Empowered to Lead. Prepared for What's Next.
Our Law School’s mission is to educate lawyers in the ethical practice of law, to preserve the highest ideals
of our profession, and to promote equal justice and democratic discourse through leadership,
service and civic engagement. Rooted in our Catholic and Spiritan tradition, we believe
that education is a pathway to empowerment, and we have welcomed all faiths and backgrounds
since our inception. Situated on the bluff overlooking downtown Pittsburgh, we are steps away from laws
firms, courthouses, businesses and government offices providing students with clinical, externship, and employment opportunities. Our Career Services Office provides individualized support for students to gain practical experience and connects
them with our nearly 10,000 alumni. Through our innovative offerings and our Legal Research and Writing Program students receive the core skills necessary to be successful new attorneys. Our curriculum
emphasizes other necessary proficiencies such as professionalism, ethics, and the
responsible use of generative AI. Preparing our students for their legal careers, our Bar Studies team applies strategies that continue to place our bar passage rate well above the national average. That success contributes to an employment rate that consistently exceeds the national average. By coming to Duquesne Kline School of Law our students are empowered to lead, committed
to serve, and prepared for practice so they can impact our society in profound ways.
Our motto "Salus populi suprema lex"-"The welfare of the people is the highest
law" is part of our mission to educate our lawyers to preserve the highest ideals
of our profession.
Outcomes Matter
Student Centered Approach to Legal Education
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Be the first to know about everything related to the Duquesne Kline School of Law – from insightful information about our programs and the application process to updates on upcoming admissions events.
There is one factor that distinguishes our law school, and that, quite simply, is the fact that we are part of Duquesne University, a Catholic institution dedicated to moral, ethical and spiritual values. In an era when ethical concerns are among the most important questions facing the legal profession, the Duquesne Kline School of Law reflects the University's unique and historical emphasis on justice and service to others.
Becoming a lawyer opens career possibilities. From government to business to private practice, there are many different career routes for you to choose with a law degree. Our diverse and innovative programs are designed to turn your goals into reality.
The Thomas R. Kline Center for Judicial Education supports the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in its ongoing efforts to enhance the administration of justice through high quality continuing education for judges of the Commonwealth.
Duquesne Kline School of Law is ranked 6th in the nation as a "Top Law School for Bar Passage” because our graduates consistently outperform national bar averages. Through academic rigor and individualized attention, we prepare our graduates for success on the Bar exam.
More than 100 years ago, Duquesne Kline School of Law was founded by our Spiritan order as an evening program, with the goal of providing access to a legal education to working families. We remain committed to that initial call for flexibility and opportunity and continue to complement the lives of non-traditional students with flexible offerings.
Our flexible evening JD program provides the opportunity for legal education for working professionals and those with other commitments. Duquesne Kline School of Law has the only evening program in the Pittsburgh area offering students from varying backgrounds and experiences the ability to pursue a part-time Juris Doctor degree.
We offer the legal community a variety of CLE opportunities throughout the year. These programs provide a mix of topics, from re-examination of fundamental principles to the exploration of cutting-edge legal issues. We also partner with leading companies, organizations, and firms to present day-long conferences.
Our ABA approved Paralegal Institute offers a fully online certificate focused on Paralegal Studies to provide confidence, connections, practical skills—and an enhanced resume—to start or advance a career in the legal community.
Joseph A. Katarincic Chair of Legal Process and Civil Procedure and Associate Professor of Law
Dean and Professor of Law
Intellectual Property Expert in Residence
Distinguished Executive in Residence
Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Education, Director of the Youth Advocacy Clinic, Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education
Associate Professor of Legal Skills
Assistant Professor of Law
Duquesne University President and Professor of Law
Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship and Associate Professor of Law
Assistant Professor of Law
Professor of Law
Distinguished Faculty Fellow
Associate Professor of Law
Distinguished Faculty Fellow
Associate Dean for Students and Associate Professor of Legal Skills
Distinguished Lecturer of Law
Professor of Law
Associate Professor of Law
Director of Bar Studies and Associate Professor of Law
Associate Professor of Law, Associate Professor of Political Science
Assistant Professor of Law
Assistant Professor of Law
Associate Director of Bar Studies and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills
Assistant Professor of Law
Associate Professor of Law
Director of Academic Excellence and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills
Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship, Director of Clinical and International Programs and Associate Professor of Law
Director of the JD/MBA Program and Assistant Professor of Law
Law and Computing Program Director, Marie-Clement Rodier, C.Sp. Endowed Chair and Professor of Law
Associate Professor of Law
Chief Justice Emeritus and Kline Center Jurist-in-Residence
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Law
Associate Professor of Law
Associate Dean for Strategic Academic Programs and Associate Professor of Law
Professor Emeritus
Dean Emeritus
Professor Emerita
Professor Emerita
Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus
Professor Emerita, Carol Los Mansmann Chair in Faculty Scholarship Emerita
Professor Emeritus
Professor Emerita
Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has entered seemingly every field, with the law being no exception. To bridge the gap between legal education and modern law, the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University recently launched an innovative partnership with the practicing legal community to educate firms about AI and how to ethically and practically implement it.
