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University of North Carolina School of Law (Chapel Hill)Introduction The University of North Carolina (UNC) - Chapel Hill is one of the premiere public institutions in America. Founded in 1795, UNC holds the distinction of being the nation’s first state university. Consistently recognized as one of the top public law schools in the country, UNC effectively serves as a regional leader in legal education. Priding itself on its commitment to public service, UNC Chapel Hill offers a unique opportunity to its students in the forms of the Center for Civil Rights and the Center for Poverty, Work, and Opportunity. These opportunities, coupled with low tuition and excellent employment prospects helped UNC to earn a rank of 36 in the most recent 2008 US News Law School Rankings. Admissions & Tuition at UNC Law School Currently UNC has 24,000 students pursuing degrees in more than 100 fields of study. Of this, 715 full-time students attend the law school. On average there are 3,600 applicants for 230 spots. Last year 557 applicants were accepted, which equates to an acceptance rate of about 15%. Applicants’ LSAT scores range from 158 - 164 with the median at 162, while the GPA range is 3.47 - 3.84 with the median at 3.70. The majority of the students are in-state residents (77%) and minorities make up about 21% of the class. The median age was 23 and 14% of the class were 28 years or older. UNC does not offer a part-time program so all students, regardless of age and experience, are on full-time status. The University of North Carolina School of Law requires their own set of essay questions and the admissions committee seeks to bring together a diverse class with a wide variety of experiences and a substantial diversity of viewpoints. The in-state tuition of just over $12,900 is one of the lowest in the country and out-of-state tuition is approximately $26,000. The estimated living expenses for singles is around $16,000 with the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment in Chapel Hill, NC being around $864. The average UNC law student graduates with about $54,000 in debt. The UNC Law School Facility and Campus UNC’s Law School is located on the beautiful 729 acre University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill campus. The law school building itself is aesthetically pleasing and provides a traditional, ‘homey’ feel for the students. While the fluorescent lightning could be upgraded as they make the classrooms feel a bit dim, the building is well-kept and offers a tremendous amount of study and research space. The library at the University of North Carolina is ranked among the top research libraries in the United States and Canada by the Association of Research Libraries and the school’s library system is comprised of over 4 million volumes. The University of North Carolina Law School is located in the Van Hecke-Wettach Hall which is surrounded by the campus sports complex. UNC’s Tar Heel sports teams play a large role at UNC with the NCAA Men’s Basketball team having won 4 national championships. The school has produced stellar sports alumni such as Michael Jordan and women’s soccer star Mia Hamm. In addition to the great sports action, the campus also offers a wide variety of fine and performing arts events, lecture series, intramural sports, an active Greek system and numerous volunteer opportunities. Legal Specialties The University of North Carolina School of Law is known for its commitment to public service and social responsibility. As such, the school looks favorably on students who have compassion and a commitment to helping others. To achieve this end, UNC has established The Center for Civil Rights and The Center for Poverty, Work, and Opportunity, which is led by former North Carolina senator John Edwards, a well-known UNC School of Law alumnus. Due to the affordable tuition rate students are able to consider employment opportunities in the government and public service sectors after graduation. All law students are afforded innumerable volunteer opportunities through these Centers and the local community while studying at UNC. Another strength of UNC Law School is their ability to capitalize on UNC-Chapel Hill’s top 20 business school. Students interested in securities and finance law find University of North Carolina is an ideal place to study as Charlotte, NC is the second largest financial and banking center in America after Wall Street. The University of North Carolina Law School offers several joint degree programs, which include Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Public Health (MPH), Public Policy (MPP through Duke University), Regional Planning (MRP), Social Work (MSW), Sports Administration, Science in Library Science (MSLS) or Science in Information Science (MSIS). Quality of Life The UNC campus is one of the most beautiful in America. With stately oak trees soaring over brick walkways, botanical gardens and landscaped lawns under wide open skies, the campus has an idyllic park-like setting. This beauty is carried over into the town of Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is located at the western tip of “Research Triangle”, which encompasses the Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Durham area. Known as “the Silicon Valley of the East” it is home to many scientific, bio-tech, research and technology companies. Chapel Hill itself has a population of 45,000, and UNC students (64% undergrads, 29% grads, 7% professional programs) account for 24,000 of that total. The predominant student presence shapes much of the town’s social and cultural life. The model of a classic college town, Chapel Hill’s downtown area has everything a student could want. Franklin Street, center of the lively downtown area, features restaurants, clubs, bookstores, shops, coffee shops and theaters. The city boasts a thriving music scene having produced talented musicians including James Taylor and Ben Folds Five. Public transportation is free and it connects the campus with other areas of Chapel Hill and the nearby cities of Raleigh and Durham, home to Duke University. Employment Prospects and Bar Passage Upon graduation 84% of the graduates are employed with 96% employed within 9 months. Of those employed, 74% are employed in private practice, 9% in judicial clerkships, 9% in government, 5% in business/corporate counsel, 2% in non-profit legal services and 1% in academia. Over half of the graduates accept employment in North Carolina, understandable considering the large number of in-state students. Graduates of UNC Law School have successfully found employment with firms in Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta and New York. Although UNC’s reputation is strongest in North Carolina and the Southeast, graduates can be found in each of the 50 United States and in 15 foreign countries. Of the 143 students who recently took the North Carolina bar exam, 85% passed on their first attempt. The state’s average first-time passage rate is 75%. 20 students chose to take the New York bar exam and 95% passed on first try with New York’s average being 75%. Conclusion: The University of North Carolina School of Law provides a wonderful, laid-back environment to study law with diverse students, outstanding faculty, and a supportive alumni network. The school’s commitment to social responsibility and public service coupled with the low tuition offers students a unique opportunity to graduate with a strong resume in volunteer work and very little student loan debt. The UNC School of Law is a good choice for most, but an excellent option for North Carolina’s residents who benefit from the low in-state tuition. Contact Information for University of North Carolina School of Law: Van Hecke - Wettach Hall Quick Reference: U.S. News Ranking: 36th |
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