Why you should consider this program

The Kline School of Law’s 75 percent tuition discount for students admitted as Coverdell Fellows reflects our deep commitment to preparing attorneys for successful careers in public interest law. Drexel University is a pioneer in experiential learning. The Kline School of Law offers students an immersion in legal practice, allowing them to complete year-long clinic or semester-long co-op placements that benefit high-need communities through public agencies and public interest organizations that serve low-income or underrepresented populations in Philadelphia and elsewhere. In addition, all students must complete a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service prior to graduation, ensuring that all students gain experience working with members of the community who typically have difficulty obtaining legal representation. We’ve found, however, that many of our students find pro bono service to be an enriching experience, and the majority of our graduates have significantly exceeded that 50-hour service requirement. Many members of our faculty have practiced public interest law and they have deep connections with practitioners in government agencies and the public interest bar. Philadelphia is an affordable city that offers rich cultural and recreational amenities.

Benefits for Coverdell Fellows

	Tuition/fees for Complete Program	Value of Coverdell Fellowship	Net cost *
In state	$ 130,000	$ 95,500	$ 34,500
Out of state	$ 130,000	$ 95,500	$ 34,500

* Net cost is equal to tuition/fees minus fellowship value. For some universities, the fellowship value includes non-tuition/fee benefits such as health insurance or housing—see the first point below for more details.

Fellowships awarded per year (average)

1-2 Fellows

Other benefits or opportunities

Tuition is discounted 75 percent.

Annual cost of living (estimated)

$ 22,638

Application fee waived?

Yes

Internship

• The in-house Appellate Litigation Clinic offers students a year-long opportunity to practice law before appellate courts, representing clients in cases involving immigration law, criminal law, the rights of the indigent, the rights of the incarcerated, employment law and constitutional law.

• The in-house Community Lawyering Clinic immerses students in the community for a full year to work with residents of nearby neighborhoods to address issues with housing, employment, family matters and access to resources.

• The Civil Litigation Field Clinic operates in tandem with Philadelphia Legal Assistance, enabling students to represent victims of family violence in protection from abuse and custody matters.

• The Criminal Litigation Field Clinic operates in partnership with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, giving students experience representing clients in the courts, conducting hearings on felonies, arguing motions and trying misdemeanor cases to verdict.

• Our co-op program enables students to complete semester-long placements with a wide array of organizations that include the Juvenile Law Center, the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, the ACLU, the Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeast Pennsylvania as well as with judicial offices and local, state and federal agencies.

Jobs for program alumni

Although the Kline School of Law is only 10 years old, our alumni have found legal work in a wide array of settings that enable them to practice law in the public interest.  A few examples are staff attorneys for public interest organizations including Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Homeless Advocacy Project and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, private-practice attorneys who represent immigrants, workers and special-needs students, attorneys with the Defender Associations of Philadelphia and New Jersey, several attorneys with the Office of the Philadelphia City Solicitor, an environmental protection specialist in the Federal Transit Administration and several attorneys with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of State and a civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Education.

Other details

Program length

Two years or three years full-time

Application requirements

LSAT, college transcripts, admissions essay

Admissions process

Check Coverdell Fellows/Peace Corps box in the application to be considered for the fellowship program.

Program begins

May for the 2-year program and August for the 3-year program

Non-traditional options

Approximately 5 percent of courses are offered online.

Year Coverdell Fellows partnership started

2014

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Contact

Audrey Woods, Associate Director of Graduate Programs