Widener University Commonwealth Law School

What Widener University Commonwealth Law School does

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is an ABA-accredited private law school established in 1989 and operated as a regional campus of Widener University in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It serves prospective Juris Doctor students through a 3-year full-time program and a 4-year part-time extended division program that allows working professionals to study while employed, supplemented by specialized certificate tracks in Advocacy, Administrative/Constitutional Law, Business Advising, Environmental Law, and Legislation & Public Policy.

The school's core products are its JD program and a portfolio of practical learning offerings: the Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic, Clinical/Judicial/Business Advising Externships, and the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program (ITAP). It also runs a JD & Online MBA dual degree and a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program for practicing attorneys. The underlying technology stack is conventional non-AI educational infrastructure, consisting of Canvas LMS, ExamSoft, BARBRI for bar prep, 12twenty for career services, and Blackbaud for donor management; there is no proprietary technology platform and no AI capability disclosed. Signature institutes include the Law and Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Business Advising Program, and Center for Equity and Justice, with the Center for Equity and Justice housing the Pathway Program for first-generation law students.

Revenue is generated primarily from tuition and fees across the JD cohorts, with secondary streams from CLE programming and alumni donations/endowments. Marketing and distribution are conducted through LSAC's centralized application processing, campus information sessions, pre-law webinars, a student ambassador program, alumni referrals, and a multi-platform social media presence. The school's principal competitive advantages are its Harrisburg capital-region location (which provides direct access to Pennsylvania state government and courts for externships and employment), consistent PreLaw Magazine recognition for trial advocacy and environmental law, and an alumni network concentrated in Pennsylvania government and regional legal employers.

Name

Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Legal name

Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Website

https://commonwealthlaw.widener.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is an ABA-accredited private law school in Harrisburg, PA, offering 3-year full-time and 4-year part-time JD programs, certificate tracks, dual-degree options, and CLE programming, serving prospective lawyers, working professionals, veterans, and first responders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools (EDAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Law Schools (e.g., Tax, IP, International, Trial Advocacy) (EDAHAIAF), Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs (EDAHAIAH), Legal & Compliance (CLE, Paralegal CE) (EDAAALAB)

Keywords

• Legal education
• Juris Doctor program
• Trial advocacy training
• Environmental law studies
• Bar exam preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from JD program tuition for full-time (3-year) and part-time/extended division (4-year) programs. Tuition varies for in-state vs out-of-state students.
2. Continuing Legal Education (CLE): Revenue from CLE programs offered to practicing attorneys for professional development credits.
3. Donations and Endowments: Alumni giving and donor contributions support scholarships, programs, and institutional priorities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is a private ABA-accredited law school offering a Juris Doctor (JD) degree through full-time (3-year) and part-time/extended division (4-year) programs in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The school supplements its core JD program with specialized certificates, dual degree options (JD & Online MBA), clinical legal education, externships, and Continuing Legal Education for practicing attorneys.

Product overview

Widener University Commonwealth Law School is a law school offering a unified JD program with flexible scheduling (3-year full-time and 4-year part-time options), supplemented by signature programs (Law and Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, Business Advising Program, Center for Equity and Justice), certificate programs (Advocacy, Administrative/Constitutional Law, Business Advising, Environmental Law, Legislation & Public Policy), and practical learning (Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic, Externship Programs, ITAP). The institution also offers dual degree options (JD & MBA) and continuing legal education for alumni.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Law and Government Institute: Signature program focusing on administrative law, constitutional law, environmental law, government contracting, legislation and public policy
• Environmental Law and Sustainability Center
• Business Advising Program
• Center for Equity and Justice
• Central Pennsylvania Law Clinic
• Widener Commonwealth Law Review

