Clinical education is one of the instructional cornerstones of the Duquesne Kline
School of Law's Tribone Center for Clinical Legal Education and is comprised of community-focused
clinics, externship opportunities, a pro bono program, and fellowships.
According to ABA data released in May 2025, Duquesne Kline School of Law ranked in
the top 50 law schools nationwide for the 2022 ultimate bar passage rate.
Top 10 Military Friendly School and Best for Vets College
Duquesne University was recently named a Top 10 Military Friendly School. It was also
named one of the best colleges for veterans by the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges
ranking.
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, time management,
and the use and implications of generative AI.
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.
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.
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.
You will learn with acclaimed faculty who are passionate about their profession and
the difference it can make. Duquesne Kline Law faculty offer you a combination of
legal experience, knowledge of emerging technology in the field, and commitment to
excellence that gives you a legal education to prepare you for whatever is next.
Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University is ranked 6th in the nation as
"Top Law School for Bar Passage". Successful bar passage doesn't just happen. It starts
with academic rigor, individual attention, acclaimed professors, and a carefully conceived
program of special bar preparation options.
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. Those values are outlined in our Learning Outcomes and Performance Criteria.
Our School of Law is unique among American law schools in offering a Law and Computing
Concentration. We are among a handful of schools teaching a computer programming course
for lawyers, and part of a smaller group of schools teaching multiple courses on computer
programming for law students.
I think the Tribone Center reinforces the idea that Duquesne Kline not only gives you the conceptual foundation
for your profession, but also the practical side. That was a big driver in getting
the clinic.
Tom Tribone, L'85CEO of Franklin Park Infrastructure, Inc.
22,304hours of legal service through clinical education programs
My educational experience at Duquesne Kline Law has instilled in me the value in aiming
for excellence in my advocacy, both written and oral. This has benefited me through my training and continued development.
Brazitte Poole, L’19Labor and Employment Attorney at UPMC in Pittsburgh
15years of program excellence in Trial Advocacy
By giving students from all backgrounds the crucial support and resources they need
to succeed in law school, and by striving to instill within them the values of service,
leadership, and civic engagement, we will not only diversify and strengthen our profession,
but we also will make strides toward a more just, inclusive, and prosperous city and society.
Professor Megan E.K. MontcalmDirector of Academic Excellence and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills
I came to Pittsburgh for my American dream. I couldn’t be happier with my experience
at Duquesne Kline. Not being from the area, it was really important to be connected
to someone in the Pittsburgh legal community, to know what is going on, and good paths
to take.
David McPeak, L'23Associate Attorney, Flaherty & O'Hara
8,500+graduates who practice in every field of law
Outstanding Academic Experience
We are dedicated to excellence. Your experience here will give you the knowledge,
analytical skills, ethical strength, and leadership mindset to succeed.
Prepared
Over 8,500 Kline School of Law Alumni are currently practicing law across multiple
areas of the profession. They make an impact around our nation and the world. They
are ready to help you blaze your professional path with advice, internships, and experience.
Duquesne Kline Law has long history of making a legal education accessible, and our
part-time program is among the best in the nation. We offer several ways for individuals
to pursue a valuable law degree.
Leadership, service, and civic engagement can be discussed in the classroom, but they
are developed through practice, via active participation in group settings, and by
working with and for the larger community.
Duquesne Kline School of Law Again Ranked a Top 10 Law School for “Professor Accessibility” and Rises to Top 40 for “Career”
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.
Associate Director of Clinical Programs Joins Duquesne Kline School of Law
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.
Duquesne Kline School of Law welcomes two assistant professors
The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University is pleased to welcome Lauren Gailey, L’14, and Martin McKown, L’15, as assistant professors whose appointments will begin in the Fall 2025 semester. Both Gailey and McKown joined Duquesne Kline School of Law after having previously taught at the school and leading extensive legal careers.
President Kenneth G. Gormley invites you to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit with Most Reverend Mark A. Eckman, Bishop of Pittsburgh, and Very Reverend John Fogarty, C.S.Sp., Provincial Superior, Province of the United States Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
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 ope
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Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University
Kline Center 4th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series
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.
"I wanted to go to school somewhere that felt genuinely supportive and student
focused. Duquesne Kline has many great opportunities and programs but still feels
close knit and very personal."
"I chose Duquesne Kline because of the amazing scholarship opportunities. Additionally,
the high bar passage rate was important to my decision because I want to be successful
inside and outside of law school."
"Duquesne Kline offered me the opportunity to work full time and step into the
legal field while pursuing my dreams of becoming a lawyer. I know that no matter
what lies ahead, the evening program has prepared me for bar prep and my future career."
“Duquesne Kline School of Law’s Clinical Legal Education program merged my academic
training with real-world legal experiences. Pro bono programs, externships, and community
service prepared me for a smooth transition from law school to law practice."
"I chose Duquesne Kline School of Law because I was attracted to Duquesne’s strong
alumni network and its commitment to making practice-ready lawyers in Pittsburgh."
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).
The American Bar Association law school data for the Thomas R. Kline School
of Law of Duquesne University is available for download.
