Seton Hall University School of Law is the law school of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law is the only private law school in New Jersey. The school confers three law degrees: Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Master of General Legal Studies. Founded in 1951, it is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), and is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).[4]
On February 5, 1951, Seton Hall University School of Law opened on the old John Marshall Law School site at 40 Journal Square in Jersey City with an entering class of 72 students. John Marshall donated its library and assets to Seton Hall with Seton Hall agreeing to maintain and administer the records of John Marshall's graduates. The school was also fully accredited by the American Bar Association in the same year of its opening. In September 1951, the law school moved from Jersey City to Newark and in 1954, graduated its first class.[4]Kathleen M. Boozang became Dean in 2015 succeeding Patrick E. Hobbs. Boozang stepped down from her position as dean effective January 1, 2023, at which time Kip Cornwell was named interim dean. Ronald Weich became Dean in 2024.
The J.D. degree program of 88 credits can be pursued as a full-time or a weekend student. Full-time students can complete the program in three years; weekend students can complete in four years or fewer if they accelerate their studies. Weekend students spend alternating weekends on campus each semester and engage in asynchronous online coursework while off-campus.
Other degree offerings
Seton Hall Law offers a Masters in Legal Studies (M.L.S.) with concentrations in Corporate Compliance, Health and Hospital Law, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Law and Compliance, Gaming Regulation and Compliance, Privacy Law and Cyber Security, Sports Law and Compliance, or General Legal Studies. The Master's Degree in Legal Studies was named a Best Online Master of Studies in Law Program for 2025 by the Princeton Review.
An Online Master of Laws (LL.M.) is also offered only for those who already hold a J.D. (or its foreign equivalent) with concentrations in Financial Services Compliance, Health Law, and Intellectual Property Law. Seton Hall Law also offers the LL.M. in American Law - an in-person, 24-credit, one year program for foreign-educated lawyers seeking to practice law in the United States.
The school also offers several joint degree programs with other faculties of the University. For example, there is a combined J.D./M.A. (or MADIR) program with the University's Whitehead School of Diplomacy.
Admissions
For 2024, the school admitted 42.83% of applicants with 28.30% of accepted applicants enrolling. The entering class had a median LSAT score of 161 and median undergraduate GPA of 3.71.[6] No LSAT or GRE is required for the non-J.D. programs.
Ranking
Seton Hall University School of Law placed tied at 61 in the nation in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Law School’s Part-Time program was ranked #12 in the nation and the Health Law program at #10 by U.S. News & World Report.[7]
Bar examination passage
Seton Hall Law's overall bar passage rate for 2024 first-time test takers was 87.21%. Seton Hall Law's overall bar passage rate for New Jersey Bar exam first-time test takers was 87.79% (all ABA schools average pass rate was 71.80%). Seton Hall Law's overall bar passage rate for New York Bar exam first-time test takers was 88.0% (all ABA schools average pass rate was 86.30%). For remaining jurisdictions, Seton Hall Law's overall bar passage rate was 76.47% (all ABA schools average pass rate was 76.91%). The Ultimate Bar Pass Rate, which the ABA defines as the passage rate for graduates who sat for bar examinations within two years of graduating, was 92.23% for the class of 2022.[3]
Employment
Total employment rate for the Class of 2024 J.D. program was 95.22%. Bar passage required employment (i.e., as attorneys) totaled 85.35% and J.D. Advantage employment totaled 6.05%. Of graduates, 41.81% held positions in state, local, or territorial judicial clerkships, four students (1.34%) held federal clerkships, 35.12% were employed in law firms of various sizes, 10.70% were employed in business or industry, 7.36% employed by government, 3.34% in public interest, 0.33% in education, and 2.87% were unemployed.[8]
Costs
The tuition and fees for Seton Hall University School of Law are $71,550 for incoming full-time students and $55,460 for incoming part-time students for the 2025–26 academic year. However, 86% of incoming students in 2024 received scholarship funding, and 75%-85% of funded students typically renew scholarships after the first year.[9]
The median grant amount was $42,000 for full-time students and $19,400 for weekend students, bringing net-tuition (tuition less scholarship and grants) for those receiving the median grant amount to $27,206 for full-time students and $19,754 for weekend students.[10]
Publications
The school produces two journals: Seton Hall Law Review[11] and the Seton Hall Journal of Legislation and Public Policy.
↑ Speiser, Matthew. "Jersey City honors trail blazing judge with post office dedication", The Jersey Journal, December 9, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2018. "Shirley A. Tolentino was a woman of many firsts.In 1976, she was the first female African-American Jersey City Municipal Court judge. In 1981, she became the first black female presiding judge of the Jersey City Municipal Court. And in 1984, she became the first female African-American Superior Court judge in the state.... She received her Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall Law School in 1971 as the only female African-American student in her class."
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