This year WashU Law welcomes the JD Class of 2029, alongside students in our LLM, MLS, and JSD programs.
“Our newest students arrive at WashU Law with an extraordinary range of experiences, ambitions and perspectives,” said Dean Stefanie Lindquist. “They are joining a community that values rigorous legal education, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to making a difference. We are excited to see how their individual experiences shape our community and, ultimately, the legal profession.”
A JD class with many paths to law school
The incoming JD class represents 34 states plus the District of Columbia, and 11 countries. The class speaks 33 languages and represents 52 undergraduate majors. Political Science is the most represented undergraduate major, but the class extends far beyond the traditional pre-law path.
The majority of the class brings professional experience from careers and other professions including teaching, filmmaking, nonprofits, law enforcement, military service, and entrepreneurship.
For Elizabeth Walsh, associate dean of student life, the range of experience represented in the class is one of its defining strengths.
“Law school is enriched when students arrive with different perspectives on the world and different reasons for pursuing a legal education,” Walsh said. “This class brings an impressive combination of academic preparation, professional experience, and personal perspective. We look forward to seeing the ways they challenge one another, learn from one another and grow together over the next three years.”
A global graduate community
The students in the LLM, MLS and JSD cohort represent 27 countries and speak 16 languages. Students come from countries including Australia, Albania, Cameroon, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.
The cohort includes many students who have attended another graduate or professional school, and one Fulbright student from Iraq, adding to the cross-cultural learning that is central to WashU Laws graduate programs.
“These students bring the world with them,” said Jeanne Heil-Chapdelaine, assistant dean and director, graduate and international programs. “Their experiences with different legal systems, cultures and professional environments create an extraordinary opportunity for all of us to learn from one another. Our goal is not simply to welcome international students to WashU Law, but to build a community in which their perspectives are an integral part of the educational experience.”
Together, these incoming WashU Law students bring a breadth of experiences and perspectives that will enrich the law school both inside and outside the classroom. From different countries and legal systems to a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds, they arrive ready to learn from one another and contribute to vitality of the WashU Law community.
Creative legal minds, in motion
From courtrooms to classrooms, film sets to forward operating bases, this incoming class arrives already thinking like problem-solvers; these creative legal minds are ready to put their varied experiences to work. As they begin orientation and settle into life at WashU Law, the excitement across the community is palpable. The year ahead promises rigorous coursework, new friendships, and the kind of collaborative energy that comes from bringing so many perspectives into one place. Welcome to WashU Law — we can’t wait to see what this class builds.
