies (ALS) and Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE). Both programs are 24 semester hours in length and partial-tuition scholarships are applied over the 24-credit program duration. The ALS track includes all coursework needed to sit for the bar. The TIE track includes most but not all bar-tested coursework; it is 28 semester hours in length when students intend to sit for the bar. It is possible to complete either track in one year. US citizens and students with certain immigration statuses (e.g. permanent resident, L-2, H4-B, etc.) may enroll part-time rather than full-time.
Master of Legal Studies (MLS)
The MLS is a program for students who want an in-depth understanding of the legal principles necessary to navigate complex business operations, public policy, government regulations, and compliance and risk management. Our students and alumni use their legal training in a variety of industries and legal settings, without pursuing a traditional attorney path.
MLS in Compliance & Risk Management
Our fully online masters program prepares you to lead compliance efforts in any organization and industry. Graduate with a highly sought knowledge of law, legal analysis, and the frameworks used to identify, assess, and respond to risk. Understanding these regulations and how they impact organizations is critical to working effectively as a compliance officer. Students may focus their studies in healthcare compliance, financial compliance, data and cybersecurity compliance, corporate compliance, and sports law compliance.
MLS in General Studies
The MLS in General Studies track is specifically tailored to the individual student’s area of interest depending on the student’s professional goals and learning objectives. Examples of professional or academic areas students may wish to focus their studies include environmental law, labor and employment, intellectual property, and many more.
MLS in Health Law
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Health Law is for students who seek a legal education focused in health law and healthcare and its effects on business. Students may work in biotechnology research and development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical device and instrument manufacturing, management of health care institutions, healthcare insurers, and government agencies, bioethics, biotechnology, compliance, infectious disease control, medical fraud, medical and product liability, mental health, public policy, health care decision-making, and access to health care coverage (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and the Affordable Care Act).
MLS in Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Technology, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship for students who seek a legal education focused in technology and its effects on business. Students may work with non-disclosure and non-competition agreements; shareholder and founder agreements; customer agreements; supplier agreements; development contracts; intellectual property; securities and IPOs; corporate governance; banking; compliance; real estate; consulting; human resources; government; technology; and nonprofits.
MLS in Sports Law
The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Sports Law is for students who seek an education focused on the legal issues surrounding the sports industry. Students may work in league governance, intellectual property, sponsorships, event production, venue management, contract management, employment and labor negotiations, and other areas of sports business.