Your Future Starts Here
VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
At Villanova University School of Law,
“All your work shall be done for the common good,
we pride ourselves on our ability to combine legal
depth of our academic offerings through highlighted
theory with practical, hands-on learning. Our rigorous
programs and faculty member insights. I hope you
academic programs include an extensive array of clinics
enjoy exploring these pages, and that they inspire
and externships that allow you to hone professional
you to visit us and learn more about Villanova Law.
judgment and legal skills in real-world settings. Your partners in this journey are Villanova Law’s renowned
with greater zeal and more dispatch than if each one of you were to work for yourself alone.” —Rule of Augustine V, 2
This book will give you a glimpse of the breadth and
Sincerely,
faculty, who balance their scholarship with a commitment to and interest in each and every student The Villanova educational experience—rooted in our Augustinian Catholic heritage—encourages a passionate, collaborative pursuit of knowledge and service to others. At Villanova, you will find a strong community that will challenge you and support your success.
John Y. Gotanda, JD Dean and Professor of Law
CORPORATE LAW
Richard Booth Martin G. McGuinn Chair in Business Law and Professor of Law
YOU’RE LEADING, COUNSELOR Villanovans have served as General Counsel of AstraZeneca in London, Head of Business Development at Google, General Counsel at Comcast Cable, Governor of Pennsylvania and CEO of the San Diego Padres. As a Villanova graduate, you will be ready to compete and succeed in all areas of the corporate world. Where will your Villanova journey lead you?
From start-up to merger and acquisition to sale, legal issues punctuate the life of a business. Villanova’s Corporate Law Program provides students with an interdisciplinary approach to business law, equipping you to succeed in a market that demands both legal and business skills. Through experiential learning and professional development, our Corporate Law Program assures that you have the legal, practical and ethical skills necessary to advise and represent businesses in an increasingly complex environment. Classes such as Business Planning and Venture Capital require you to approach the challenges not just to avoid possible pitfalls, but also to construct the best possible solution for your clients’ needs. The end result: As a Villanova graduate, your broad knowledge will give you a competitive advantage in both the legal and corporate worlds.
Villanova University School of Law Faculty since 2007 EDUCATION: Yale Law School (JD); The University of Michigan (AB) SPECIALTY AREAS: Business Organizations, Corporate Finance, Business Planning and Venture Capital, Securities Litigation, Regulation of Financial Markets
“Villanova teaches students what will matter to corporate clients. Not only do we focus on governance and public policy issues, we include a big dose of finance that is crucial for our graduates to understand what clients want and need.”
Christine Mooney Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Legal Writing Villanova University School of Law Faculty since 1999 EDUCATION: Villanova University School of Law (JD); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (BS, BA) SPECIALTY AREAS: Legal Research and Writing
LEGAL WRITING Communication is the cornerstone of a legal career. From orientation to graduation, no matter what your area of study, Villanova emphasizes legal writing, analysis and research to assure your success beyond Villanova Law.
THE WRITE STUFF A diverse group of prominent legal professionals regularly consult with faculty to ensure that our curriculum
In Villanova’s Legal Writing Program, students are treated like first-year associates. You will manage simulated professional assignments—incorporating tactical thinking, time management and strategic decision-making—that teach you how to think like a lawyer and write like one too.
comprehensively prepares students for life after graduation. This collaboration guarantees that Villanova is on the cutting edge of the rapidly changing landscape
Villanova Law’s innovative approach to legal writing education assures that not only will you be ready to practice your first day on the job—you will be primed for success in the courtroom, the boardroom and beyond.
“Our Legal Writing Program prepares students for actual practice. By providing training in a wide range of professional skills, we make sure Villanova graduates are prepared to excel in the workplace on day one.”
of legal practice and that Villanova students stand out.
Leslie M. Book Director of the Graduate Tax Program and Professor of Law Villanova University School of Law Faculty since 2000 EDUCATION: New York University School of Law (LLM); Stanford Law School (JD); Franklin & Marshall College (BA) SPECIALTY AREAS: Federal Income Tax, Tax Procedure, Tax Policy, Tax Administration
TAX LAW Villanova Law’s nationally ranked Tax Program offers you an experience that few law schools can match, powerfully combining comprehensive course offerings with a renowned federal tax clinic. Our tax faculty—industry leaders with experience at the highest levels of government and the private sector— provide unique perspectives on the ever-changing landscape of the field. In the classroom, you will explore the complexities of Tax Law with a variety of JD and graduate courses, including classes in business tax, tax controversy, estate planning and employee benefits. The Villanova Federal Tax Clinic melds the School’s dedication to public service with practical experience. Students gain real-world client experience, while providing much needed legal service to lower-income taxpayers with disputes before the IRS and in Federal Courts.
