Widener University (DE) - School of Law

Widener University Delaware Law School is “the only law school in Delaware,” and in this privileged position, offers unique “access to the Delaware legal community” and opportunities “to network with the corporate capital of the United States” or, some argue, “the world.” Delaware Law School builds its curricula in order to prepare students to maximize business law opportunities: “The greatest strengths this school offers are its encouragement of practical skills courses, such as judicial and clinical externships, its emphasis on legal research and writing, and its focus on business contracts drafting.”
In fact, the university’s location in Wilmington, Delaware Law School offers portals to extracurriculars, internships, and jobs in “the Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey region” as well. Many nontraditional students are attracted by Delaware Law School’s “availability of an evening program” and “relatively humane tuition,” in addition to the fact that “most of the professors aren't the 'Ivory Tower' type and try to keep things interesting.” Student opinions of the faculty, while mostly positive, are somewhat mixed overall: “It mostly has wonderful professors that are interesting and engaging,” but “the faculty varies from wildly overqualified to merely a heartbeat in the front of the room.” Despite the critics, many report that “Professors are willing to help and do anything they can to help you succeed,” and one student argues, “I have a graduate degree from an Ivy League university and the quality of my professors at Widener Law meet or exceed those at my prior institution.”
As for how the school is run, students say the “administration of the school overall needs to improve, and to improve our school’s reputation especially.” “This place is a nightmare. Nothing is organized in an efficient way.” As of July 2015, Delaware Law School officially separated from Widener University’s other law campus in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. By separating from the Harrisburg campus, Delaware Law School will have an administration dedicated entirely to the needs of the students in Delaware, with all student services based in Delaware. Aspiring lawyers looking to compete are eager for Widener to improve job placement—“the career development office sucks”—by doing more to raise its national ranking. “It's pretty damaging in interviews to say you go to Widener when they're also interviewing grads from Penn, Villanova, etc.” Students name “availability [of] internships and externships” as a strength of the university, and tout the strong reputation of the school in the local area along with the convenient nearby corporate centers that provide a wider breadth of experiences. Facilities are very unpopular, with students calling them “terrible” and “subpar for the amount of tuition we pay,” though “all classrooms are equipped with a smartboard, computer, etc.” Though student feedback about some facets is mixed, many students express the belief that, “Our administration really works with the students in order to promote a healthy educational environment.”

Delaware Law School’s social culture, while present, is diminished by the prevalence of commuting and/or evening students. The Student Bar Association hosts some “social events.” “The administration is hit and miss, the Office of Student Affairs has a wonderful staff. They work hard for the students, are easily accessible, and helpful 100 percent of the way.” Many students contend that the university should retool the library to be “open 24/7 while classes are in session.”