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The University of Tennessee College of LawWritten by Hadi Sedigh
Admissions and Tuition: Although the University of Tennessee Law School annually receives fewer applications than similarly regarded schools, the school maintains a high level of selectivity in its admissions process. For the entering class of 2007, University of Tennessee Law School received 1,408 applications, admitted 411 applicants, of whom 171 chose to matriculate at the school to form the entering class. The median LSAT score of those admitted in this admissions cycle was 160, while the median GPA was 3.59. Generally speaking, applicants with numbers near or above these medians will be competitive in future admissions cycles at the school, while applicants with numbers well above these medians will likely be considered for one of the many significant scholarships handed out by the school each year. Applicants with numbers lower than these medians, on the other hand, should take care to highlight the ways in which they might be able to contribute to the student body of University of Tennessee Law School, which, like most other law schools, aims to put together a student body that is diverse in ethnicity, background, and experience. As mentioned in the introduction, attending the U. of Tennessee law school is a shrewd financial decision for residents of the state of Tennessee. For the 2006-2007 academic year, in-state tuition at the school was $11,502, while out-of-state tuition was $27,762. It bears mention that non-resident students who intend to reside indefinitely in the state of Tennessee after graduation generally should be able to establish residency after their first years at the law school. Academics and Curriculum: Before embarking on the standard set of first-year law school requirements, students at U. of Tennessee Law School partake in a week-long series of mini-courses that serve as an introduction to the study of the law and help first-year students with the usually difficult transition to law school. After their first and most rigorous year at the law school is passed, U. of Tennessee Law School students can choose from among 70 elective courses in various areas of the law to complete the 89 credit-hours required for graduation. Given the school’s small student body size and impressive faculty to student ration of 10.9 to 1, it comes as no surprise that neither securing a seat in elective courses nor establishing contact with professors is a problem for U. of Tennessee Law students. Aside from required and elective courses, various opportunities are available at the school for law students who wish to further tailor their legal education to their particular interests. Students looking to take on interdisciplinary pursuits can take advantage of the JD/MBA or JD/MPA dual-degree programs, while students who hope to gain practical legal experience can partake in one of the school’s several clinics, such as the Mediation Clinic and the Business Clinic. Quality of Life:
Employment Prospects and Bar Passage: Employment prospects for University of Tennessee law school students are strongest in the state of Tennessee, and are relatively strong in the Southeast region as well. Typically, about 75% of graduates of U. of Tennessee Law begin working in Tennessee, and around 15% find employment in the Southeast region. Outside of these two areas, employment prospects are less impressive, and students hoping to work in other areas usually face a much more arduous job search. That said, the school’s career services office and alumni network assist students in their job search regardless of where they hope to find employment, and altogether, about 97% of students are typically employed within 9 months of graduation. Of the Class of 2006, 57% entered the private sector, earning a median first year salary of $70,000. In terms of bar passage, graduates of U. of Tennessee Law School generally do well. Recently 89% of the graduates of the school taking the Tennessee bar exam for the first time passed, compared to an 80% overall passage rate for the state. Synopsis: For residents of the state of Tennessee, as well as applicants who hope to secure employment in the state, the University of Tennessee College of Law is a fine and affordable option. While at the school, students are likely to enjoy being a part of a small and intimate student body and will also likely experience a high quality of life. Contact Information: 1505 W. Cumberland Avenue, Suite 161 Quick Reference: U.S. News 2008 ranking: 53rd |
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The University of Tennessee College of Law is a public law school located on the University of Tennessee’s main campus in Knoxville. The school offers applicants the opportunity to study law as part of a small student body that enjoys one of the best faculty to student ratios in the country. At the same time, students at the school benefit from reliable employment prospects in Tennessee and its neighboring states, while residents of Tennessee pay in-state tuition and consequently stack up relatively low law school debt. Therefore, the University of Tennessee College of Law is a great place to study law for residents of Tennessee as well as for applicants with hopes of practicing law in and around the state. 
Students of U. of Tennessee Law School enjoy a high quality of life in Knoxville. The University of Tennessee’s main campus dominates the college town, which provides law students countless opportunities to make the most of their scarce fee time. At nights, students can spend time in one of the many bars, clubs and restaurants in Knoxville, while before and after classes, students can hang out in one of the many cafes and affordable eateries near the school’s campus. Furthermore, given Knoxville’s location at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains, law students will also have plenty of opportunity to partake in outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, fishing, and mountain climbing. Meanwhile, law students can socialize amongst each other through weekly bar reviews dubbed Rumps Court, and can also join in on the Greek parties that have earned the University of Tennessee a place among the nation’s best party schools. In terms of housing, law students generally experience few problems, as affordable and suitable apartments are available near the law school campus and throughout Knoxville. Safety and traffic are generally not issues for law students either, and those who have complained about the parking situation at the law school readily admit that it is not an intolerable situation. All this considered, it seems safe to say that most law students will enjoy their three year stay at U. of Tennessee Law.