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University consistently remains highly ranked and nationally acclaimed in “Professor Accessibility” and “Career”, two areas that directly benefit its law students. For the second year in a row, Duquesne Kline School of Law ranks in the top 10 for “Professor Accessibility,” and rose to a top 40 rank for “Career” outcomes. These exceptional ranks from the TaxProf Blog are based on the recently released 2025 Princeton Review Law School ratings. The ratings are out of 168 law schools in the United States.
Allison Ware, L’20, recently joined the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University as an associate director of clinical programs and assistant professor. She began her appointment teaching in the Landlord Tenant Clinic on July 1, 2025. Ware, whose experience includes serving as an Allegheny County public defender and as a staff attorney at a Pittsburgh law firm, will utilize that knowledge in her clinical work and pedagogy at Duquesne Kline School of Law, while incorporating its mission.
All law students are invited to attend a Lawyers on Location program with Burns White. Attorneys from Burns White will be there to answer questions, give advice, and offer suggestions for you as you plan your legal career. This is an outstanding opportunity to build your network! The event is open The Thomas R. Kline Center for Judicial Education's 2025 Distinguished Speaker Series will feature keynote speaker Professor Akhil Reed Amar, Renowned Constitutional Scholar Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale Law School. Join us for the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University 73rd Annual Law Alumni Reunion Dinner on Friday, September 26, 2025.
Events
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Lawyers on Location: Burns White
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Kline Center 4th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series
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Law Alumni Reunion
EVENTS
Tours- Our student ambassadors are excited to show you our renovations made during the last few years in a 30-minute building tour. 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Coffee
I made lifelong friendships during my time at the law school. I appreciate all
the help and support I got from the administration and faculty."
"It is an honor to graduate with a Duquesne Kline School of Law degree. The Duquesne
Kline network spans nationwide and has received much recognition. This degree truly
is a reflection of our faculty, staff, and alumni successes.”
"I returned to Duquesne Kline School of Law in 2022 to further my goal of helping
those in need. The many legal clinics and externship opportunities have provided me
with meaningful ways to gain legal education while also serving those who are often
marginalized in our communities."
"Duquesne Kline has helped prepare me for my career by allowing me the opportunity
to learn from brilliant and experienced professors while maintaining the professional
and personal connections that I formed before starting law school. My education at
Duquesne Kline has allowed me to change the course of my life without having to uproot
it."
"Duquesne Kline has not only prepared me for a career in law but has also reinforced
the values of integrity, service, and lifelong learning that will guide me forward."
"Beyond the classroom, Duquesne Kline's commitment to experiential learning has
been central to my improvement. I participated in two in-class trials, competed in
two Moot Court competitions, conducted multiple mock depositions, and externed for
judges in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for
the Western District of Pennsylvania—all for class credit. These experiences have
equipped me with practical skills and the confidence to embark on my career with purpose."
The American Bar Association law school data for the Thomas R. Kline School
of Law of Duquesne University is available for download.
Let us help you find your future on the Bluff!
Graduate Testimonials
Consumer Information
As part of the accreditation process for all law schools in the United States, the
American Bar Association requires that schools publicly disclose certain consumer
information on their websites. This report appears in the ABA-LSAC Official Guide
to ABA-Approved Law Schools. Duquesne Kline School of Law is accredited by the American
Bar Association (ABA) and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).
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Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
