CHARLES WIDGER
SCHOOL OF LAW
WHY VILLANOVA LAW?
At Villanova Law, our broad-based legal education is grounded in academic rigor; practical, hands-on training; and a foundation in business that primes graduates for diverse and rewarding legal careers. Wherever your interests may lie—international law, corporate law, intellectual property law or public interest law—you will find programs that will prepare you for the future.
Guided by our Where Law Meets Business philosophy, our programming infuses vital business principles, professional skills, ethical training and practical experiences into each student’s education. Through innovative coursework, numerous clinics and hundreds of externship placements, Villanova students learn by doing—and graduate with the knowledge and skills needed for success in today’s competitive job market.
PROGRAMS
THE VILLANOVA LAW DIFFERENCE
NEWS & EVENTS
Fighting the Mafia in Italy and Beyond, 08/31
The Girard-diCarlo Center welcomes Italian attorney and researcher Felice Piemontese, PhD, to discuss legal responses to organized crime in Italy. He will also remember the 1992 massacres of Capaci and Via D’Amelio, in which judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, along with Falcone’s wife and their escort agents, were killed by the mafia. The legacy these two judges left in the fight against the mafia and organized crime led to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, signed in Palermo in 2000.
Welcome, Class of 2029
The class of 2029, hailing from 27 states and five countries outside the US, has recently begun their law school journey. They bring diverse backgrounds and impressive academic credentials from more than 100 undergraduate institutions.
Villanova Law Welcomes New Faculty and Community Members for 2026-27 Academic Year
Mark C. Alexander, the Arthur J. Kania Dean of Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, is pleased to welcome new faculty, visiting professors and community members for the 2026-27 academic year.
Villanova Law Alumni Honored by Judge Advocates Association
Earlier this spring, Colonel Elizabeth Hernandez ’04 and Captain Andrew Moore ’16 were honored at this year's annual Judge Advocates Association and Judge Advocates Foundation Awards Dinner in Arlington, Va.
AT A GLANCE
12
MILES OUTSIDE
PHILADELPHIA
320+
EXTERNSHIPS IN NONPROFIT,
CORPORATE & GOVERNMENT
8
in-house
legal clinics
5
CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE
40+
SBA-SUPPORTED
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
12,000+
ALUMNI
WORLDWIDE
Advocates. Scholars. Leaders.
Judicial clerkships give recent law graduates a front-row seat to how judges handle cases in trial and appellate courts, whether at the state or federal level. But clerks aren’t just watching—they are participating actively by assisting the judge with research, writing opinions and handling tasks that keep the court running smoothly. MORE...
Strong communication skills are vital for a successful legal career, with employers rating proficiency in writing as the most important skill in new hires. At Villanova Law, we’re committed to preparing our students with the legal writing skills they need to be practice-ready, day one and beyond. MORE...
Villanova lawyers can be found everywhere–from international law firms to government agencies, from nonprofit organizations to major corporations. A Villanova Law education prepares you to be not only a great lawyer, but also a great leader. And we have the alumni to prove it with Villanovans in leadership positions in many sectors of the legal field. MORE...
Successful trial attorneys must be highly skilled in the complex art of the trial, and they must also possess a complete understanding of the law. At Villanova Law, we prepare students to become courtroom-ready advocates through our extensive Trial Advocacy programming and activities. MORE...
Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law may seem an unlikely host for the Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC), but one in ten jobs in Pennsylvania is in the agriculture industry. Villanova is located just an hour away from Kennett Square, the “mushroom capital of the world,” and a few hours’ drive from central Pennsylvania’s apple and peach orchards. In terms of mission, the fit is perfect. MORE...
CENTERS & INSTITUTES