Notre Dame Law School

Notre Dame Law School during winter.

Notre Dame Law School, or NDLS, is the professional graduate program of its parent institution, the University of Notre Dame. Established in 1869, NDLS is the oldest Roman Catholic law school in the United States. NDLS was ranked 22nd among the nation's "Top 100 Law Schools" by U.S. News & World Report in 2007. Notre Dame Law School is also distinguished as having the nation's only year-long study-abroad program approved by the American Bar Association. The program, which takes place in London, also offers a summer session open to all law schools.

The Law School's national program is designed to equip students to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction. NDLS is unique among American law schools in addition to its rigorous academic curriculum; its program incorporates religious, moral, and ethical development among its students. This mission is reflected in the NDLS motto, "Educating a Different Kind of Lawyer." The Law School also offers a trial advocacy program that is regarded as being among the top 10 such programs in the nation. The Law School grants the professional Juris Doctor degree as well as the graduate Master of Laws and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees. It is slated to begin construction on a new building that will be completed in 2009. The Kresge Law Library, which is in the center of the current building, will be expanded to take up the building in its entirety, with classes held in the new section which will be constructed on the site of the old post office. The two buildings will be connected by a suspended walkway.

Notable alumni

*G. Robert Blakey, author of the RICO statute
*Peter King, congressman (R-NY)
*Patrick F. McCartan, Chairman of the University of Notre Dame Board of Trustees, former managing partner at Jones Day
*Andrew Napolitano, Fox News senior judicial analyst and former judge
*Pete Visclosky (D-IN),
*Tom Clements, former Notre Dame star quarterback

External links

*Notre Dame Law School

*The Joan B. Kroc Institute for World Peace

*"Law School Receives $21 million," The Observer Online, 8/26/05