Products and services

• Juris Doctor (JD) Program Full-time 3-year and part-time 4-year Juris Doctor programs providing comprehensive legal education leading to bar admission. Designed for prospective law students seeking to become licensed attorneys in Pennsylvania and beyond.
• Dual Degree Program (JD & Online MBA) Combined Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degree program allowing students to earn both degrees in an accelerated timeframe. Designed for working professionals and career-focused students seeking dual credentials in law and business.
• Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Professional development programs for alumni and practicing legal professionals to maintain bar membership and earn CLE credits while advancing legal knowledge. Targeted at practicing attorneys requiring ongoing education.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• LSAC (Law School Admission Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for law school application processing and admissions services. Widener Law Commonwealth participates in LSAC's application system for prospective student processing.
• Pennsylvania State Government AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExternship and employment pipeline connecting students with state government. Alumni serve in Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Governor's administration, and Senate.
• American Bar Association (ABA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Jill Family elected to chair ABA Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice. Section provides networking, law reform, and educational programming for members.
• American Law InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Juliet Moringiello was an elected member. Professor Jill Family also elected to ALI. Organization produces scholarly legal work to clarify and improve the law.
• Pennsylvania Bar AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty and students participate in PBA sections. Professor Moringiello chaired Business Law Section and played key role in UCC enactment in Pennsylvania.
• Uniform Law Commission / ULCmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Moringiello served as Uniform Law Commissioner for Pennsylvania and co-chaired study committees on emerging legal issues.
• Widener UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw school is part of Widener University system, enabling dual degree programs including JD & Online MBA partnership.
• Regional Law Firms and EmployerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-campus recruiting and career development partnerships with regional and national law firms for student employment and post-graduation placement.
• U.S. Navy Office of General CounselmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMegan Martin '94 worked with the Department of Navy's Office of General Counsel, and WLC provides teaching positions for legal methods instruction.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law: Private Catholic-affiliated law school near Philadelphia with JD, certificate programs, and clinical offerings. Comparable private-school size, mission-driven identity, and Mid-Atlantic professional placement.
• Temple University Beasley School of Law: Pennsylvania-based ABA-accredited law school with similar JD offerings, trial advocacy strength, and Philadelphia-area employer pipelines. Comparable public-sector and litigation training emphasis, though larger.
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law: Pennsylvania ABA-accredited law school with JD program and certificates, strong regional recruitment and government placement. Comparable public-university status and Pennsylvania legal market focus.
• Widener University Delaware Law School: Sister law school under the same Widener University parent, offering JD and corporate/immigration specialties in Delaware. Same institutional brand, governance, and admissions infrastructure as Widener Law Commonwealth.
• University of Baltimore School of Law: Mid-Atlantic ABA-accredited law school in a state capital (Maryland) with JD, certificates, and strong public-sector/government placement. Comparable capital-city location advantage and public-service mission.
• Rutgers Law School: ABA-accredited public law school with Camden and Newark campuses, serving the Mid-Atlantic region with similar JD and certificate structures and state-government placement. Comparable public-sector pipeline and trial/certificate offerings.
• Penn State Dickinson Law: ABA-accredited Pennsylvania-based law school with a Carlisle campus (also near the state capital region) offering JD and dual-degree programs. Most direct comparable peer given similar size, geography, and Pennsylvania public-sector placement strength.
• Duquesne University School of Law: Private Catholic-affiliated law school in Pittsburgh, PA with JD and certificate programs serving a similar Mid-Atlantic professional market. Comparable private-school scale and clinical/experiential learning emphasis.
• Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law: Philadelphia-based private law school offering JD programs with co-op and experiential learning emphasis. Comparable private-school scale and Philadelphia/Pennsylvania employer market overlap.

Regional players

• Seton Hall University School of Law: Private Catholic-affiliated law school in Newark, NJ serving the broader Mid-Atlantic/Northeast market. Comparable private-school scale, mission-driven identity, and public-sector/clerkship placement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/widenerlawcw
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPoaNyURQqTtMWzDeJt1kYg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WidenerLawCommonwealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/widener-university-commonwealth-law-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/widenerlawcw

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Widener University Commonwealth Law School