Boston College Law School is deeply committed to educating the whole person in order to educate skillful, courageous, and moral lawyers. The Law School’s Jesuit, Catholic heritage commits its faculty and administration to the search for knowledge, and the preparation of women and men who are moved to a constructive, responsible, and loving use of their knowledge. Our mission statement declares: “We are committed to developing those qualities and skills that our students will need to become successful practitioners; toward this end, we search for ways to combine theory and practice in our instruction, and for opportunities to instill in our students the moral and ethical values that underlie a rational and just application of law.”
Boston College Law School has long been a leader in innovative teaching methods that prepare students for the opportunities and challenges of practice. We have faculty members who have been pioneers in the clinical legal education world. We were among the first schools to offer as part of the first year curriculum simulation courses focused on practice and ethics. Our legal writing program is a model for the rest of the nation’s schools.
Our current Dean, Vincent Rougeau, is a nationally known leader on issues of innovation and responsiveness to the changes in the legal profession. Under his leadership, Boston College Law School has established the Center for Experiential Learning, the organizational hub for all practice-based learning, including externships, simulation course offerings, pro bono opportunities, and student advocacy competitions.
The Center for Experiential Learning represents a commitment both to effective practice-based education, and to the social justice mission of our Jesuit institution. The Center for Experiential Learning also hosts the law school’s many clinics, including a multi-practice law firm, the Boston College Legal Services LAB. The LAB’s practice groups include a civil litigation and housing practice, an immigration practice group, a juvenile rights practice group, as well as business practice group focusing on community enterprises and entrepreneurship. In addition to the BC Legal Services LAB, the Criminal Justice Clinic provides students with opportunities to gain valuable practice experience on both the prosecution as well as defense sides. The Law School’s Innocence Program provides students with opportunities to seek justice and freedom for wrongfully convicted individuals.