Wayne State University Law School
Wayne State University Law School is an ABA-accredited public law school in Detroit, founded in 1927, offering J.D., LL.M., and M.S.L. programs with extensive experiential learning through seven client clinics, externships, moot court, and two research centers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1927
- HeadquartersDetroit, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wayne State University Law School does
Wayne State University Law School is an ABA-accredited public law school founded in 1927 in Detroit, Michigan, operating as a component of Wayne State University. It offers a J.D. program in both full-time (three-year) and part-time (four-year, evening) formats, LL.M. concentrations in Corporate and Finance Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Taxation, and an M.S.L. program for non-lawyers. The school has been continuously ABA-accredited since 1937 and currently enrolls students supported by 85+ employer recruiting relationships and a 12,450+ alumni network across the U.S. and 19 countries.
The school's core product is experiential legal education, delivered through seven client-facing clinics (Asylum and Immigration Law, Business and Community Law, Community Advocacy, Disability Law, Immigration Appellate Advocacy, Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer, and Appeal and Post-Conviction Advocacy), five externship tracks (Corporate Counsel, Holistic Defense, Judicial, Public Service, and Lawyering in the Nation's Capital), and co-curricular competitions including Moot Court (with a top-3% worldwide finish at the 2026 International Jessup Competition), Mock Trial, and Transactional LawMeet. The curriculum is supported by three student-edited journals (Wayne Law Review, Journal of Business Law, Journal of Law in Society) and two research centers: the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights (with a Detroit Equity Action Lab) and the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. Library services are provided through the Arthur Neef Law Library.
The business model is tuition-driven, with the school consistently holding the lowest tuition among Michigan law schools — a positioning reinforced by $8.2M+ in annual scholarships and 12+ years of "Best Value Law School" recognition. Secondary revenue and in-kind support come from external foundation grants (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, MacArthur Foundation), alumni and donor contributions, and cross-disciplinary partnerships with Lakeshore Legal Aid, Neighborhood Legal Services, Karmanos Cancer Center, the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office, and Wayne State's School of Social Work. The school also provides pro bono legal services to the metro Detroit community through its clinical programs, with students contributing over 13,000 hours of voluntary pro bono work annually, which functions as both a community-impact output and a reputational asset. The school is led by Acting Dean Lance Gable following the 2025 departure of Dean Richard A. Bierschbach, and employs between 51 and 100 staff and faculty in support of the academic mission.
Wayne State University Law School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wayne State University Law School
- Legal name
- Wayne State University Law School
- Website
- https://law.wayne.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1927
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Wayne State University Law School is an ABA-accredited public law school in Detroit, founded in 1927, offering J.D., LL.M., and M.S.L. programs with extensive experiential learning through seven client clinics, externships, moot court, and two research centers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wayne State University Law School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools (EDAHAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs (EDAHAIAC), Law School Research Centers & Institutes (e.g., Law & Economics, Human Rights) (EDAHAIAJ), Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs (EDAHAIAH)
Keywords
Where Wayne State University Law School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Detroit
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Wayne State University Law School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Michigan resident and non-resident law school tuition |
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
Wayne State University Law School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wayne State University Law School is an ABA-accredited law school that confers the Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), and Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degrees. The curriculum is anchored in experiential learning, with seven client-facing clinics, multiple externship tracks, moot court and mock trial competitions, and three student-edited law journals, supported by the Arthur Neef Law Library.
