Thomas R. Kline School of Law

The Thomas R. Kline School of Law was established in 2006, and was built on the strengths of Drexel University, including experiential education and the fields of engineering, science, business, and health care.

At the graduate level, the School offers:

• the Juris Doctor (JD) degree, which has been designed to prepare law students for the challenges of 21st-century practice. Within the JD, students can elect to fulfill concentrations in business and entrepreneurship law, health law, intellectual property law, criminal law, and civil litigation and dispute resolution;
• a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program for individuals in other disciplines and professions who would benefit from focused legal knowledge in their field;
• a Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Practice for internationally trained attorneys that offers an optional focus on New York Bar Exam preparation;
• specialized LLMs for attorneys who want to dive deeply into one area of practice; and
• specialized Certificates for post-baccalaureate professionals looking to bolster knowledge in an emerging area.

Educational Objectives

The educational objectives of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law include knowledge of the law, training in practical skills, and commitment to professionalism. The Juris Doctor (JD) degree program offers a standard law school curriculum in combination with electives that strengthen knowledge in core and emerging fields, to ensure that its graduates are well-equipped to pass the bar examination upon graduation and to be competent legal professionals, regardless of their particular practice areas. Students may complete the JD on a full-time basis in either two or three years.

The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program and associated Certificates, designed for individuals who are not seeking to become attorneys, are intended to develop and improve career-related skills through the study of the legal system, legal writing, law, regulation, and policy. 

The Master of Laws (LLM) in American Legal Practice allows for a flexible curriculum or specialized tracks to target the student's goals for US practice or legal knowledge. LLM students can take advantage of experiential learning opportunities as well as courses designed to develop proficiency in English legal vocabulary.

The specialized LLMs are designed for practicing attorneys to develop expertise beyond the curriculum offered in their JD programs.  The programs are ideal for new and experienced attorneys who are looking for advancement in their organizations or who wish to explore trending areas of law and regulation more deeply.

Accreditation

The JD program at the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). The ABA does not offer accreditation to non-JD programs, but has acquiesced to the Master of Laws, Master of Legal Studies, and certificate programs offered by the Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Thomas R. Kline School of Law is determined using a variety of factors evaluated by the law admissions committee. For Juris Doctor (JD) candidates, the committee evaluates the student’s LSAT score, academic record (including graduate degrees), work and volunteer experience, and personal background.

To apply, prospective JD students submit the following:

• a resume - describing employment history, including part-time and summer employment.
• a personal statement - essay discussing motivation for attending law school and how the Thomas R. Kline School of Law will help the applicant achieve his or her goals.
• LSDAS registration - all applicants, including those educated abroad, are required to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The LSDAS will provide Drexel University with a report containing information important in the admission process.

Visit the Law School Admission Council Website at www.lsac.org for more information and to register.

The report includes an undergraduate academic summary; undergraduate, graduate and law/professional school transcripts; LSAT scores; and letters of recommendation (at least two) processed by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

To access the online application or for additional guidelines on how to apply, visit the Thomas R. Kline School of Law website.

Students who are interested in the Master of Legal Studies or Certificate programs should visit and apply through Drexel University Online.

Facilities

Located in the heart of the University’s main campus in University City, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law is in a 57,254 square foot facility that includes:

• a 2-story atrium and balcony area for meetings, receptions and casual conversation
• two large classrooms, seating 72
• one moot courtroom, seating 65
• one medium classroom, seating 55
• two classrooms, seating 32
• two seminar rooms
• one classroom, seating 18
• thirty-seven offices for full-time faculty, plus 2 offices for adjunct professors
• office space for student organizations, Trial Team, Moot Court, Law Review and in-house clinics
• the Legal Research Center, one-floor library with 14,500 linear feet of shelving
• quiet study areas and group study rooms within the library

Additionally, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law utilizes space in the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships and the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building. The entire area shares Drexel's campus-wide wireless access to the internet, and all classrooms include data ports for each student and high-tech audio/visual resources. The law building is located on Market Street, between 33rd and 34th Streets. It is also a half-block from both the Market-Frankford elevated subway line (serving Center City and the Northeast), as well as the subway-surface lines (serving the City's western suburbs), making the law school convenient to where students will live and to the courts and co-op placements in the downtown legal district.