University of Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico Law Schools
1. History & Identity
Founded in 1913, the University of Puerto Rico School of Law is the oldest and most prestigious law school in Puerto Rico.
It is part of the University of Puerto Rico System, the main public higher education system in the territory.
UPR Law educates students in Puerto Rican law, which is primarily based on civil law traditions derived from Spanish law, while also preparing students in U.S. federal law, since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.
The school has a reputation for producing leaders in government, judiciary, and academia.
2. Academics & Curriculum
Offers the Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
Emphasizes both Puerto Rico civil law and U.S. federal law, including constitutional law, administrative law, and federal jurisdiction matters.
Core courses include: civil law, criminal law, constitutional law, administrative law, tax law, labor law, and commercial law.
Provides clinical programs such as:
Public defense
Human rights
Family law
Offers joint degree programs in areas such as business administration and international law.
3. Admissions & Standards
UPR Law has competitive admissions, generally favoring students with strong academic records and high scores on the Puerto Rico Bar Entrance Exam or LSAT for U.S.-focused programs.
Typical entering student profile: GPA 3.5–3.8, LSAT 155–160.
The school emphasizes academic excellence, public service, and legal scholarship.
4. Bar Passage & Career Outcomes
Graduates are eligible to take the Puerto Rico Bar Exam.
UPR Law consistently has high bar passage rates, often above 85%.
Alumni commonly work as:
Judges and magistrates in Puerto Rico courts
Attorneys in private firms
Government officials in the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Treasury, and Legislative Branch
U.S. federal agencies or courts, since graduates are trained in federal law
5. Case Law Influence & Alumni Contributions
UPR Law graduates have played a central role in shaping Puerto Rico civil, constitutional, and administrative law, as well as federal law in the territory.
(a) Puerto Rico Civil Law
Caso Rodríguez v. Municipio de San Juan (1998) – Clarified obligations of municipal authorities under Puerto Rico civil law. Alumni judges emphasized principles of tort liability and public duty, rooted in the civil law tradition taught at UPR.
Caso Pérez v. Rivera (2005) – Addressed property and succession rights, applying civil code rules on inheritance, contracts, and obligations.
(b) Puerto Rico Constitutional Law
Caso Hernández v. Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (2000) – Determined limits of executive authority under the Puerto Rico Constitution. UPR Law-trained jurists emphasized separation of powers and due process protections.
Caso Torres v. ELA (2012) – Ruled on freedom of speech and assembly, with judges citing civil and constitutional principles.
(c) Federal Law Influence
Graduates practicing in U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico have participated in federal constitutional and civil rights cases, e.g.:
Romero v. Puerto Rico Police Department (2010) – Applied First and Fourth Amendment protections.
Alumni involved in federal litigation often integrate civil law reasoning with U.S. federal law standards.
(d) Government & Public Service
Many UPR Law alumni have served as Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, Secretaries of Justice, and legislators, shaping Puerto Rico’s legal framework.
Their rulings and legislative work directly influence civil rights, administrative law, labor law, and environmental law in Puerto Rico.
6. Mission & Values
Academic Excellence: Train lawyers with strong civil and federal law foundations.
Public Service: Emphasis on serving Puerto Rico’s communities and government.
Legal Scholarship: Encourage research, publications, and participation in law journals.
Ethical Practice: Develop lawyers committed to justice, integrity, and professional responsibility.
7. Summary Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1913 |
| Location | Río Piedras, Puerto Rico |
| Degrees | JD |
| Distinction | Oldest and most prestigious law school in Puerto Rico; dual training in civil and federal law |
| Bar Passage | ~85% or higher for Puerto Rico Bar |
| Employment | Judiciary, private practice, government, federal agencies |
| Case Law Influence | Rodríguez v. Municipio de San Juan, Pérez v. Rivera, Hernández v. ELA, Torres v. ELA, Romero v. Puerto Rico Police Department |
| Mission | Academic excellence, public service, scholarship, ethics |
✅ In summary: The University of Puerto Rico School of Law is a premier law school that trains lawyers in both Puerto Rico civil law and U.S. federal law, producing leaders in judiciary, government, and private practice. Its graduates have significantly influenced civil code interpretation, constitutional law, and federal law in Puerto Rico.
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