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About Duke Law

Rigorous instruction in a small-school setting.

For first-year students, faculty-student interaction is especially intense, and students tend to form close, collaborative bonds. Only a handful of classes number more than 100 students, and the majority of second- and third-year classes enroll fewer than 25 students.

Unparalleled faculty-student collaboration.

Our faculty members have developed special excellence in areas crucial for preparing our graduates for future careers. To this end, students help prepare testimony for Congressional hearings, participate in appellate litigation, community development projects, and child advocacy work with their faculty mentors.

Incredible support for student-initiated endeavors.

Students initiate the majority of speakers, debates, panels and conferences that create a community of constant intellectual engagement. The new journal of Constitutional Law and Public Policy, the Hot Topics conference in intellectual property, and the winning team for the National Moot Court Competition are just a few examples of what our students make happen.

“The strongest professionalism program in the country.”— American Bar Association

Through a set of principles we call The Duke Blueprint to LEAD (Lawyer Education and Development), students learn that many of the skills necessary to be a leading lawyer come from engaging in the community and from taking advantage of the many opportunities found at Duke for leadership, collaboration, debate, and the pursuit of common interests.

Strong international character.

In addition to having one of the largest and most diverse international faculty in the country, Duke Law School offers a unique JD/LLM program for select students: In three years, students acuire both a JD and a master's degree in International and Comparative Law. The Law's School's LLM program in American law, which brings lawyers from all over the world, as well as summer programs in Hong Kong and Geneva and numerous exchange programs offer students additional options to internationalize.

Significant number of joint degree students.

Along with those enrolled in the School's JD/LLM program in International and Comparative Law, many Duke Law students see their futures requiring complementary expertise in a technical, scientific, and/or policy field. Duke offers more than 18 academic degree programs and five professional degree programs.

An active public interest and pro bono program.

Within the Law School itself, public interest work is a student-driven enterprise featuring dozens of opportunities to make a difference throughout the year. The annual leadership retreat draws together interested students to rejuvenate and connect with one another. Duke also offers the services of a career advisor dedicated to students who are are considering careers in public interest.

Commitment to emerging issues.

Duke has a particularly strong cluster of faculty experts in international and comparative law and national security and terrorism issues. No other top program offers substantive depth of knowledge in a wider range of subject areas.

Excellent job placement rate for graduates.

Ninety-eight to 100% of Duke's graduates are employed within nine months of graduation. Beyond success in placing students in the best jobs in the country, however, Duke has a unique approach to career services that emphasizes life-long professional development and job satisfaction and helps Duke graduates align their long-term career paths with their personal values.

Extraordinary alumni network.

Such an active network creates professional opportunities for current students and also lets alumni stay involved in the life of the School. They come to campus to speak at programs for students, lecture in classes, participate in alumni leadership groups, and stay in touch through various Law School publications and its Web site, through which they can access (often in real time) academic conferences and other public events on campus.

Durham, NC: Beautiful location and moderate climate.

The Law School benefits greatly from the fact that the Research Triangle region of North Carolina (encompassing Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh) is undergoing steady economic progress and rapid cultural growth while maintaining a relatively low cost of living. The area offers eclectic restaurants, concerts, opera, theater, museums, and a full range of recreational activities. The Duke Center for Life (state-of-the-art fitness center) and the 7,025 acre Duke Forest are within easy walking distance of the Law School.

18 Exchange Programs with other law schools.

Australia
China
Japan
France
Denmark
Mexico
Great Britain
South Africa, and many other countries

Joint Degrees with other Duke Professional Schools.

Fuqua School of Business
Sanford Institute of Public Policy
Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences
Duke Medical School
Pratt School of Engineering
Graduate departments such as economics, political science, English, and cultural anthropology