The Gonzaga University School of Law (also known as Gonzaga Law or GU Law) is the professional school for the study of law at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Established in 1912, the Jesuit-affiliated law school has been fully accredited by the American Bar Association since 1951, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Alumni of Gonzaga University School of Law practice in all 50 U.S. states, as well as various associated states and foreign countries.
Situated on the southern edge of Gonzaga University's campus, the Gonzaga University School of Law building includes the Chastek Law Library, University Legal Assistance, and the Barbieri Courtroom. The school awards the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and an Accelerated Two-Year J.D. and has a student body of approximately 350 students. It also offers dual degrees—including the Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration (J.D./MBA), the Juris Doctor and Master of Accountancy (J.D./M.Acc.), the Juris Doctor and Master of Science in Taxation (J.D./M.S.Tax) and the Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work (J.D./M.S.W.) The school's location in Spokane, the largest city in the Inland Northwest, allows students to take advantage of internships with private firms, government and not-for-profit agencies, and opportunities with both federal and state courts. Spokane is home to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington within the appellate jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Campus & history
Gonzaga University was established in 1887 as a private, Jesuit institution. By 1912, the leadership of the university opened a law school program. Founded on the motto "A First Class Law School, or None at All," Gonzaga University School of Law opened its doors on October 1, 1912. Two classrooms on the third floor of the Administration Building were provided for the law school. The school's first dean was Edward J. Cannon. In June 1915, Gonzaga University School of Law graduated its first law class of 13 students.
During the first half of the 20th century, the law school continued to expand its enrollment and curriculum, and by the 1960s, the school had outgrown its facilities. Gonzaga University President Father John Leary, S.J., acquired a nearby vacant grade school in July 1962 for the law school. The former Webster School was originally built in 1901, was the victim of a fire in 1945, and was subsequently restored as a trade school. The former Webster School would house the law school for the next thirty-eight years.
In the 1970s, the law school experienced explosive growth, and the law school building underwent several renovations. In 1974, it opened one of the country's first legal clinics. By the 1990s, the law school occupied the old Webster school along with several adjacent buildings. Under Dean John Clute, fundraising was begun to build a new law school building. The class of 2000 was the last to graduate from the old law building. In late May 2000, the new Gonzaga University School of Law building, located on the banks of the Spokane River, opened its doors. The new building is , and was completed at a cost of $18.5 million. The Law School houses the Barbieri Courtroom which has been used on multiple occasions by both the Washington Supreme Court and the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to hear oral arguments. It also houses the large Chastek Law Library, which houses more than 380,000 volumes and is part of the Federal Depository Library Program. In 2012, the law school celebrated its centennial.
Admissions
In 2019, the school enrolled 140 students in the 1L class. The median GPA was 3.41 and the median LSAT score was 154.
Underrepresented ethnic minorities comprised 16 percent of the 1L class. In 2017, The National Jurist magazine's pre-law magazine named GU Law the #3 Top School for Latter-day Saint students and the #6 Most Devout Catholic Law School. GU Law consistently ranks within the top five schools for Latter-day Saint students and the top ten schools for devout Catholic students. It is also a Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Diversity Matters: Top 10 school.
Ranking and honors
U.S. News & World Report ranked Gonzaga University School of Law: #56 (Survey of Highly Regarded American Law Firms) (2012) #99 overall (2024) #113 (Peer Reputation Ranking) (2018)
The National Jurist ranked Gonzaga University School of Law: 'A' Best Law School Buildings (2018) 'B+' Top 37 Law Schools for Practical Training (2018, 2016) 'B+' Top 40 Law Schools for Small Law (2015) #3 Top School of Latter-day Saints (2017, 2013) #6 Most Devout School for Catholics (2017)