George Washington law school works in association with animal law litigation project and the humane society of the united states.

1. LAW SCHOOL PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
The George Washington University Law School,
Washington, DC
[By Devon Pryor]
Our featured law school this week is The George Washington University Law School, located in Washington, DC. GW
Law, as it is commonly referred to, was the first law school in the District of Columbia. It was founded in 1825 but was
forced to close due to financial hardship only a year after its founding, in 1826. Nearly 40 years later, the law school
reopened and became the foundation for the development of the rest of The George Washington University. Since enrolling
its first official class in 1865, The George Washington University Law School has built a reputation for excellence and
churned out many well-respected figures in the legal profession; the school continues its success today as one of the top 20
law schools in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.
As one of the oldest law schools in Washington University and was awarded opportunities for students to assemble
the country, The George Washington the George Washington University Law and interact in the contexts of various
University Law School has had many Association’s “Distinguished Alumnus” legal topics. Among these organizations
years to establish a solid reputation. In award in 1975. The library upholds the is the Student Animal Legal Defense
the year 1900, the law school played an highly-regarded reputation of its namesake Fund (SALDF), which has advocated for
instrumental role in establishing the by providing extensive legal and law- animal welfare and works in association
Association of American Law Schools. In related databases with information about with the Animal Law Litigation Project
1936, it was declared an official graduate U.S. national, international, and foreign and The Humane Society of the United
school, allowing it to award Juris Doctor laws. The library also holds a wealth of States. The Anarchist Collective (GWLAC)
degrees. information related to the school’s major states their objectives as giving voice to
law programs, including its environmental anti-tyrannical social ideals and providing
Well-known alumni of The George law, intellectual property law, and a forum for a freely discursive populace.
Washington University Law School include federal government programs, as well as The Culture of Life Society offers pro-life
Belva Lockwood, the first woman to material about growing areas of focus, students chances to debate stem cell
argue before the Supreme Court, and such as international organizations and research, abortion, and death penalty
Leon Jaworski. According to online international human rights. issues. The Moot Court Board sponsors
information source Wikipedia, Jaworski legal debate competitions internally
was the youngest person ever admitted In addition to these essential library among students; it also sponsors teams
to the Texas bar, and he participated accoutrements, the Jacob Burns Law who compete in other schools around
as Special Prosecutor in the Watergate Library also holds many precious artifacts, the nation. GW Law’s Moot Court Board
case against former President Richard some of which are particularly interesting judges competitors based on written
Nixon. Distinguished legal professionals to us as we celebrate Halloween. The appellate briefs and oral arguments. The
regularly address the law school’s special collections department of the top 10% of competitors are usually invited
graduating class. Recent speakers library holds more than 10,000 rare to join the Moot Court Board.
include Sandra Day O’Connor, the first books, incunabula, and manuscripts. Two
female Associate Justice of the Supreme such incunabula are editions of Malleus Students at The George Washington
Court, and Antonin Scalia, who is currently Maleficarum (The Witch Hammer) that University Law School are not alone in
serving as Associate Justice of the date back to the years 1494 and 1500. their passions to express their legal views
Supreme Court. The library’s website announces plans to and opinions. Many professors at the
develop a number of special collections school are notably involved in the media,
Among the facilities at The George web pages, including one called “Trials: expressing their opinions in well-respected
Washington University Law School is Witchcraft, Heresy, and the Inquisition.” print media publications and weighing in
the Jacob Burns Law Library. As the on legal issues that are prominent in the
university’s website explains, Burns, The law school at The George Washington public consciousness. In October of this
a 1942 graduate of GW Law, served on University also features a number of year, Professor Jonathan Turley wrote and
the board of directors at The George student organizations. These provide contributed an Op-Ed piece for the Los
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2. LAW SCHOOL PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Angeles Times addressing the overcrowded courts. Steinhardt suggested that, due to ON THE NET
prison system in the United States. In confusion surrounding the applicability of
The George Washington University Law
this piece, Turley discussed the possibility international law in domestic cases, law
School
of removing prisoners who were elderly schools may need to elevate the status
www.law.gwu.edu/default.htm
and considered low-risk. In a September of international law education within the
2006 edition of Legal Times, Professor curriculum, where it is currently designated Wikipedia
Ralph Steinhardt weighed in on issues as an upper-level elective. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
surrounding the Supreme Court case of
The Association of American Law Schools
Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, which focused on the
www.aals.org
applicability of international law in domestic
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