From the development of its first curriculum in 1859, Michigan Law has been steadfast in its commitment to providing a legal education that is both analytical and pragmatic. This comprehensive approach imbues students not only with substantive knowledge of the history, structures, and principles of the law, but also its conceptual and practical applications. This design provides students with the tools for technical proficiency and the development of exceptional professional judgment.
Michigan Law also pioneered the idea of interdisciplinarity—that abstract and applied understanding of the law are both best achieved by melding perspectives from several disciplines (in 1896, the Law School offered a course in Neurology, Electrology, and Railway Injuries)—and was one of the first law schools to recognize and adapt its curriculum to the requirements of an increasingly global profession.
And while legal education has evolved over the more than 150 years of the Law School’s existence— from clerk-apprenticeships, to the case-study method that still dominates doctrinal coursework, to the blossoming of clinics and experiential learning opportunities—Michigan Law has remained remarkably consistent in its values and focus, even as it transforms itself in answer to evolving demands of the legal profession.
Our pedagogical objectives are to offer excellent instruction across a broad range of legal disciplines, to provide you with all the tools you need to become effective and successful legal professionals, and to foster the perspectives and experiences that will guide you toward a full and rewarding life in the law. But perhaps most emblematic of Michigan Law is its intimate and collaborative community of students, scholars, and practitioners. Michigan Law provides more than just a legal education.
The foundation, experience, and connections you develop here will serve you wherever life takes you.