Studying Gender and the Law at WCL
At the Washington College of Law, we take multiple approaches to the study of gender and law in the classroom. In many general courses, such as Torts or Legal Ethics, our professors select materials and cases that highlight how gender interplays with that specific area of law. In other classes, such as Family Law and Employment Discrimination, the study of gender forms a key component of the course.
Current course offerings in gender and law.
Gender and Law Electives and Seminars
WCL offers an extraordinary number of electives and seminars that address the interaction of gender and law in depth. Students who do not have a background in gender studies or women’s rights may benefit from our introductory Gender and the Law course. Others will find it more useful to dive right into our courses on Feminist Jurisprudence and Sex-based Discrimination. Finally, our professors teach a wide range of specialized courses each term. In the past these have included courses such as:
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Gender Perspectives Across the World Seminar
Each year, Washington College of Law hosts students from around the world who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding gender, sexuality and women’s rights. The Gender Perspectives Across the World seminar is a unique opportunity for students to integrate what they know about the interaction of gender and law in their home countries with the knowledge that they acquire in their course of study. Students organize site visits, make class presentations, and lead discussions. Students who take the course for the entire year are encouraged to write publishable-quality papers.
Externships in Gender and Law
Washington, D.C., provides many options for field placements in which students can examine how the law affects women's lives. In recent years, students have obtained placements for academic credit at organizations such as the Women's Legal Defense Fund, the National Women's Law Center, the ABA Commission on Domestic Violence, and the EEOC.
Graduate Certificate in Women, Policy and Political Leadership
In addition to the many course offerings at the Washington College of Law, our students have the option of obtaining a Graduate Certificate in “Women, Policy and Political Leadership” from the American University School of Pubic Affairs, Women and Politics Institute.
Clinical Programs Focused on Gender and Law
WCL has one of the most highly regarded programs in clinical legal education in the nation. All of the teachers in the clinical program are attentive to how gender operates in each case. We also offer two clinical programs that are specifically focused on the interaction of gender and law.
THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CLINIC
Students in the Domestic Violence Clinic examine the relationship of civil and criminal approaches to domestic violence. Student attorneys in the Domestic Violence Clinic (DVC) represent victim/survivors of domestic violence seeking civil protection orders and/or self-petitioning to change their immigration status.
THE WOMEN AND THE LAW CLINIC
In the Women & the Law Clinic, students represent indigent women in the District of Columbia courts in three types of cases (child support, domestic violence, and child neglect) and in the many related legal matters affecting a woman's ability to bring about change in her life. Students examine the effects of the legal system on women as they confront problems in their economic security, personal safety, and relationships with their children.
Advanced Legal Degrees in Gender and Law
For students who want to specialize in women’s legal rights after obtaining their J.D. or LL.B degree, WCL offers some of the only advanced legal degrees in the world that specifically focus on gender and law.
LL.M. International Legal Studies, Specialization in Gender and International Law
Our Gender and the Law Specialization is the first International Legal Studies LL.M. program focused on women’s rights and gender equality in an international context. Our students write theses that that examine international and comparative approaches to women’s rights.
LL.M. Law and Government, Specialization in Gender and Law
The Law and Government specialization in Gender and Law is designed for recent graduates of U.S. and foreign law schools who wish to delve deeper into feminist legal theory and policy, as well as experienced practitioners who want to apply their experience in other fields to promote women’s rights in the United States.
Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD)
The Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) Program selects outstanding students prepared to write a doctoral-level dissertation in law. Students with an interest in gender and law are encouraged to apply.