Product overview
Wayne State University Law School is a legal education institution offering a portfolio of degree programs and experiential learning opportunities. The core academic offerings include the three-year J.D. Program (full-time) and four-year J.D. Program (evening/part-time), the LL.M. Program with concentrations in Corporate and Finance Law, Labor and Employment Law, and Taxation, and the MSL Program for non-lawyers. Experiential education is central to the curriculum, delivered through seven client clinics (Asylum and Immigration Law Clinic, Business and Community Law Clinic, Community Advocacy Clinic, Disability Law Clinic, Immigration Appellate Advocacy Clinic, Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer Clinic, and Appeal and Post-Conviction Advocacy Clinic), multiple externship programs (Corporate Counsel, Holistic Defense, Judicial, Public Service, and Nation's Capital), and co-curricular programs (Moot Court, Mock Trial, and three student law journals: Wayne Law Review, Journal of Business Law, and Journal of Law in Society). Research centers include the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy. The institution also provides bar exam preparation support, academic success programming, and career services through the Office of Career Success.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- J.D. Program (Juris Doctor)
- LL.M. Program (Master of Laws)
- MSL Program (Master of Studies in Law)
- Seven Client Clinics
- Free Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC)
- Externship Programs
- Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
- Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy
- Arthur Neef Law Library
Quantifiable outcome
- 94.9% employment rate for Class of 2024 graduates in full-time, long-term positions requiring bar admission or where JD is an advantage
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Wayne State University Law School
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wayne State University Law School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Wayne State University Law School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lakeshore Legal AidcorePartnership for Free Legal Aid Clinic providing legal assistance to low-income individuals in Wayne County through student-supervised clinical work
- Neighborhood Legal ServicescorePartnership for Free Legal Aid Clinic providing legal assistance to indigent people through student clinical programs
- Karmanos Cancer CentercoreHealthcare partnership for Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer Clinic, where law students work with healthcare professionals to resolve legal issues affecting patient care
- Institute of Continuing Legal EducationminorJoint initiative with University of Michigan Law School formed in 1960 to provide Michigan lawyers with continuing legal education and resources
- Oakland UniversityminorPartnership allowing students to earn bachelor's degree and law degree in six years instead of seven
- Wayne State University College of Liberal Arts and SciencesminorPartnership allowing students to earn bachelor's degree and law degree in six years instead of seven
- Michigan State Appellate Defender OfficecorePartnership for Appeal and Post-Conviction Advocacy Clinic where students prepare briefs for indigent clients with pending felony appeals
- Wayne State University School of Social WorkcoreCross-disciplinary partnership for Holistic Defense Externship combining legal and social work approaches to criminal justice representation
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wayne State University Law School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DePaul University College of Law: ABA-accredited Chicago-based law school with a comparable urban mission and tuition-value positioning. Direct competitor for Midwestern applicants prioritizing practical training and lower debt.
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law: ABA-accredited Midwestern law school with a strong social justice and clinical mission. Comparable to Wayne Law in size, ranking tier, and emphasis on experiential learning for urban populations.
- Michigan State University College of Law: ABA-accredited law school in East Lansing, Michigan. Direct peer for in-state applicants and J.D./LL.M. programs; competes closely on tuition-value positioning and employment outcomes in the Michigan market.
- University of Michigan Law School: Top-10 nationally ranked ABA-accredited law school located in Michigan. Most direct peer — same ABA accreditation, same J.D./LL.M. offerings, and competes for the same Michigan applicant pool, though at the opposite end of the prestige spectrum.
- Indiana University Maurer School of Law: ABA-accredited public law school at a Big Ten peer university with a comparable tier ranking and similar mix of J.D., LL.M., and clinical programs. Comparable in size, ranking range, and Midwestern applicant draw.
- Ohio State University Moritz College of Law: ABA-accredited public Big Ten law school in Columbus, Ohio. Direct peer in the same public-research-university category with overlapping Midwestern applicant base and similar J.D./LL.M. portfolio.
- University of Detroit Mercy School of Law: ABA-accredited private law school located in downtown Detroit. Direct geographic and curricular peer sharing Wayne Law's Detroit metro applicant base and a similar mission orientation toward social justice and practical training.
- Western Michigan University Cooley Law School: ABA-accredited law school with Michigan campuses. Direct peer offering J.D. and LL.M. programs; competes for Michigan and national applicants, particularly on affordability and bar passage.
- Cleveland State University College of Law: ABA-accredited public urban law school in Cleveland. Closely comparable to Wayne Law on mission, size, ranking tier, and emphasis on public interest and clinical training in a Rust Belt urban setting.
- University of Wisconsin Law School: ABA-accredited public law school at a Big Ten university. Comparable in size, ranking tier, and mission; competes for similar regional applicants and has a comparable mix of clinical and LL.M. programs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wayne State University Law School social profiles
Digital presenceWayne State University Law School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Wayne State University Law School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wayne State University Law School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Wayne State University Law School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wayne State University Law School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wayne State University Law School
What does Wayne State University Law School do?
Wayne State University Law School is an ABA-accredited law school that confers the Juris Doctor (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), and Master of Studies in Law (MSL) degrees. The curriculum is anchored in experiential learning, with seven client-facing clinics, multiple externship tracks, moot court and mock trial competitions, and three student-edited law journals, supported by the Arthur Neef Law Library.
Is Wayne State University Law School a public or private company?
Wayne State University Law School is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Wayne State University Law School founded?
Wayne State University Law School was founded in 1927. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Wayne State University Law School based?
Wayne State University Law School is headquartered in Detroit, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Wayne State University Law School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DePaul University College of Law, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Michigan State University College of Law, University of Michigan Law School, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, Cleveland State University College of Law and University of Wisconsin Law School.
Does Wayne State University Law School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wayne State University Law School.
What industry is Wayne State University Law School in?
Wayne State University Law School's product category is Legal Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAIAA, ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools, with a secondary code of EDAHAIAC, LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs. Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.