About the School of Law–Camden

With a national reputation for excellence, the School of Law–Camden is noted for its diverse student body and distinguished faculty. Drawing from almost every state across the nation and several foreign countries, about 750-800 students at the law school interact daily with people from all walks of life. Each year, approximately 250 students who have achieved academic excellence join the entering class. The students at the law school typically come from more than 250 undergraduate institutions, including Boston College, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Emory, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Michigan, New York University, Notre Dame, Penn State, Princeton, University of California (Los Angeles), Texas, and, of course, Rutgers.

Students at the law school also enjoy a dynamic educational experience. The law school faculty is known for its scholarship and commitment to teaching. Recognized nationally and internationally in fields as diverse as state constitutional law, health law, intellectual property, and legal history, the faculty incorporates interdisciplinary and innovative approaches into much of the curriculum to balance traditional legal learning with practical application. In addition to its mission of research and writing, the faculty is dedicated to community service and to the bar. Students are encouraged to work with faculty in clinical programs and pro bono public interest cases. Students also have the opportunity to interact with practicing lawyers, judges, and governmental agencies through internships, clerkships, and clinical programs.

As graduates of Rutgers School of Law–Camden, our students join the ranks of successful alumni across the nation. Alumni include former governors, members of Congress, state legislators, a former U.S. ambassador, federal and state judges, and corporate counsel at Fortune 500 companies.

Rutgers School of Law–Camden is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (http://www.abanet.org), 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610 (312-998-5000), the institutional accrediting agency for law schools recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Rutgers School of Law–Camden is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools (http://www.aals.org), 1201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-2605 (202-296-8851).

The Campus

The school had its origins in the South Jersey Law School, which was established in 1926 by Arthur E. Armitage Sr. and a group of interested citizens. In 1950, the law school merged with Rutgers University and, along with the Newark Law School, became part of the State University School of Law. In accordance with a resolution of the Rutgers Board of Governors, the Schools of Law of Camden and Newark were established as autonomous units in 1967.

A three-year course of study leading to the awarding of the juris doctor degree is offered to full-time students, and a four-year program is offered to part-time students.

Approximately 750-800 full- and part-time students are enrolled in the law school. About 20 percent of the school's students are people of color, and 40 percent are women. The student population also reflects the national and international representation that the law school seeks to attract. Indeed, in 2010, 34 states and four foreign countries were represented in the student population.

Rutgers–Camden offers a safe, attractive urban campus located on 40 tree-lined acres in the heart of the vibrant Camden Waterfront district. In addition to the law school, the campus is home to the Camden College of Arts and Sciences, University College-Camden, the Graduate School-Camden, and the School of Business-Camden. Total campus enrollment is approximately 6,000 students.

The campus includes the law school and law library buildings; business and science building; campus center and dining hall; Paul Robeson Library; Armitage Hall; a newly renovated, state-of-the-art Athletic and Fitness Center, featuring a cardio theater, weights, and much more; law school apartments; an undergraduate residence hall; and a fine arts building that houses an art gallery, studios, classrooms, and a 650-seat theater. The law school and many of the campus buildings are newly renovated. Numerous highways, the PATCO high-speed train line, and the new River LINE light rail provide quick, dependable access to the campus.

As part of the city's burgeoning University District corridor, a new law school building was constructed and annexed to the existing 93,860-square-foot structure. The new building includes courtrooms, state-of-the-art classrooms, and enhanced student spaces. The six-story glass and bronze main law school building houses research facilities, seminar and reading rooms, student lounges, study areas, a cafeteria, classrooms, and offices. The law library contains 455,141 bibliographic units in book and microform, including an impressive historical collection of Soviet and East European legal materials. The library offers state-of-the-art computer facilities.

On-campus apartments for law students are available, as is housing for undergraduates. For information, visit the Office of Residence Life website: housing.camden.rutgers.edu.

Rutgers–Camden's minor-league baseball stadium, Campbell's Field, is a short walk from the Camden Campus. This 6,500-seat facility is home to the Riversharks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and the Scarlet Raptors, the Rutgers–Camden men's baseball team. The adjacent Rutgers–Camden Community Park complex features a soccer field, tennis courts, softball and Little League fields, and a children's playground.

Area Attractions

The campus is located near the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to Philadelphia, a city that offers world-class resources and historic charm. Attractions include the neoclassic Academy of Music, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Mann Music Center, the 21,000-seat Wells Fargo Center, and numerous other venues that bring to the area a whole range of performances in music, ballet, opera, and theater. Sports fans will find plenty to cheer about, as Philadelphia is home to the Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers.

Camden's major waterfront development includes the Susquehanna Bank Center at the Waterfront, an indoor/outdoor concert venue with a sweeping lawn and spectacular views of the Philadelphia skyline; Adventure Aquarium; and the Battleship New Jersey, our nation's most decorated battleship, now a floating museum. The renovated historic Victor Lofts, located on the placid Delaware River, provides upscale apartment living for area law and medical students and other professionals. The city, which is the Camden County seat, has federal and local courts located adjacent to the school.

The famous New Jersey Shore, with miles of beaches and Atlantic City, is just an hour away. In less than two hours, students can visit New York City, Baltimore, Annapolis, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. New Jersey's remarkable Pine Barrens are nearby. Fairmount Park in Philadelphia offers some of the best mountain biking on the East Coast, and Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains are also in the vicinity and offer numerous ski resorts.