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ҹɫÍõ³¯Dedman School of Law has joined a small group of the nation’s law schools that earned an “A+” ranking from The National Jurist’s preLaw magazine for the strength and breadth of our business law program that combines coursework with real-world, experiential legal opportunities.

The listing, called the “Business Law Honor Roll,” graded U.S. law schools on a scale of A+ to A-, with only 17 schools — including ҹɫÍõ³¯Dedman Law — receiving the highest marks. This top score joins Dedman Law’s “A+” ranking in IP Law from the magazine.

“Tomorrow’s corporate lawyers need more than legal knowledge — they need business instincts too,” the article stated. “Business law is broad and fast-moving... To succeed, students need a strong foundation in legal principles plus an understanding of finance, strategy and risk. Whether advising on contracts or navigating global markets, today’s business lawyers must think like problem-solvers and speak the language of business.”

Not only does Dedman Law’s location in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex provide unequaled opportunities for students interested in immersing themselves in the business world, our academic programs such as the combined J.D./M.B.A. program offered jointly by Dedman Law and the Cox School of Business — as well as the J.D./M.A. in Economics program, the Accelerated Tax LL.M. option and the brand new online Master of Legal Studies program — are designed for law practice with a strong business background and for business careers with a strong legal background.

These programs, taught by some of the nation’s leading business and legal scholars, help students achieve an understanding of commercial affairs from both the legal and business standpoints.

Dedman Law is also home to our Corporate Counsel Externship Program where, each year, approximately 120 students participate in an innovative experience that combines a corporate counsel course with externships in area corporate legal departments. The capstone learning experience supplements our rich business law curriculum with hands-on legal work.

More than 1,000 ҹɫÍõ³¯Dedman Law students have completed the program since its launch in 2013, many of whom now work in-house at corporate legal departments including Microsoft, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, Fluor, Southwest Airlines, AT&T, Yum! Brands, and Goldman Sachs.

Meanwhile, one-third of the school’s nine legal clinics focus on providing on-the-job experience for students interested in the intersection of business and law, including the Small Business and Trademark Clinic, the Federal Tax Clinic, and the Patent Law Clinic.

“Innovative degree programs, corporate counsel externships, and even business-focused clinics and legal centers like our Robert B. Rowling Center for Business Law and Leadership provide ҹɫÍõ³¯Dedman Law students with an unparalleled perspective of the practice of law and the corporate world,” said Dean Jason P. Nance. “Our students will be better prepared to practice law because they will have a greater understanding of the qualities and services corporations are looking for when they select outside counsel. By immersing students in dynamic, real-world situations, students learn in ways that can't be replicated in the classroom."

To see the full listing and the honor’s criteria, visit: