Faith and ReasonWhat students find here is a community of scholars and committed staff who propose to them the beauty and goodness of the Catholic faith and the profound joy of the search for truth. They also find a law school that is rare in its commitment to illuminating the relationship between faith and reason, and a caring community that supports them to cultivate a deep understanding of themselves and discover how they will serve the world.
The Catholic University of America is unique among universities in the United States — even among Catholic universities. We are the national university of the Catholic Church in America and the nation’s oldest Catholic research university. Even our location in the nation’s capital and our co-location with the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception speak to our unique position and responsibility.
We are proud to offer $1,000 scholarships to graduates of The Cardinal Newman Society List schools or students involved in Newman Centers on their campuses. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years. Please note your involvement with the Newman Society or associated Centers in your personal statement, as all eligible J.D. students are considered for this scholarship during the admissions process. No separate application is required.
Catholic Law features several centers dedicated to upholding core commitments to the Catholic intellectual tradition. The Center for Law and the Human Person prioritizes the dignity of every human life, guiding both legal study and practice. The Center for Religious Liberty champions the perspective on religious freedom as a fundamental human right. Meanwhile, the Center for the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition investigates the relationship between Catholic thought and American constitutionalism. Lastly, the Separation of Powers Institute focuses on the federal constitutional framework, highlighting the significance of divided powers. Collectively, these centers engage in scholarly research, education, and public discourse, seamlessly integrating Catholic values into legal education and practice.
Clinical skills are essential for the law's function as a means of aid and protection, especially for society's most vulnerable individuals. The law school’s clinical programs offer students invaluable hands-on experience in representing real clients who face genuine legal challenges in actual courtrooms, all under the guidance of experienced faculty. Established in 1969 to address students' desires to enhance their legal expertise while serving the community, Columbus Community Legal Services provides free, high-quality legal assistance to individuals and families in need throughout the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area.
Student organizations play a vital role in the law school experience, with nearly 40 different groups available, ranging from professional interests to community service initiatives. This diversity offers students numerous opportunities to get involved, and many participate in multiple organizations.
Gerald Sharpe '25 is a third-year law student at the Columbus School of Law. Originally from Monmouth County, New Jersey, he graduated magna cum laude from The Catholic University of America where he studied Philosophy and Politics. At Catholic Law, he serves as the Lead Articles Editor of the Catholic University Law Review, the President of Federalist Society, a student worker for the Center on the Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, and a competing member of the Moot Court and National Trial teams. He has interned for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the Department of Justice, and for Judge Richard J. Leon on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He was also a Summer Associate at Squire Patton Boggs, where he will return after graduation before clerking at the federal level.
Mirror of Justice Lecture Series
Mary, Mirror of Justice ChapelWhether you are coming to Mass for the first time or you’ve been attending your whole life, we invite students of every faith and background to come and see what it means to encounter the Lord through worship. Mary, Mirror of Justice Chapel is the "official" chapel of Catholic Law. Located on the third floor of the Law School, it was dedicated and blessed on February 13, 1996. The chapel seats 25 adults comfortably. Daily mass is held at 12:30 p.m. The space includes an area where students can draw their prayers and intentions in the sand. The small chapel is open to the entire campus community, including law, graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff. The Mary, Mirror of Justice Chapel is handicapped accessible.
