The University of Maryland Law School was founded in 1816 which makes it the third oldest law school in the US.(1) Located in Baltimore, the University of Maryland Law School is one of the most prominent law schools in the US. US News and World Report ranked the school 36th overall in its 2008 edition. It is also ranked 16th among US public law schools.(2) The school’s programs in Clinical Law, Environmental Law, and Law and Health Care have also gained national prominence. University of Maryland Law School has full accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) and is also affiliated with the Association of American Law Schools.
University of Maryland Law School’s academic program is intended to enable students to acquire the four basic characteristics of a well-educated lawyer: knowledge, professionalism, broad perspective on the social effects of legal issues, and effective communication skills.(3) The main curriculum of the University of Maryland Law School includes courses on Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, and Torts. University of Maryland Law School students are also required to pass an advanced writing requirement through a scholarly research paper.
The school’s Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree program is completed after three years of full-time day study or four years of part-time night study. University of Maryland Law School also offers joint degree programs in Business, Public Policy, Health, and Law and Society. These programs are offered in partnership with various departments of the University of Maryland, the Robert H. Smith School of Business, and St.John’s College Annapolis.(4)
Aside from its academic programs, the University of Maryland Law School has a Clinical Law Program which offers legal assistance to the poorest people in Maryland.(5) Through this program, full-time law students get actual law experience by representing clients who are unable to afford private legal assistance. University of Maryland Law School students, working with the school’s senior faculty on actual legal cases, are able to combine theoretical knowledge with practical law experience in preparation for a successful career in law. The school’s legal clinics specialize in various fields of law including civil and criminal litigation, advice and counseling, and environmental law.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maryland_School_of_Law
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maryland_School_of_Law
(3) http://www.law.umaryland.edu/dept/academics/index.asp
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Maryland_School_of_Law#Dual-Degree_Programs
(5) http://www.law.umaryland.edu/specialty/clinic/index.asp