parker09 wrote:
Can anyone who attended this latest ASW post any details? On students, buildings, profs, and both private and public career services? Would super-much appreciate it!
STUDENTS
I had the opportunity to speak with and get to know a number of 1L's, and got along with them all really well. I'll admit that I'm a pretty cynical person, generally speaking, and was fully prepared for Vandy's reputation as a "kinder, gentler" law school to be nothing more than hype. But, by the end of the weekend, I was delighted to have been proven wrong; the atmosphere here is just as collegial as they make it sound, and the school's small size and lack of a ranking system seems to help this. Every 1L I met knew the names of the people in their sections, as well as a fair amount of the people in the other section. The students are all smart and highly motivated, each wanting to do their best, but I never got the feeling that they were all that cut-throat about it. They all just seemed happy to be there.
BUILDINGS
The law building was renovated in the early 2000's. During the ASW an admissions officer gave us a quick tour, and we got to see the inside of the library as well as a few lecture halls. No complaints there, really. There are lots of tall windows that let in natural light, and a small courtyard where people can have lunch. It's certainly not gloomy or depressing at all.
PROFESSORS
Those of us who came during the April 9th ASW got the pleasure of sitting through a mock Civil Procedures class led by professor Stack. Before it started, I heard him affectionately described by a 2L as "a humingbird on crack" and was really eager to meet him in person. As promised he is super energetic and enthusiastic, which I thought was wonderful because his energy seemed to carry over into the students. I can tell he's a great professor.
In general, the professors are described as being eager to teach and quite friendly in person. You won't get any of them handing you a dime to go call your mother and tell her you'll never be a lawyer.