A Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Wilmington University School of Law.

It is a privilege to serve as dean during a defining moment in our journey. We recently received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association, an achievement that affirms the strength of our program and enables our graduates to sit for any ABA-certified bar exam nationwide. This milestone reflects the heart, grit, and shared belief that our students deserve access to an affordable, practical, and quality legal education, one that prepares them for the bar exam and makes them practice-ready.

Here, legal education is rigorous, real-world, and rooted in service. Our students are already gaining valuable experience through internships, externships, and clerkships. From building student-led organizations, such as the Law Review and the Student Bar Association, to joining mock trial and moot court teams and establishing peer networks, they are helping to shape the culture of our law school and the broader legal profession.

What makes WilmU Law distinct isn’t just what we teach; it’s how and why. Our faculty and staff are dedicated educators, mentors, and advocates who believe deeply in the law’s mission and capacity to serve the public good. We teach the fundamentals, of course—bar readiness is central to our mission—but we also teach students to think about the law in context: its impact and its power, and how to analyze and apply the law to their clients’ situations.

We’re grateful and fortunate to have the support of the Delaware Bench and Bar, as well as legal professionals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, who continue to offer time, mentorship, and opportunities for our students. It is heartening to see how the legal community has welcomed our students. With their mentors, students attend various firm events, Bar Association events, and Inns of Court meetings. 

If you’re searching for a law school that combines practical preparation with purpose-driven learning, I encourage you to explore what we’re building at Wilmington University. We’re committed to developing lawyers who are prepared for the challenge of legal practice, compassionate, ethical, and ready to serve their communities with expertise, skill, integrity, and resolve.

I look forward to meeting you and learning more about the difference you hope to make. Let us help you achieve it.

Sincerely,
Hon. Jan R. Jurden (Ret.)
Dean, Wilmington University School of Law