The Sturm College of Law ("Denver Law") of University of Denver is one of two law schools in the state of Colorado. Founded in 1892, the Sturm College of Law is one of the first in America's Mountain West. The college is located on the University of Denver's main campus, about seven miles south of downtown Denver. According to Denver Law's 2013 ABA-required disclosures, 54.1% of the Class of 2013 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.
History
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law - The Experience is the Advantage at Denver Law.
The University of Denver College of Law opened 1892, . A separate college, the Westminster Law School was founded in 1912 and merged with the University of Denver College of Law in 1957. It provided the only evening program west of Kansas City.. One term of the merger required the development of an evening program at the College of Law. In addition, the law library was named the Westminster Law Library
Sturm namesake
The Sturm College of Law is named for Donald L. Sturm, owner of Denver-based American National Bank, who gave the College of Law $20 million in 2003
Campus
Since the fall of 2003, the Sturm College of Law has resided in the Frank H. Ricketson Jr. Law Building located on the University Park campus near the Ritchie Center. The new facility is distinguished as the nation’s first certified “green†law building, having been awarded the Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Academics
Academic reputation
The University of Denver is currently ranked 76th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. According to the 2014 U.S. News Peer Reputation Rankings the University of Denver Sturm College of Law currently ranks 55th in the nation out of 194 ranked law schools.
The school was ranked 40th for public interest law by the National Jurist. To support this initiative, the Sturm College of Law offers the Chancellor’s Scholar Program with full tuition scholarships awarded to selected students . Every Juris Doctor student is required to perform a minimum of 50 hours of supervised, uncompensated, law-related public service work as a prerequisite for graduation.
Clinical programs
- Civil Litigation Clinic
- Civil Rights Clinic
- Criminal Representation Clinic
- Environmental Law Clinic
- Community Economic Development Clinic (transactional clinic)
The University of Denver is the home of the first clinical programs in the nation, founded in 1904.
Trial advocacy
The University of Denver has a program in trial advocacy. The school sponsors several traveling trial teams including:
- The ABA Trial Team
- The AAJ Trial Team
- The Jessup Moot Court Team (competes in international law)
- The Vis Moot Court Team (competes in international commercial arbitration)
Additionally, the University hosts several intra school Moot Court Competitions with most open to all students, including 1Ls.
- Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons Negotiations Competition
- Daniel S. Hoffman Trial Advocacy Competition
- Ved P. Nanda International Appellate Advocacy Competition
- Client Counseling Competition
- Peter H. Holme, Jr. Barrister’s Cup Appellate Advocacy Competition
- Honorable Phillip S. Figa Motions Competition
The STLA (Student Trial Lawyers Association) is the largest student run organization on campus and was recently chosen by Sturm College of Law Students as the year's most "Outstanding Student Organization." The organization hosts several mock trial rounds and is open to all students It is a non-competitive environment designed for educational and networking purposes.
Employment statistics
54.1% of the Class of 2013 were known to be employed in long-term, full-time legal jobs (excepting solo practitioners) nine months after graduation. 31% of the Class of 2011 were employed in part-time or short-term jobs, unemployed and seeking employment or pursuing additional education. The employment status of 1.4% of the Class of 2011 was unknown. 0.7% of the Class of 2011 obtained a federal clerkship. 4.5% of the Class of 2011 were known to be employed in law firms of 101 attorneys or more. 18.1% of the Class of 2011 were known to be employed in full-time, long-term government or public interest jobs. 9.8% of the Class of 2011 were employed in school funded jobs. 37.3% of the Class of 2011 reported a full-time salary.
Costs
Tuition for the 2014-15 academic year is $42,120 for full-time students and $30,888 for part-time students. The total cost of attendance including tuition, fees and living expenses is $60,951 for full-time students and $49,687 for part-time students.
Law School Transparency calculates that the total debt-financed full cost of attendance for students in the Class of 2016, who do not receive tuition discounts (scholarships), to be $208,407. Law School Transparency projects that the monthly payment for the 10-year plan to be $2,477.
For full-time students in the class of 2016, Law School Transparency estimates that the total debt-financed cost of attendance for students who do not receive any scholarships is $208,407. This cost includes the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses for 3 years, and the cost of student loan interest accrued over this time.
In the 2013-14 academic year, 46% of students received scholarships and the average scholarship award was $21,000. Average indebtedness for 2013 graduates who borrowed at least 1 loan was $130,981.
Notable alumni
- Wilbur M. Alter, Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court
- Shahzada Jamal Nazir, former Federal Minister for the ministries of National Health Services, Religious Affairs, National Heritage & Integration and National Harmony, Government of Pakistan (largest portfolio in interim 2013 cabinet); and also former Adviser/Minister of State for the Government of Pakistan under Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani.
- Wayne N. Aspinall, former Congressman from Colorado
- Charles Brannan, former Secretary of Agriculture
- Robyn Brody, associate justice of the Idaho Supreme Court
- Terrance Carroll, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
- Peter Domenici, Senator from New Mexico
- Chase Iron Eyes, Lakota lawyer and founder of Last Real Indians, from Standing Rock Indian Reservation
- William D. Ford, former United States Congressman from Michigan
- Rebecca Ann King, former Miss America
- Paul Laxalt, Former Governor of Nevada and Senator from Nevada
- Valentino Mazzia (1922â€"1999), forensic anesthesiologist.
- Mike McKevitt, former United States Congressman from Colorado
- Harry N. MacLean, 1967, true crime author and also an adjunct professor at the school
- Larry Mizel, philanthropist and founder of MDC Holdings, one of the nation's largest homebuilders
- Ostis Otto Moore, Justice on the Colorado Supreme Court
- Jim Nicholson, former Secretary of Veteran Affairs
- Gale Norton, former Secretary of the Interior
- Byron G. Rogers, former United States Congressman from Colorado
- Andrew Romanoff, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
- Karl C. Schuyler, former Senator from Colorado
- Alvin Wiederspahn (1949-2014), member of both houses of the Wyoming State Legislature; was an attorney in Cheyenne
- Ashlie Brillault, former Lizzie McGuire and The Lizzie McGuire Movie actress.
Publications
- Denver University Law Review
- Denver Journal of International Law and Policy
- Sports and Entertainment Law Journal
- Transportation Law Journal
- University of Denver Criminal Law Review
- Race to the Bottom Blog
- University of Denver Water Law Review
References
External links
- Sturm College of Law (official website)