TAX CREDITS The Graduate Tax Program brings together the expertise of the School of Law and Villanova School of Business. This interdisciplinary program, which offers externship opportunities with the IRS and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, will broaden and sharpen your understanding of tax law and procedure. JD students interested in specialization can also accelerate the completion of an LLM in Tax.
“One of my favorite things is engaging policymakers through my research in areas such as taxpayer rights and the tax gap. I feel fortunate to have had some small impact on the way academics—and in some cases the IRS—think about these issues.”
The academic offerings and hands-on opportunities offered at Villanova Law will provide you with unparalleled understanding of the intricate dynamics of tax law— and the skills to thrive in practice.
VILLANOVA PROFESSORS LIVE THE LAW Villanova's Criminal Practice faculty members don't just teach the law, they live it. Professors include an international expert on domestic violence prosecutions, Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, Pennsylvania's leading expert on evidence and the City of Philadelphia's District Attorney.
CRIMINAL PRACTICE
Michelle Dempsey
As an Augustinian Catholic community, Villanova University School of Law maintains a strong commitment to focusing on the role of law to serve the common good. Within the Criminal Practice Program, this means approaching the course materials through the lens of protecting the innocent and emphasizing respect for human dignity.
Villanova University School of Law Faculty since 2009
The Criminal Practice Program digs into challenging and controversial subject areas such as race, gender and class, and their impact on the justice system. Externships, workshops and other experiential learning opportunities ground your knowledge in real world experience. As part of Villanova’s annual Sentencing Workshop, you will study real cases with judges, criminal lawyers and members of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole for an in-depth, for a behind-the-scenes look at how decisions are made. A myriad of course offerings, coupled with the diverse backgrounds of our faculty, provides broad experience and a compassionate perspective—allowing you to apply your legal knowledge to help make the criminal justice system live up to its name.
Professor of Law
EDUCATION: University of Oxford (DPhil); London School of Economics (LLM); University of Michigan Law School (JD); University of Illinois (BA) SPECIALTY AREAS: Criminal Law, Jurisprudence, Feminist Legal Theory
“Teaching aspiring lawyers the skills of legal reasoning and argumentation provides them with the tools to go out and serve humanity, and challenge injustice in society.”
Villanova University School of Law Faculty since 1999
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW
EDUCATION: London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LLM); New York University School of Law (JD); New York University (BA)
As legal practice becomes increasingly transnational, lawyers face issues of international law regardless of their specialty. Whether you are interested in practicing international law or simply want a solid foundation, Villanova offers a comprehensive program that prepares you for the global marketplace.
Ruth Gordon Professor of Law
SPECIALTY AREAS: International Law, International Trade and Investment, International Environmental Law
Villanova’s International and Comparative Law Program trains students to be fluent in multiple legal systems. The broad curriculum includes international law clinics in which students represent real clients faced with real legal issues. With Villanova’s dual degree program, you can earn both a Villanova JD and an LLM from an international university in approximately three years.
VILLANOVA CARES In the Clinic for Asylum, Refugee and Emigrant Services (CARES), second- and third-year students represent refugees who have fled human rights abuses in their home countries and seek religious or political asylum in the United States. Working in pairs, CARES students develop asylum cases and represent clients before an Immigration Judge.
“At Villanova, we offer fundamental training in international law as well as hands-on opportunities that enhance the law school experience. Our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in a globalized world.”
Not only do these global opportunities broaden the law school experience, they also position you for even greater success in your legal career.
Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. Founded in 1953, the Villanova University School of Law tradition is rooted in academic excellence, academic freedom, inclusion and respect for human dignity. The Law School provides broad-based legal education, and its award-winning clinics and Lawyering Together Program provide free legal aid to those in need.
“The degree to which you are concerned for the common
The School is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association
good rather than for your own is the criterion by which
of American Law Schools.
you can judge how much progress you have made.”
Notable alumni include Hon. Edward Rendell (Former Governor of Pennsylvania); Hon. Marjorie
—St. Augustine
Rendell (Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit); Hon. Kelly Ayotte (U.S. Senator, New Hampshire); Richard Trumka (President, AFL-CIO); Joseph T. Sebastianelli (President and CEO, Jefferson Health Systems); Michael R. Haswell (Head of Business Development, Google); David C. Chavern (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce); and Jeffrey S. Moorad (Vice Chairman, San Diego Padres).
Villanova University School of Law 299 North Spring Mill Road Villanova, PA 19085 610.519.7000 www.law.villanova.edu