Temple University Beasley School of Law: A Comprehensive Overview of Programs and Rankings

Temple University's James E. Beasley School of Law, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers a diverse range of programs and has consistently achieved strong rankings, making it a notable institution for legal education. Founded in the late nineteenth century, Temple Law is known for its commitment to practical learning, skills classes, and clinical experiences. The school aims to provide an enjoyable and hands-on environment for studying law.

Strong Rankings and Recognition

Temple Law School has consistently received recognition for its strong programs and commitment to student success. In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Law School Rankings, Temple Law rose four spots to #50. Several of its specialty programs have also been highly ranked.

Specifically, the school's health care and international law programs both climbed to the #13 spot, marking the highest ranking ever for health care law at Temple. The trial advocacy program has been ranked in the top three every year since U.S. News began ranking the specialty program. In the 2023-2024 U.S. News and World Report overall ranking, Temple Law School was ranked #54. Several specialty programs were also ranked, including Trial Advocacy (#2), International Law (#10), Health Care Law (#17), and Legal Writing (#25).

Dean Rachel Rebouché emphasized the faculty's focus on student success and the integration of scholarship, teaching, and service in delivering a world-class legal education. She also highlighted the essential role of the part-time program in Temple Law’s mission of excellence and access, noting the wealth of experience and perspective that returning students bring to the community.

Academic Programs and Specializations

Temple Law offers a comprehensive range of programs and courses, including:

Clinical Training
Dispute Resolution
Environmental Law
Health Care Law
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
Business/Corporate Law
Constitutional Law
Contracts/Commercial Law
Criminal Law

The school's commitment to practical experience is evident through its hands-on courses. Temple Law "helps students find internships for the summers or for the academic year, even giving students a chance to earn academic credit for unpaid internships." The heavy emphasis on practical experience means that by the time a student graduates, they likely have had "two summer internships, a part-time legal job or internship during the school year, and have been exposed to many areas of law in school."

LL.M. Programs

Temple Law offers several LL.M. (Master of Laws) programs designed to cater to different career goals and specializations:

LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers: This program is equivalent to a "General" or "Traditional" LL.M. and allows international lawyers to design their own curriculum from over 180 courses in American and international law. It requires 24 credit hours of coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.0. The program can be completed in two semesters, and is offered in Philadelphia, Tokyo, and Beijing.
LL.M. in Trial Advocacy: This program focuses on developing essential skills in both civil and criminal litigation.
LL.M. in Transnational Law: This program explores the complexities of law in a global context.
LL.M. in Asian Law: Designed for J.D. holders and students interested in the law of Asian countries, particularly China, Japan, and India. The program includes a semester at the Philadelphia campus followed by a semester at Temple University Japan in Tokyo, Jindal Global Law School in India, or Tsinghua University Law School in Beijing, China.
Online LL.M. in International Business Law: This program offers a flexible online learning environment for those interested in international business law.
General LL.M.: A general studies LL.M. program for foreign-trained lawyers. Students can design their own curriculum from more than 180 courses offered annually in American and international law.

Other Graduate Programs

Graduate Tax Program: Provides a strong foundation in tax law and the opportunity to develop expertise beyond the J.D. level. Candidates must complete 24 credit hours of coursework, including core requirements and a writing seminar.
Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.): A research-oriented degree program for those seeking careers as law teachers and scholars.
Estate Planning and Employee Benefits Certificates: Offered through the Graduate Tax Program for practitioners not pursuing an LL.M. degree.

A Focus on Practical Skills and Advocacy

Temple Law places a strong emphasis on practical skills and advocacy training. The trial advocacy department is highly regarded, providing students with the opportunity to gain essential skills in both civil and criminal litigation. According to Director of Advocacy Programs Jules Epstein, this strength translates to job readiness and an excellent reputation among lawyers and judges.

The school also has a Federal Judicial Clinical program that places 3L students in a Federal Judge's chambers, allowing them to do substantive legal work on real cases.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Temple Law offers study abroad programs in Rome and Tokyo, open to students from any ABA-approved law school. These programs allow students to earn credits towards their J.D. or joint JD/LL.M. degrees. The Rome program is a summer session, while the Tokyo program is a spring semester at Temple University Japan.

Read also: Is Temple a Good Fit?

Admissions and Student Life

The James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University has an application deadline of March 1. The application fee is $65 for both full-time and part-time programs. Admission is competitive, with a 39.40% acceptance rate for the fall 2023 entering class. The median GPA for the fall 2024 class was 3.67, and the median LSAT score was 163.

Temple Law has a very strong sense of community. LL.M. students actively participate in student organizations, events, and social activities, forming bonds with other LL.M. and J.D. students. The Office of Graduate and International Programs hosts social events throughout the year, including happy hours, networking receptions, tea tasting lessons, and meals.

While most law students do not live on campus, there are specific neighborhoods in which students concentrate. Day students are typically in their twenties or thirties, and there is a sense of community among evening students as well.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for the full-time program is $32,843 (in-state) and $49,077 (out-of-state). Part-time tuition is $26,581 (in-state) and $39,577 (out-of-state). Temple Law offers partial tuition scholarships based on need and merit. The amount of any award offered will only be indicated after a final admissions decision has been made.

Career Opportunities and Bar Passage Rates

Temple Law graduates have achieved impressive employment outcomes. 95.5% of the Class of 2024 was employed ten months after graduation, the highest percentage since the ABA began collecting employment data. 95.2% of the Class of 2023 was employed in fulltime, long term, JD advantage or bar required jobs.

Read also: Affording Temple

In terms of bar passage rates, 90.57% of Temple Law graduates taking the Pennsylvania bar exam for the first time passed, the highest mark in eleven years. As a result, Temple Law produced more new Pennsylvania lawyers than any other law school.

Notable Alumni

Temple Law has produced numerous successful alumni, including:

Edward G. Biester, Jr.
Kristen Gibbons Feden (2009) - Prosecuting attorney on Andrea Constand v. William H. Cosby, Jr.
Thomas M. Mitchell
S. Martin A.
Herbert J.
Melanie B.
George R.
Barbara S.
Robert F.
Chad F.
Jose L.
Mary M.
Joseph J.
John W. Lord Jr.
James P.
Patricia A.
Cecil B.
James M.
John R.
Christopher L.
Lowell A. Reed Jr.
Timothy J.
Albert W. Sheppard, Jr.
Martin J.
Richard A.
William Henry Stafford Jr.
John F.
Petrese B.
Franklin S.
Charles R.
Lloyd H.

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