Why Widener University-delaware?
Widener University Delaware Law School offers a practice-ready legal education with unique programs like its Dignity Law Institute, leveraging its location in the nation's corporate capital.
Widener University-delaware is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 65.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.33 GPA and 150 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 2.95–3.60 GPA and 148–152 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 234 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. Widener University-delaware admitted few or zero transfer students in the most recent reporting cycle — transfer-in slots are extremely limited.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #154
- Median GPA
- 3.33
- 25th–75th: 2.95–3.60
- Median LSAT
- 150
- 25th–75th: 148–152
- Acceptance rate
- 65.7%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 234
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1Pennsylvania
- 2Delaware
- 3New Jersey
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Widener University-delaware's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Widener University-delaware" essay where they align with your interests.
- Delaware Civil Law ClinicProvides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence and assists with child custody, visitation, and divorce matters.
- Pennsylvania Criminal Defense ClinicStudents represent individuals accused of misdemeanor crimes in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law ClinicOffers free legal representation to individuals and organizations facing environmental issues.
- Veterans Law ClinicProvides free legal representation to low-income, disabled veterans for appeals to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Innocence Delaware Legal ClinicProvides representation to those unjustly incarcerated.
- Dignity Rights ClinicFocuses on law reform through education, advocacy, and litigation to advance human dignity.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Delaware Journal of Corporate Law— Corporate law, business law, and related fields, often cited by Delaware courts.
- Widener Law Review— A general interest academic legal journal publishing scholarship on current legal issues across various topics.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- Lawrence A. HamermeshCorporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities Regulation, Business Organizations.
- Judith L. RitterCriminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Post-Conviction Remedies, Trial Advocacy.
- Erin DalyDignity Rights, Constitutional Law, Comparative Constitutional Law, Transitional Justice.
- Alan E. GarfieldConstitutional Law, Copyright, Contracts, First Amendment.
- Elizabeth BeaversNational Security Law.
- Sarah EverhartEnvironmental Law, Administrative Law, Animal Law, Food Law.
- Zachary L. CatanzaroCivil Law, Civil Procedure, Cyberlaw, Intellectual Property, Constitutional Law.
- Serena M. WilliamsProperty Law, Landlord/Tenant Law, Housing Law, Environmental Justice.
- Thomas J. ReedEvidence, Veterans Law, Military Law, Property, Wills and Trusts.
- John G. CulhaneFamily and Health Law.
What makes Widener University-delaware distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Strategically located in Wilmington, Delaware, providing unique access to the state's corporate and business law community.
- ·Home to the Dignity Law Institute, the only program at an American law school dedicated to the theme of human dignity in law.
- ·Offers flexible Juris Doctor (JD) programs, including full-time, part-time, and evening divisions.
- ·Features the Taishoff Advocacy, Technology and Public Service Institute, emphasizing trial and appellate advocacy and supporting the Veterans' Clinic.
- ·Provides on-campus residential housing options for JD students.
- ·Offers various dual degree programs, including a JD/MBA and JD/MPH.
Using this for your "Why Widener University-delaware" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Widener University-delaware
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Widener University-delaware?▾
Widener University-delaware's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.33 and a median LSAT of 150. The 25th–75th percentile range was 2.95–3.60 GPA and 148–152 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Widener University-delaware's acceptance rate?▾
Widener University-delaware's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 65.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Widener University-delaware offer?▾
Widener University-delaware's notable clinical programs include: Delaware Civil Law Clinic, Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Clinic, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, Veterans Law Clinic, Innocence Delaware Legal Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Widener University-delaware publish?▾
Widener University-delaware's notable student-edited journals include: Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Widener Law Review.
Where do Widener University-delaware graduates work?▾
Widener University-delaware graduates concentrate employment in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Widener University-delaware
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
About to start at Widener University-delaware?
Case Cub is the AI study platform built for the 1L grind: case briefs, issue spotters, flashcards, outline generators. Walk into your first finals already practiced.
Try Case Cub free →Sources (16) — verify any fact above
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/academics/jd-program/signature-programs/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/current-students/student-life-jd/student-organizations/delaware-journal-of-corporate-law/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/faculty-by-expertise/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/lawrence-hamermesh/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/judith-ritter/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/erin-daly/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/alan-garfield/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/elizabeth-beavers/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/sarah-everhart/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/zachary-catanzaro/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/serena-williams/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/faculty/full-time-faculty-directory/thomas-reed/
- https://delawarelaw.widener.edu/academics/jd-program/signature-programs/dignity-law-institute/
- https://www.lsac.org/choosing-law-school/aba-approved-law-schools/widener-university-delaware-law-school
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.