Why BU Law?

Boston University School of Law is one of the nation’s top law schools with a history of excellence dating back to 1872. Our faculty are consistently recognized for exceptional teaching, preeminent scholarship, and transformative mentorship. With more than 25,000 alumni living in all 50 states and more than 100 countries around the world, our graduates have access to a vast global network that contributes to their professional success. The BU Law complex, comprised of the state-of-the-art Sumner M. Redstone Building and adjoining 17-story tower, is located in the heart of Boston overlooking the Charles River.

Explore Areas of Practice

With more than 200 courses and seminars—one of the most extensive course catalogs of any law school in the country—you'll be able to prepare for a career in a broad variety of practice areas.

Civil Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Lawyers increasingly need skills in alternative dispute resolution. BU Law offers students a wide array of courses designed to prepare them for proceedings inside and outside the courtroom.

Housing, Real Estate & Land Use

The BU Law curriculum offers courses on nearly every facet of housing, real estate, and land use, including landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities, environmental and tax implications, and affordable housing development.

Health Law

BU Law offers a unique program addressing the critical legal issues in health today. Located in one of the world’s life sciences epicenters, BU Law’s health law program is consistently among the top of US News & World Report rankings.

Civil Rights & Constitutional Law

Civil Rights & Constitutional Law courses cover both traditional legal topics, such as constitutional history and theory, federalism, and judicial review, as well as those that examine legal frameworks through the lens of social identity and social movements.

Intellectual Property

BU Law offers several foundational courses covering the major components of intellectual property law, and is also the only law school in the country to offer two clinics focused on intellectual property and the related field of privacy and technology law.

Entertainment & Sports Law

At BU Law, courses on entertainment and sports law delve into subjects ranging from publicity rights and defamation to invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, antitrust principles, and labor law.

Privacy and Technology Law

BU Law also offers two privacy and technology law clinics: the Technology Law Clinic and the Startup Law Clinic. The curriculum also offers introductory and advanced courses on privacy and technology law, including many taught by preeminent practitioners in the field.

Race, Racism, and the Law

Race and the Law courses are broken down into those that take an anti-racist approach to lawyering, exploring ways to produce or sustain racial equity; and courses that examine opinions, statutes, and other legal materials that address issues of race or racism, including civil rights laws.

Environmental Law

Massachusetts has long been at the forefront of environmental issues, including through litigation brought by the Attorney General’s Office where BU Law students regularly work as interns or externs.

Banking & Financial Law

Courses range from foundational offerings that cover the banking and financial services industries in the United States and across the world to more in-depth classes that focus on specific topics such as hedge funds or charitable organizations.

Corporate, Business & Transactional Law

Corporate, business, and transactional law is a far-reaching practice area that encompasses all the legal aspects of commercial activity.

Employment & Labor Law

The foundational employment and labor law curriculum covers a wide range of issues including affirmative action, religious discrimination, constitutional protections for public-sector workers, and anti-retaliation and whistleblower laws.

Legal History & Jurisprudence

Since its founding in 1872, BU Law has offered courses on legal history and jurisprudence, allowing students to grapple with some of the fundamental questions at the heart of legal systems, including the definition of law, its underlying authority, and judicial powers.

International & Comparative Law

At BU Law, students can choose from dozens of courses in public international law, which covers the relations between countries; private international law, which deals with cross-border business transactions; and comparative law, which focuses on the laws of other countries.

Immigration & Human Rights Law

The curriculum at BU Law covers deportation, asylum, naturalization, and citizenship questions and has vast experiential courses, including the International Human Rights Clinic and the Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Program.

Family Law, Gender & Sexuality

Foundational courses provide an overview of the case law, statutes, and constitutional underpinnings that shape the government’s role in regulating family life as well as the laws surrounding estate planning and inheritance.

Criminal Law

The criminal law program at BU Law encompasses not only foundational criminal procedure and evidence courses but also a wide range of clinical offerings in which students handle actual cases in court.

Administrative, Regulatory & Public Law

Administrative and Regulatory Law courses consider government regulation of private activity and affects regulated industries, such as banking, insurance, and health care. Public Law concerns the structure of government.

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In The Media

Our faculty experts weigh in with opinions and expertise in local, national, and international media outlets.

MarketWatch Mar 20, 2023

The FDIC May Need to Do Some Juggling to Pay Off Depositors

Cornelius Hurley is quoted.

FinTec Buzz Mar 20, 2023

American Fintech Council (AFC) Selects Phil Goldfeder as CEO

Cornelius Hurley is quoted.

