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Juris Doctor (JD) Degree Programs

Pursue your juris doctor (JD) degree in Harrisburg, PA or Wilmington, DE. Prepare for career success as you develop practice-ready skills, build your legal network, and shape your identity as a lawyer.

At a Glance

• Offered as: Doctorate (JD)
• Dual Degrees: Available
• Format: In Person & Online
• Flexible Options: Daytime or Evening, Part-Time or Full-Time
• Avg. Time to Completion: 3-4 Years depending on program/performance
• College/School:
  • Commonwealth Law School
  • Delaware Law School
• Campus Location:
  • Wilmington, DE
  • Harrisburg, PA

JD Degree Concentrations & Areas of Focus

Add value to your JD by specializing in a particular area of law or earning a dual degree.

Administrative & Constitutional Law (Harrisburg)

The administrative & constitutional law concentration focuses on the balance of power between government branches and the laws that govern administrative agencies.

Advocacy (Harrisburg)

The advocacy concentration offers coursework and opportunities for hands-on learning in litigation (civil, criminal, and administrative) and dispute resolution. It increases placement opportunities in the region’s district attorney and public defender offices, public agencies that conduct administrative hearings, and private law firms.

Business & Corporate Law (Harrisburg & Wilmington)

Pursue a JD with a concentration in business and corporate law at Commonwealth Law School or Delaware Law School:

• Commonwealth Law's business advising concentration equips you to advise small and midsize businesses that drive the U.S. economy, as well as entrepreneurs launching business enterprises.
• Delaware Law's corporate and business law concentration focuses on law that governs publicly traded businesses, business organizations, and business advising.

Criminal Law, Advocacy & Technology (Wilmington)

When you pursue the advocacy, technology, and public service concentration, you'll develop advanced litigation skills and professional competencies through hands-on training experiences while focusing on criminal law and the use of technology in the courtroom.

Dignity Rights Law (Wilmington)

Through the dignity law concentration, the first of its kind nationwide, you'll partner with legal, academic, nonprofit, and community-based organizations to advance the human right to dignity.

Environmental Law (Harrisburg & Wilmington)

Pursue a JD with a concentration in environmental law at Commonwealth Law School or Delaware Law School:

• Commonwealth Law's environmental law concentration explores how law can be used to address climate change; environmental rights; public health; and the protection of land, air, and water.
• Delaware Law's global environmental rights concentration focuses on local and worldwide interests, including sustainability, climate change, and citizens' rights.

Family Health Law & Policy (Wilmington)

With a concentration in family health law and policy, you'll acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to practice family law, health law, or at the intersection of the two.

Government Contracting (Harrisburg)

Through the government contracting concentration, you'll develop a deeper understanding of the lawmaking process.

Legislation & Public Policy (Harrisburg)

Through the legislation and public policy concentration, you'll develop a deeper understanding of the lawmaking process.

JD Dual Degree Options

Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) (Harrisburg & Wilmington)

Pursue a juris doctor (JD) degree at Commonwealth Law or Delaware Law while simultaneously earning your MBA at Widener's School of Business Administration. Our MBA program can be completed online, in person, or both.

Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health (JD/MPH) (Wilmington)

Delaware Law’s juris doctor (JD) and master of public health (MPH) dual degree program—in cooperation with Thomas Jefferson University—is designed for students who plan to pursue a career as a private practice lawyer with a specialization in health law or as legal counsel for a hospital or other medical institution.

Career Outlooks & Outcomes for Law School Graduates

Avg. Salary for Lawyers

$145,760

median annual salary for lawyers in 2023

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Industry Growth

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Can You Do with a JD Degree?

• Lawyer or legal consultant
• Judge or magistrate
• Law professor, lecturer, or researcher
• Mediator, arbitrator, or negotiator
• Policy analyst or legislative counsel

Law-Related Industries

• Business & industry
• Government & judicial clerkship
• Private practice
• Public interest
• Education

Why Study Law at Widener?

Study in a Strategic Location

Located just a few miles from Harrisburg’s Capitol Complex,**Commonwealth Law School **is the only law school in Pennsylvania’s capital. With that proximity comes access to courts of every level, local and national law firms, and state government.

Delaware Law School is located in Wilmington, DE—also known as America’s corporate capital—where more than 50% of Fortune 500 companies have incorporated, where prestigious state courts reside, and where a short drive will lead you to the legal networks of major East Coast cities.

Connect with Faculty Mentors

Accessible faculty who are renowned experts will make you feel like an insider from day one. You'll benefit from their extensive scholarship and research—and you'll learn from their experience outside the classroom, where they lend their expertise to state and federal court systems, state legislatures, bar associations, and international organizations.

Kickstart Your Career Through Clinics and Externships

Both Widener law schools offer ample opportunities to engage in specialized training in various areas of law through on-campus clinics—where you’ll tackle real cases alongside clinical supervisors—and externships, where you’ll work side-by-side with judges, public defenders, government officials, and other legal professionals.

Get Involved on Campus

Whether you join either school’s law review, student bar association, honor societies, or their numerous student organizations, you’ll boost your leadership abilities and make meaningful connections—all while exploring your interests.

Belong to an Inclusive Community

Both Widener law schools benefit from a community that seeks to make students of all backgrounds feel heard, valued, and supported. As a student, you’ll have opportunities to participate in workshops, student organizations, and initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, through clinics and externships, you’ll make positive change in communities and issues that are important to you.