Student Life
Enrichment Program
GW Law supplements and enriches its diverse programs by bringing to the school eminent legal scholars, judges, distinguished members of the bar, members of Congress, and high-level government officials to offer lectures and informal seminars with students and faculty.
Participants in the Enrichment Program have included columnist Anthony Lewis; Supreme Court Justices Lewis Powell, Antonin Scalia, Sandra Day O’Connor, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan; Senator Bill Bradley; Judge Richard Posner of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; author Scott Turow; attorney Alan Dershowitz; and Treasury Secretary John W. Snow.
The Enrichment Program, funded largely by gifts from alumni and friends of the law school, includes five endowed lectureships and a visiting scholar program. The endowed lectureships are the Manuel F. Cohen Memorial Lecture, the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Lectures, the Susan N. and Augustus diZerega, Jr. Lecture, the Brand–Manatt Lecture, and the Shulman Foundation Lecture.
Publications
- The George Washington Law Review
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The George Washington Law Review, published six times a year, is edited and managed by the students of the law school. The Law Review is known for its emphasis on federal and public law; however, it also is devoted to research in other important legal areas. The staff of the Law Review is selected on the basis of grades and a writing competition. The editorial board is selected from those students who have successfully completed the first year of Law Review work.
- The George Washington International Law Review
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The George Washington International Law Review is managed and edited by law students. It presents articles and commentaries on public and private international financial development, comparative law, and international law. The staff of the International Law Review is selected on the basis of criteria identical to those used by the Law Review.
- The American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal
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The American Intellectual Property Law Association Quarterly Journal is a peer-reviewed journal produced jointly by the law school and the AIPLA. The journal is published four times per year and is edited and managed by JD students under the direction of the editor-in-chief, Professor Joan Schaffner. The student staff of the journal is selected based on a writing competition and grades. The student editorial board is selected from those students who have successfully completed the first year of journal work based on a competition and interview.
- The Public Contract Law Journal
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The Public Contract Law Journal is produced jointly by the law school and the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association. The journal is published quarterly and is edited and managed by JD students. The selection criteria for JD staff members are similar to those used by the Law Review.
- The Journal of Energy and Environmental Law
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The Journal of Energy and Environmental Law is produced in collaboration with the Environmental Law Institute and is published three times each year. The journal focuses on legal issues related to next-generation energy production and distribution and on environmental and climate law issues related to the production of energy. Selection criteria for JD staff members are similar to those used by the Law Review. LLM students submit a resume, writing sample, and a statement of interest to be considered for membership.
- International Law in Domestic Courts
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International Law in Domestic Courts is an online journal of the Oxford University Press. Student staff members propose cases in which international legal issues have played a significant role in domestic court proceedings. The student staff is selected on the basis of criteria identical to those used by the Law Review.
- The Federal Circuit Bar Journal
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The Federal Circuit Bar Journal is produced jointly by the law school and the Federal Circuit Bar. The journal is published quarterly and is edited and managed by JD and LLM students. The selection criteria for JD staff members are similar to those used by the Law Review. LLM students submit a resume, writing sample, and a personal statement to be considered for membership.
- The Federal Communications Law Journal
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The Federal Communications Law Journal is produced by the law school in collaboration with the Federal Communications Bar Association. The journal is published three times a year, and is managed and edited by law students. The staff of the Federal Communications Law Journal is selected on the basis of criteria identical to those used by the Law Review.
- The George Washington Business and Finance Law Review
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The George Washington Business and Finance Law Review is managed and edited by law students. It presents articles and commentaries on a range of legal topics related to economics, business, and finance. The staff of the Business and Finance Law Review is selected on the basis of criteria identical to those used by the Law Review.
Advocacy and Skill Boards
Each year, the law school holds 15 different competitions in the areas of alternative dispute resolution, trial advocacy, and appellate advocacy. The law school’s student-managed Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Board, Mock Trial Board, and Moot Court Board are dedicated to the promotion and development of these skills among the student body.
The ADR Board administers client counseling, negotiation, and international arbitration competitions at the law school and sends student teams to interscholastic competitions in the U.S. and abroad, including Austria, China, and Germany.
The Mock Trial Board sponsors civil and criminal intrascholastic trial competitions and sends student teams to interscholastic trial competitions nationwide. The Mock Trial Board also hosts the annual interscholastic Estrella Trial Advocacy Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Moot Court Board administers intrascholastic, appellate-level competitions in the fields of constitutional law, international law, and intellectual property law. The Moot Court Board also selects and sponsors students to represent the school at interscholastic competitions around the world, including India, and sponsors inter- scholastic competitions, such as the Philip C. Jessup Mid-Atlantic International Law Super-Regional, and the National Veterans Law Moot Court. In addition, faculty and students at the law school sponsor interscholastic moot court competitions in the areas of government contracts and religious freedom.
Professional Development: Inns of Court and Foundations of Practice Programs
The law school is distinguished by its culture of professional development. In 2018, it received the E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award from the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism for the Inns of Court and Foundations of Practice Programs. These voluntary professional development programs are designed to guide students’ professional formation by encouraging the transition from law student to competent and self-directed lawyer. The programs’ varied components help students to build the foundational competencies required for success and satisfaction in the legal profession and to serve clients and the legal system.
First-year students are assigned to one of six Inns of Court led by an advisory team of faculty, administrators, students, and staff. Students meet weekly with their Inn of Court advisors and invited speakers to discuss topics that fall under the broad umbrella of professional development. These topics, which are not taught in the typical doctrinal courses, include building professional skills and relationships, increasing self-awareness, and promoting well-being. The program receives guidance from an advisory council of experts in lawyer professional development.
The Foundations of Practice Program encourages students to engage in learning beyond the classroom to further their career goals. First-year students who attend Inns of Court sessions, as well as complete other requirements such as Writing Center conferences, Career Center workshops and individual counseling sessions, health and wellness programs, cultural competency programs, and advice from practicing attorneys, are awarded the Dean’s Recognition for Professional Development in recognition of their commitment to self-directed professional development.
Upper-level students may continue their self-directed professional development and strengthen the skills they began to cultivate as 1Ls. The upper-level Foundations of Practice Program features a more flexible set of requirements, enabling students to tailor their participation based on their individual career goals and interests. Students who complete the upper-level program requirements by graduation are awarded the Dean’s Commendation for Advanced Professional Development.
Law Student Organizations
The student organizations at GW Law are truly exceptional, fostering a vibrant and engaging academic community. These groups provide invaluable opportunities for networking, skill development, and collaboration among passionate and driven law students. The diverse range of organizations ensures that every student can find a meaningful and enriching experience that complements their legal education at GW.
View Full List of Student Organizations