Marketplace Mar 13, 2023

Federal Bank Regulators Are Getting Most of the Attention, but States Oversee Banks Too

Cornelius Hurley is quoted.

WGBH Mar 13, 2023

Housing Industry in Massachusetts One of Many to Be Impacted by Silicon Valley Bank Fiasco

Cornelius Hurley is quoted.

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BU Law Events

Browse our most recent events below, or view the full events calendar.

Conferences & Lectures University Events

"Race-Disability Intersectionality as a Health Equity Imperative" The Pike Lecture featuring Professor Mary Crossley, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Day: Monday Mar 27th Time: 12:45pm - 2:00pm BU School of Law, 765 Commonwealth Ave, Barristers Hall

Details View on BU Calendar

Student Organization Events

FGP Office Hours

Day: Monday Mar 27th Time: 1:00pm

View on BU Calendar

Student Organization Events

CESLA: Supporting A Global Newsroom

Day: Monday Mar 27th Time: 1:00pm

View on BU Calendar

Student Organization Events

BU Law: Let's Talk Wrongful Convictions

Day: Monday Mar 27th Time: 5:00pm - 6:00pm BU Law Tower, 765 Commonwealth Ave (Barristers Hall)

View on BU Calendar

Student Organization Events

FGP x Latham & Watkins: Ask Us Anything

Day: Tuesday Mar 28th Time: 1:00pm

View on BU Calendar

Homer Albers Prize Semifinal Round

Day: Tuesday Mar 28th Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm Schell-O'Connor Courtroom, 765 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215

View on BU Calendar

Student Organization Events

Morrison & Foerster – Recruiting & Summer Program Experiences Panel

Day: Tuesday Mar 28th Time: 4:30pm

View on BU Calendar

LLM Professional Events

LLM Professional Development Judicial Clerkship Info Session

Day: Wednesday Mar 29th Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm Room 410

View on BU Calendar

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Two female students talking on comm ave waiting for the T as the green line approaches in the background

Why Study in Boston?

The reasons are numerous. For starters, Boston is a global center of education and research. The city is also a major hub for law, business, medicine, technology, and government. It's an international city with vibrant cultural, art, social, and entertainment communities. It comprises an eclectic mix of neighborhoods, from historic to quirky to trendy, with a wide range of housing options for students. The list goes on.

What it's like living in Boston

A Safe Bet

Orrick partner Jeremy Kudon (’00), who advocates for his clients in state capitals across the country, has helped pass a slew of laws legalizing sports betting, including in Massachusetts.

Boston University School of Law

Why BU Law?

Recent Stories

BU Law Professor Emeritus Pnina Lahav examines the Israeli leader’s life with a feminist lens.

Alumni whose work has set precedents and inspired legislation.

The first Black woman confirmed for the Supreme Court of the United States will address the 150th class on May 21, 2023.

Cesar Lopez-Morales (’14) will clerk for US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor starting in July.

The director of Lawyering and Advocacy Programs served the BU Law community from 1982 to 2023.

Four alumni who made their mark on the judiciary.

Available in fall 2023, the program will foster student interest and facilitate careers opportunities in reproductive justice and adjacent fields.

Explore Areas of Practice

Civil Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Housing, Real Estate & Land Use

Health Law

Civil Rights & Constitutional Law

Intellectual Property

Entertainment & Sports Law

Privacy and Technology Law

Race, Racism, and the Law

Environmental Law

Banking & Financial Law

Corporate, Business & Transactional Law

Employment & Labor Law

Legal History & Jurisprudence

International & Comparative Law

Immigration & Human Rights Law

Family Law, Gender & Sexuality

Criminal Law

Administrative, Regulatory & Public Law

In The Media

The FDIC May Need to Do Some Juggling to Pay Off Depositors

American Fintech Council (AFC) Selects Phil Goldfeder as CEO

Federal Bank Regulators Are Getting Most of the Attention, but States Oversee Banks Too

Housing Industry in Massachusetts One of Many to Be Impacted by Silicon Valley Bank Fiasco

BU Law Events

"Race-Disability Intersectionality as a Health Equity Imperative" The Pike Lecture featuring Professor Mary Crossley, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

FGP Office Hours

CESLA: Supporting A Global Newsroom

BU Law: Let's Talk Wrongful Convictions

FGP x Latham & Watkins: Ask Us Anything

Homer Albers Prize Semifinal Round

Morrison & Foerster – Recruiting & Summer Program Experiences Panel

LLM Professional Development Judicial Clerkship Info Session

Why Study in Boston?