Duquesne University's first professional program, the school of law began as an evening program. It maintains its evening program today, along with full- and part-time JD divisions. Duquesne Law's academics focus on legal writing and trial advocacy, emphasizing the practical skills of lawyering. The JD curriculum has a heavier than usual load of requirements, with an extra six prescribed classes after the first-year core.

Specialty areas that students can concentrate in after the core include elder law, law and human resources, and commercial law. Duquesne Law also awards four concurrent degrees: a JD/MBA, JD MS in taxation, JD/MS in environmental science and managements, and a JD/MDiv. Duquesne's Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science, co-sponsored by several other graduate schools, operates a certification program in forensic science in which law students can participate.

In Vault's Buzz Book surveys, insiders note that employment prospects are best in Pennsylvania, but it can be difficult to get a foothold in the Pittsburgh law market. Duquesne Law is a commuter school, and students live around the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. After class, students head to bars on the Southside or Strip District to let off steam, but there is relatively little on-campus based social life.