In Philadelphia, about two hours from Scranton, the University of Pennsylvania Law School has a cross-disciplinary focus. The top law school in Pennsylvania, Penn Law is ranked seventh in the nation by "U.S. News & World Report," and the school placed third in a 2006 student survey of law student satisfaction. It also has an international program that allows students to work with legal systems around the world, including East Asia, the European Union and Russia.
Dickinson School of Law is closest to Scranton, just under two hours away. It offers J.D. and master of laws degrees for lawyers who want to go into foreign offers. The law school also partners with other graduate schools, including the School of International Affairs, to help students study abroad. For specialized fields of study, Dickinson students can concentrate on business law, arbitration, mediation and negotiation, international and transnational law, advocacy and litigation, labor and employment law, constitutional and administrative law, land use and environmental law, or public interest.
Widener Law School in Harrisburg, just over two hours from Scranton, has a diverse community. Widener's Law School Admission Council started a campaign to open the program to people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Widener also has a Council on Legal Education Opportunity, which supports minority and low-income students. Widener's Women's Law Caucus is open to all students, faculty and alumni who share an interest in women's issues. The caucus sponsors mentoring programs, open forums, women's health awareness, community involvement and networking activities.
About two hours from Scranton, Villanova University School of Law is a highly selective program. Founded in 1953 as part of Villanova University, the school has educated over 10,000 lawyers. Villanova has an externship program, in which students earn academic credit by working under a lawyer to gain experience in law. Its trial advocacy program teaches students to practice in five courtroom-style classrooms, where students learn to use, evaluate and identify evidence to prove a claim or defend against one. Villanova has three advanced trial advocacy courses as well as a trial advocacy competition for outstanding students.