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Juris Doctor (JD)

Choose your path to earning a Juris Doctor (JD) law degree at Seattle University School of Law’s innovative and inclusive program. Explore our JD program options and apply today.

About this Program

Innovative, Experiential Education to Practice Law

The full-time JD program is the way most students traditionally earn a law degree. It is an immersive, in-person program that takes three years to complete.

Our innovative approach to legal education combines exceptional teaching by a distinguished faculty with a variety of experiential learning opportunities.

Seattle U Law offers a distinctive and comprehensive education that goes beyond the classroom. Our academic- and practice-based curriculum transforms students into exceptional legal professionals who can help bring about justice in communities.

Technology, Innovation Law & Ethics (TILE) Program

Seattle is home to a robust and innovative entrepreneurial community at the forefront of emerging transformative technologies.

For those who desire to contribute to this exciting sector, Seattle University School of Law offers a comprehensive program in innovation law, including intellectual property, with an emphasis on ethics, values and social justice.

Situated in a global city, the program offers comparative and international perspectives, in addition to a strong grounding in U.S. law. Learn more about our TILE program.

JD at a Glance

Learn how a JD degree will contribute to your career goals. Then, explore course requirements and see how impactful a Seattle University law degree can be.

We offer several pathways across a range of specialties as one form of guidance for students in choosing courses. The pathways demonstrate sequences within and connections across the curriculum. It is not necessary for students to pursue a single pathway in depth, but many will find it worthwhile to do so. See course selection advice based on pathways.

Specialty pathways include the following:

Required Courses

Upon successful completion of Seattle U Law’s JD program, you will obtain the ability to think like a lawyer, possess a basic proficiency in lawyering skills, and understand the professional, ethical, and moral values and responsibilities of law-trained individuals.

Legal analysis, knowledge, and problem-solving

Outcome 1

Graduates will be able to:

  • Integrate information from multiple sources (e.g., opinions, statutes, regulations, rules, scholarly analysis) to identify operative legal rules, principles and concepts
  • Retain a working knowledge of essential rules, principles and concepts
  • Articulate and deploy these rules, principles, and concepts in a variety of contexts

Outcome 2

When presented with a problem, graduates will be able to:

  • Generate legal arguments, plans, and strategies that link pertinent legal authority to legally significant facts
  • Identify, assess, and discuss relevant policy arguments
  • Make reasoned judgments as to the likely success of competing legal arguments and alternative courses of action in light of client objectives or other goals

Outcome 3

Graduates will be able to:

  • Describe the primary formal structures and processes of the American legal system,
  • Recognize and critically describe the influence of extra-legal factors, such as politics, history, and culture, on the legal system, and
  • Develop and advance solutions to important social problems, demonstrating:
  • Commitment and capacity to improve the quality of and access to the justice system for all members of society;
  • Awareness of lawyers' varied roles; and
  • Understanding of effective leadership and collaboration.

Lawyering skills

Outcome 4

Graduates will be able to communicate effectively, demonstrating the ability to:

  • Produce clear, well-organized, properly sourced written work tailored to audience and objectives; and
  • Make oral presentations and engage in other verbal interactions in a manner that is appropriate to the circumstances, respectful of other actors, and well-designed to achieve objectives.

Outcome 5

Graduates will be able to:

  • Design and execute plans for developing facts necessary to achieve lawyering objectives;
  • Use legal analysis to develop a legal research strategy, efficiently search a variety of resources, and identify, evaluate, and analyze information to resolve specific issues.

Outcome 6

In addition to the fundamental skills identified immediately above, graduates will also possess a set of additional lawyering skills (e.g., litigation skills, transactional skills, policy advocacy) that demonstrate their readiness to enter the profession.

Outcome 7

Graduates will be able to perform their lawyering tasks consistent with professional ethical requirements and with the cultural competence necessary for effective, respectful interaction with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Learner skills

Outcome 8

Graduates will demonstrate the capacities to:

  • Reflect on and learn from experience;
  • Apply skills and knowledge learned in one context to other relevant contexts; and
  • Assess and promote the development of their professional knowledge, skills, and values.

Adopted April 4, 2017

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Top 20

Most Innovative Law Schools —National Jurist/PreLaw 2020-23

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Racial Justice —National Jurist/PreLaw 2020-23

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Diversity, International Law, Business Law —National Jurist/PreLaw 2020-23

Career-Ready Education with Purpose

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Top-Notch Clinical Training Program

We offer an unparalleled experiential training program. From your first day, you'll learn to apply your classroom learning in situations helping real clients with real legal problems.

Professor Paula Enguidanos working with a law student

Renowned Legal Writing Program

Our top-ranked Legal Writing Program will give you the tools to become a highly effective legal writer who can get results for your future clients.

Two Options for First-Year Studies

Start your studies on your terms.

Summer (June) entry

  • Reduce your fall course load by completing a Criminal Law class during a six-week summer term
  • Classes are offered at convenient times for those with summer jobs
  • Provides an opportunity to get a head-start on learning essential legal skills, which will help you in your fall courses

Fall (August) entry

  • Chosen by most entering students
  • 15 credits of courses are taken in both fall and spring semesters to complete your first-year legal studies over a traditional nine-month academic year
  • Classes are typically held during the day, with some evening classes available

Sports Law

Immersed in a culture of passionate sports enthusiasts, Seattle boasts a thriving and dynamic sports industry.

For students who dream of working at the intersection of sports and law, Seattle University School of Law offers a unique opportunity to delve into the legal complexities of the sports industry.

Sports law provides opportunities to work on issues including but not limited to athlete representation and intellectual property, with an emphasis on ethics and social justice.

Surrounded by several strong sports organizations, the program offers practical perspectives from industry to complement a strong foundation of legal principles. Learn more about the sports law program.

From Our Alumni

Jasmine Salguero, ‘24

“I specifically chose Seattle U Law because of the Legal Writing Program. As an advocate, I understood how crucial it was to also have the tools necessary to become a highly effective legal writer. I am confident Seattle U Law is going to prepare me to master critical research and writing skills.”

Juris Doctor Full-Time

Featured Faculty

Get in Touch

We’re here to help. For information about law degrees at Seattle University, contact:

Seattle University School of Law

901 12th Avenue, Sullivan Hall