The first dean of Seton Hall University School of Law, Miriam T. Rooney, was also the first woman in to lead a U.S. law school. Seton Hall Law is also the first--and only--private law school in New Jersey. Academically, the school is known for its health care law program. The school's center for health and pharmaceutical law runs both JD and LLM specialty tracks as well as an MSJ in health law, science and technology. Students can also participate in an intellectual property law certification program; and the school is beginning an LLM program in IP law in fall 2009.

Seton Hall Law offers four joint degree programs, including a JD/MA in diplomacy and international relations and an MSJ/MD. The JD curriculum is pretty standard, and the grading curve is kept at a B- median. Most Seton Hall graduates practice in the tri-state area, concentrated in firms in New York City. But, as students report in Vault's surveys, the school's reputation in health law opens doors along the Northeastern corridor. While still in school, most Seton Hall Law students commute from New York City or Hoboken, as the school is only about a block away from Newark Penn Station. Nightlife in Newark is limited--and the city has its rough areas--so big social activities usually involve taking the train to another city.