Widener University Commonwealth Law School is enhancing the certificate program offered by its Law and Government Institute to provide even more robust opportunities for students pursuing careers at the intersection of law, government, and public policy. The program is introducing a new government contracting certificate and expanding its legislation certificate into the more comprehensive legislation and public policy certificate. These updates reflect Widener Law Commonwealth’s commitment to shaping the next generation of legal professionals with specialized knowledge and skills.
"The institute is committed to helping students develop careers in government law. We constantly look for ways to enhance our student experience. Our new and enhanced certificates are a result of those efforts," said Jill Family, associate dean for faculty research and development, professor of law, and faculty advisor to the Law and Government Institute. "They will allow students to develop skills in demand both in the private and public sectors."
The government contracting certificate comes at a crucial time when government agencies and vendors are increasingly in need of lawyers with specialized expertise in negotiating, drafting, and implementing contracts between public and private entities for goods and services. The Governor’s Office of General Counsel, which provides lawyers to more than 30 agencies of Pennsylvania state government, was instrumental in encouraging and supporting this new offering, recognizing the growing demand for legal professionals in this field.
"The Office of General Counsel recognizes the growing need for expertise in government contracting. By providing students with essential skills and knowledge related to the complexities of procurement and transaction legal work, Widener Law Commonwealth is providing a foundation for the next generation of lawyers who may want to dedicate themselves to public service," said Jennifer Selber, general counsel to Gov. Josh Shapiro and head of the Office of General Counsel.
Another exciting update is the legislation and public policy certificate, which now includes a broader range of topics, reflecting the growing intersection of law, public policy and civic engagement.
To earn a law and government certificate, students must complete a set of core and elective courses and achieve a threshold grade point average in those courses. Students pursuing certificates must also complete a work and a writing requirement to gain real-world exposure while honing their academic skills.
The government contracting certificate includes core courses such as government contracting and contract drafting, while the legislation and public policy certificate includes courses like legislation and legislative drafting, along with electives like election law, voting rights, and tax policy. The other certificates currently offered by the Law and Government Institute are administrative/constitutional law and environmental law.
For more information about the law and government certificate program and to explore how these changes can enhance your law school experience, visit Widener Law Commonwealth’s website.
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