AALS has launched a series that will highlight a different member school and focus on a recent program or accomplishment in order to showcase the rich variety of approaches to legal education that makes up the American legal academy. A list of past highlights is available below.

Member School Highlight – Seton Hall University School of Law

Location: Newark, New Jersey
Founded: 1951
Joined AALS: 1959
Dean: Ronald Weich

Founded in 1856, Seton Hall University’s dedication to education is rooted in public service, intellectual rigor, and ethical leadership. Seton Hall University School of Law opened its doors on February 5, 1951, under the historic leadership of Miriam T. Rooney, the first woman dean of an ABA-accredited law school, setting a powerful precedent for excellence and inclusion. Under her stewardship, Seton Hall Law grew rapidly, relocated to Newark in 1951, graduated its first class in 1954, achieved full ABA accreditation in 1955, and gained membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1959.

Throughout its early decades, Seton Hall Law developed a reputation for access and opportunity, educating generations of first-generation students, working professionals, and veterans. Faculty recruitment and programmatic expansion strengthened Seton Hall Law’s academic profile, while its institutional commitment to Newark became a defining feature of its identity. Seton Hall Law has emerged as a leader in specialized and interdisciplinary legal education and launched innovative graduate degrees, including the LL.M. and Master of Legal Studies programs, as well as week-long compliance training programs that serve professionals in health care, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Its 302 first-year J.D. students are following in the footsteps of notable graduates who assume leadership roles across the profession, including appointments to state and federal courts. New academic programs, experiential learning opportunities, international partnerships, and high-impact initiatives—such as the Last Chance Exoneration Project and Leadership Fellows Program—reinforced Seton Hall Law’s commitment to justice, innovation, and professional excellence. Today, Seton Hall Law, stewarded by Ronald Weich, builds upon a legacy of service, innovation, and excellence as it looks toward continued growth and impact in the years ahead.

Students walking the halls of Seton Hall University School of Law.

Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Seton Hall University School of Law distinguishes itself through innovative, in-demand programs that prepare its students for today’s evolving legal landscape. Seton Hall Law has been at the forefront of advancements in legal education with the launch of a Weekend Program, Legal Education Opportunity (LEO) program, Healthcare Law program, Gaming, Hospitality, Entertainment & Sports Law concentration, and exceptional training in Trial Advocacy and clinical education not to mention the Gibbons Institute for Law, Science & Technology, Institute for Privacy Protection, and Faith Values and the Rule of Law Program. All of these innovative programs uplifts the spirit of openness and inclusion that reflects the mission upon which Seton Hall Law was built.

“At Seton Hall University School of Law, we believe law is more than a career,” states Ronald Weich, Dean and Professor of Law at Seton Hall University School of Law. “My focus as a dean is to prepare lawyers who are both practice-ready and purpose-driven. Our society is deeply polarized, public trust in institutions is under strain, and the promise of equal justice under law remains unrealized. These realities demand lawyers who can adapt, think critically, and lead with ethics and conviction. At Seton Hall Law, we equip students with the skills, judgment, and moral compass to meet this moment with confidence and clarity. Through clinics, externships, and public service across New Jersey and beyond, we connect theory to practice and classrooms to communities. Seton Hall Law alumni are judges, legislators, prosecutors, public defenders, law firm partners, corporate counsel, and nonprofit leaders. They serve with distinction in New Jersey and across the country. As dean, I am advancing a vision grounded in excellence, access, and innovation—while remaining firmly rooted in our founding values. We are educating lawyers who understand both the power and the responsibility of the law, and are prepared to use it in the service of others. “