Admissions and Financial Aid
What is the application deadline for evening/part-time students?
See JD Admissions Deadlines & Requirements
Is there an early decision option for the evening program?
See JD Admissions Early Decision Option
Are dual degree program options open to evening/part-time students?
Applicants to the evening/part-time program are not able to simultaneously apply to a dual degree program at American University. Once enrolled, a student in the evening/part-time program may meet with an academic advisor to discuss the feasibility of completing a dual degree.
Can part-time program students receive financial aid?
All admitted applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. Merit scholarships are primarily determined by academic indicators (LSAT or GRE score and undergraduate GPA) and range up to full tuition. The Office of Admissions generally begins awarding merit scholarships in late January and continues throughout the admissions cycle.
More information regarding types of financial aid available to part-time evening students, including institutional scholarships and federal aid, is available on the Part-Time JD Financial Aid webpage.
Who can part-time students contact about financial aid questions?
All questions related to The Office of Financial Aid should be sent to finaid@wcl.american.edu or asked via phone at (202) 274-4040. The Office of Financial Aid is located in the Capital Building, C305.
Commuting to WCL
Where is WCL located?
The WCL campus is located at 4300 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016.
How do students commute to WCL?
Students often take public transportation, drive, or cycle to campus. WCL is located one block south of the Tenleytown metro stop on the WMATA Red Line. WMATA bus lines that stop near campus include C51, C61, C81, C85, C87, D80, D82, and D90. WCL has a parking garage including space for indoor bicycle parking. Students may access shower facilities in the WCL building.
Can part-time students obtain a WMATA U-Pass for travel?
Unfortunately, part-time students are not eligible for the U-Pass program per rules set by WMATA.
Can part-time program students park on campus?
Part-time program students can purchase a parking permit for a pro-rated amount compared to full-time students or can pay by the hour at a discounted rate. Visit the WCL Parking webpage for more information.
Academic Experience and Activities
What are the requirements for graduation from the part-time program?
The requirements to earn a JD are the same for the full-time program and the part-time program. 86 credits are required for graduation, and part time students normally enroll for 8 to 11 credit hours each semester. Part-time students typically attend law school for 8 academic year (fall/spring) semesters. To allow for lower credit loads during the fall and spring semesters, most part-time students enroll in at least one nine-week summer session to stay on track to graduate within 4 years.
What is the evening first-year curriculum?
The first year of the program consists of required doctrinal and writing courses. In the first semester, your doctrinal courses meet Monday through Thursday from 6pm to approximately 8pm. In the second semester, your doctrinal courses meet Tuesday through Thursday from 6pm until approximately 8 or 9pm. In both semesters, on one evening, you stay an additional two hours for Legal Research & Writing.
Fall Semester
Torts (4 credit hours)
Contracts (4 credit hours)
Legal Research & Writing I (2.5 credit hours)
Total Credit Hours: 10.5
Spring Semester
Criminal Law (3 credit hours)
Civil Procedure (4 credit hours)
Legal Research & Writing II (2.5 credit hours)
Total Credit Hours: 9.5
Can I participate in the WCL clinical program as a part-time student?
Yes. Part-time students can participate in clinic as a third or fourth year student. All clinics are open to part-time students, but some clinics require daytime availability. The Decarceration and Re-Entry Clinic is designed to accommodate evening students. This clinic seminar is scheduled in the evening, and the fieldwork is flexible to accommodate evening student schedules.
Can I be a member of a law review (journal) as a part-time student?
Yes. Journal is a two year commitment. Part-time students are eligible to compete in the Write-On process in the first year (with journal participation in years 2 and 3) or the second year (with journal participation in years 3 and 4). Students may only compete in the Write-On competition once during their time at WCL. Part-time students are also eligible for the Grade-On process at the end of the first year.
Can I participate on a competition team as a part-time student?
Yes. Part-time students may participate in the first year competitions and qualifying tournaments for all competition honor societies.
Can I study abroad as a part-time student?
Part-time students are welcome to participate in WCL’s many study-abroad programs. The most popular options for part-time students are summer abroad programs that range from 2 to 4 weeks. Courses in these programs may be combined with in-residence or online summer courses, provided there is no scheduling conflict.
For part-time students who can travel for an extended period, WCL’s semester abroad programs offer diverse opportunities in 13 countries. Part-time students are required to enroll in at least 12 credits during the semester abroad. Please note that semester abroad programs take place during the fall semester of the final year of the JD program, and the application is in January for the upcoming fall.
Part-time students may also apply to WCL’s International Dual Degree Programs. However, they must change their registration status to full-time and complete all required WCL credits and courses before departing Washington, DC. The dual degree year abroad also occurs during the final year of the JD program, with the dual degree coursework beginning in the fall semester.
For additional information or individual advising, please get in touch with WCL Abroad at wclabroad@wcl.american.edu.
Student Experience
Can I participate in student organizations?
Yes, all student organizations are open to students in the part-time evening program. The Office of Student Affairs organizes an student organization fair after evening classes end at the beginning of the academic year in conjunction with the Student Bar Association. Another fair is offered at the start of the spring semester.
How can I access student support services?
Student-facing offices are committed to remaining accessible to students in the part-time evening program. All offices offer Zoom/telephone appointments. Some offices offer regular appointments in early-morning or evening hours and others offer these by request. Student-facing office events are frequently recorded and/or offered online (live or recorded) for students in the part-time evening program.
Are part-time students required to have a meal plan?
No, part-time students are not required to sign up for a WCL meal plan and are not enrolled automatically. Part-time students are eligible to join the plan voluntarily and may sign up at onecard.american.edu or email mealplans@american.edu for support.