AUWCL Welcomes Talented, Diverse New Students for the 2019-20 School Year
August 22, 2019
American University Washington College of Law was delighted to welcome a talented and diverse group of over 380 1Ls to campus Aug. 20-24 for orientation.
“Immerse yourself in this experience. You will be learning a new language which is the language of law,” Dean Camille Nelson told the incoming class during her welcome last Tuesday, before the students took their professional oath. “Make sure you pay attention to what you learn from each other and learn and grow together. This group has incredible talent and a significant amount of the learning during law school is with each other.”
The incoming JD students bring a wealth of academic and professional experiences to the AUWCL campus. The class represents 192 undergraduate institutions, 126 students graduated with honors, and 57 hold graduate degrees. Fifty-six have previously worked on Capitol Hill as interns or staff, 11 have served in the military, and 13 have participated in AmeriCorps, Teach for America, or the Peace Corps.
With a class comprised of 66 percent women, and whose diversity representation is 36 percent, AUWCL’s newest JD students also reflect the law school’s commitment to inclusive excellence. Thirteen point five percent of 1Ls are Asian/Pacific Islander, while 11.1 percent are Black/African American and 11.1 percent are Hispanic/Latino. The class' 15 international students hail from Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, and United Arab Emirates.
The four-day JD orientation kicked off Monday, Aug. 12 with “In My Back Yard” Public Service Day, and included various activities and discussions with faculty, the Office of Career and Professional Development, and upper-level students to help 1Ls become acquainted with resources, the campus, their professors, and their peers. They were also introduced to AUWCL’s new Compass program, which seeks to deliver tailored information to 1L students throughout their first year regarding topics including professionalism, job searching, academic skills, and academic advising.
Also joining our community this 2019-20 school year are 43 LL.M. students and three SJD candidates.
Of the incoming JD class of 2022, as of Aug. 16:
- Their average age is 24
- They represent 39 states, as well as Washington, D.C.
- They were born in 30 different countries
- They speak 36 different languages
- 38 percent have studied abroad in more than 55 countries