From the School
At the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, students do not just study law, they experience it. A recognized leader in training practice-ready graduates, we are the only law school in the nation whose three practical skills programs are ranked in the Top 10 by U.S. News & World Report. With a total of four Top 20 specialty programs, an abundance of hands-on educational experiences and unrivaled access to one of the nation's most vibrant legal markets, the Sturm College of Law offers its students significant and distinctive advantages in the legal marketplace.
Top 10 Practical Skills Programs (U.S. News & World Report)
- #7 Legal Writing
- #8 Clinical Programs
- #9 Trial Advocacy
Since opening our doors in 1892, innovation has defined our culture. In 1904, we launched the nation's first law clinic. In the 1960s, we helped found the Law and Society Movement, combining the study of law with cutting-edge perspectives from the social sciences. In 2003, we constructed the nation's first LEED Gold-certified "green" law building. And, in 2018, we launched our #11-ranked Professional Part-Time JD Program, conducted 1/3 online and on alternating weekends, which allows working professionals to advance their careers on their own schedules and from virtually any location.
The curriculum at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law mirrors what many achieve while living in Colorado—balance. Our professors complement doctrinal learning with invaluable experiential opportunities that develop ethically minded, practice-ready graduates. With an emphasis on cultivating the valuable interpersonal skills today's employers seek in their new hires, Denver Law promotes those character traits that enhance professional development, including resourcefulness, ingenuity and integrity. This well-rounded approach gives our students an extraordinary advantage in their legal careers.
Overview
From The School
The Faculty Admissions Committee considers several factors in the decision-making process, including: academic achievement; LSAT score and LSAT Writing; personal statement; work experience; degrees earned; and applicant information. International students must also provide a TOEFL or IELTS score, unless a post-secondary degree is completed at an institution whose language of instruction and testing is English.
Detailed application information can be found at: https://www.law.du.edu/admissions/jd-admissions
For more information, contact: Telephone: 303-871-6135; email: admissions@law.du.edu
Test Scores
(enrolled students)
Application Process
Other Admission Factors
LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Essay / Personal Statement
Extracurricular Activities
Work Experience
Selectivity Rating
Overall
From The School
Degrees Offered
Here at Denver Law, you can complete the 90 credit hour JD curriculum as either a full-time or part-time student. Students also have the option to add one of our six JD certificate programs, as well as graduate degree options, to teach you the skills you need to build your legal career.
Full-Time JD Program
Professional Part-Time JD Program
JD Certificate Programs
Constitutional Rights and Remedies
Corporate and Commercial Law
Environmental and Natural Resources Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Legal Studies
Workplace Law
LLM Degrees
American Law Practice LLM
Environmental & Natural Resources Law & Policy
Roche International Business Transactions LLM
Tax LLM
Master's Degrees
Master of Legal Studies
Master of Legal Studies in Environmental & Natural Resources Law & Policy
Master of Science in Legal Administration
Master of Taxation
Programs and Curriculum
Denver Law specialty programs let you focus your course of study and follow your passion.
Environmental and Natural Resources Law
International Legal Studies
Intellectual Property Law
Corporate and Commercial Law
Workplace Law
Constitutional Rights and Remedies
Clinical Programs
Lawyering Process Program (Legal Writing)
Center for Advocacy (Trial Advocacy)
Bar Success Program
Legal Externship Program
Judicial Clerkships
Study Abroad offerings: Sorrento, Italy; Madrid, Spain; Lund, Sweden
Professional Mentoring Program
Faculty
Consistently recognized for impactful scholarly work, Denver Law faculty members produce a wide array of original theoretical, doctrinal and empirical research through our long tradition of rigorous, interdisciplinary legal scholarship. Committed to our students and the public good, our faculty members advance the major discussions and debates of our time and help solve tomorrow's challenges.
Special Programs
Denver Law's Professional Part-Time JD Program, ranked #11 in the nation, is one of the oldest in the country. You can earn your law degree online and on campus with classes held on weekends.
Faculty Information
Students Say
As if that wasn鈥檛 enough, the University of Denver is populated with 鈥渋ntelligent, witty, and helpful professors, who largely do an excellent job of teaching black letter law and then examining how that law really applies in practice.鈥 Unsurprisingly, the vast majority come to the classroom with 鈥渁 lot of experience and are often respected experts in their topics.鈥 And many are more than 鈥渨illing to explore the potential and creative legal arguments students develop and often encourage students to be creative and take risks.鈥 Praise also extends to the 鈥渋ncredible鈥 library staff who are 鈥渁ttentive,鈥 鈥渙rganized,鈥 and 鈥渆asily accessible.鈥 Conversely, views on the administration are decidedly mixed. Some students report that they are 鈥渧ery proactive鈥 and 鈥渦nderstanding.鈥 While others complain that the administration is 鈥渃ompletely disorganized鈥and] lacks [the necessary] policies and continuity.鈥
Thankfully, when it comes to the job hunt, most students find the Career Development Office to be rather 鈥渉elpful.鈥 The folks that work there are incredibly accommodating 鈥渁nd will move schedules around and stay late to review resumes, give mock interviews, suggest connections, and give practical, real-world advice.鈥 Students stress that the office鈥檚 鈥渄irector is very concerned about employability鈥 and that everyone who works there goes 鈥渨ell out of their way to make sure you have a good job and that law school is a good investment for you.鈥 Nevertheless, a few people do wish they 鈥渃ould be more proactive [when it comes to] things like federal clerkships.鈥 And some lament that there is 鈥渢oo much focus on firms/corporate rather than government work, public interest, non-traditional, or novel/up-and-coming areas of law.鈥 However, virtually everyone applauds 鈥渢he internship program, which has nearly 800 different placements in every field imaginable.鈥 Best of all, 鈥渁ccess to the Denver legal community is amazing.鈥 Students love Sturm鈥檚 鈥渨illingness to work with you in order to ensure you get the best opportunities and connections possible.鈥
Career overview
From The School
In addition to the exceptional legal education you'll receive at Denver Law, we also help you define and pursue your career goals from the first day of classes to graduation and beyond. Our Office of Career Development (CDO) is dedicated to planning and launching your career by connecting students with employers in Denver, throughout Colorado and beyond. The CDO team has an unmatched breadth and scope of connections, experience, resources, and enthusiasm to support your success. The CDO will be with you every step of the way to ensure your degree opens the doors to your future.
Career Services
Graduates Employed by Area
Graduates Employed by Region
Prominent Alumni
Overview
From The School
Average Tuition: $52,590
Financial aid office web address: www.du.edu/financialaid/
Tuition fee varies by residency status: No
Typical Room: $11,727
Typical Board: $4,257
Tuition & Fees
Full time Average Tuition: $52,590
Full time Fees: $332
Part time, per credit hour: $1,753
Tuition & Fees By Program
Program Tuition
Law: $52,590
Fees: $332
Financial Aid
About 60 percent of our incoming JD students receive scholarships from Denver Law, with 87 percent receiving some form of aid.
Dates
Financial Aid Statistics
Expenses per Academic Year
Overall
From The School
In today's legal world, diversity and inclusiveness are more than aspirations. They are necessities. At Denver Law, a core part of our vision is the preparation of students for twenty-first-century legal practice, and this necessarily requires that our classrooms reflect the diversity of a twenty-first-century society. The Sturm College of Law has been recognized as top school for diversity by prelaw magazine.
Student Body Profile
Demographics
Campus Life
Students Say
Socially, the 鈥渟chool does a good job of hosting events where families are welcome.鈥 These include 鈥渋ce skating and hot chocolate with the dean at DU鈥檚 hockey arena, pumpkin carving, etc.鈥 Conversely, some people do complain that 鈥渄rinking is [now] banned at student events,鈥 leading to 鈥渓ow[er] attendance.鈥 Regardless of campus rules and regulations, attending school in Denver is 鈥渁 dream.鈥 After all, students enjoy the 鈥渃omforts of city living鈥 with the total accessibility of 鈥渘ature.鈥
More Information
Admissions Office Contact
From The School
Campus and Location
Ranked No. 1 for our economy, Denver, Colorado is one of the nation's fastest-growing, economically dynamic cities, and we provide a unique professional gateway to the Mile High City. Our hometown is the location of the state capital, state and federal government agencies, start-up tech companies, law firms, global business and more. All of that comes along with Denver's multitude of opportunities and advantages: close proximity to the mountains, a strong public transportation system, numerous entertainment options, cultural offerings and so much more. The Sturm College of Law is the perfect place to balance your life and your legal education.
Facilities
Housed within the Sturm College of Law is the Westminster Law Library. The expansive four floor library is a tremendous asset for students with a vast array of law casebooks, treatises and journals as well as digital resources, bar exam materials and abundant quiet areas for study and research. Our Law Librarians are experts in the field of legal publications and provide exemplary research assistance.
Assistant Dean of Admissions & Student Financial Management
Suite 115
Denver, CO 80208
