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Vanderbilt University Law School
Admissions and Tuition: The admissions process at Vanderbilt Law School, like at other elite law schools, is both fairly standard and highly selective. The school receives nearly 4,000 applications in a typical year, granting admission to less than 1,000 applicants, approximately 200 of which will form the next year’s entering class. Applicants can begin to get an idea of their chances of admission to Vanderbilt by weighing their LSAT score and GPA against the median scores and GPAs of recent entering classes. The median LSAT score for the 2007 entering class stood at an impressive 167, while the median GPA of this class was an also impressive 3.74. Though applicants with numbers near or above these medians have a much greater chance at admission than those with lesser numbers, Vanderbilt‘s highly detailed application-review process aims to look beyond an applicant’s numbers in forming a diverse student body. Therefore, applicants able to highlight and emphasize any sort of diversity that they could offer Vanderbilt, be it diversity in ethnicity, experience, or nationality, will likely see a significant increase in their chances at admission. Generally, the personal statement provides applicants a great opportunity to highlight diversity, but Vanderbilt also encourages students to admit separate diversity statements. Yearly tuition at Vanderbilt, like at other elite law schools, has nearly reached the $40,000 mark. For the 2007-2008 academic year, the exact figure is $39,500. According to the school’s calculations, total expenses for a student will be approximately $60,000 when the cost of living is added to the yearly tuition. To assist students in battling these expenses, Vanderbilt automatically considers all applicants for merit scholarships and grants these scholarships in various amounts, provides need-based financial aid and also has a loan repayment assistance program. Academic Reputation and Curriculum: Academic excellence is the norm for elite law schools like Vanderbilt, and few would argue with the school’s claim of having ‘an outstanding curriculum reinforced by innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to advanced training’. First-year students enroll in standard 1L courses such as Legal Writing, Contracts, and Torts, but have very few required courses for the remaining two years. More than 100 course titles are offered by Vanderbilt Law School to second and third year students, who are free to tailor their law education to their interests by choosing from among these elective courses. Impressively, nearly 60% of these upper-level courses feature an enrollment of less than 25. Vanderbilt Law School also offers several innovative academic programs. The school’s International Legal Studies Program, for example, offers a unique International Law Practice Lab that allows students to participate in projects for clients such as the Iraqi Special Tribunal and the International Criminal Court. Vanderbilt also houses noted interdisciplinary programs such as its Law and Business Program, and also offers a Ph.D. in Law and Economics. Of particular note is the school’s ‘Vanderbilt in Venice’ program, which allows students to study abroad in the charming Italian city under the guidance of Vanderbilt Law and University of Venice faculty.
According to a recent graduate, Nashville allows Vanderbilt Law students to reach “that elusive equilibrium of work and play”. Though the city offers all of the amenities and activities that a city should offer, it is not so large as to cause the hassles and headaches brought about by large metropolitan cities. Musical outlets are numerous, and there are plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants in which to pass prized free time. Although the Vanderbilt campus is near the heart of Nashville’s downtown, parking is not reported to be a problem. Housing is relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to cities such as New York and Los Angeles that are home to elite law schools held in similar regard as Vanderbilt. Also of note, Vanderbilt’s law school building recently underwent a complete renovation, leaving recent students and graduates impressed and satisfied by the school’s facilities. Lastly, because the law school is located on Vanderbilt University’s main campus, students can enjoy the university’s vast green grounds and numerous facilities. Employment Prospects and Bar Passage: More than 500 employers conduct on-campus interviews at Vanderbilt Law School each year, many from large American markets like Washington D.C. and Chicago, and others from international cities like London and Tokyo. Though Vanderbilt enjoys a solid reputation throughout the nation, job prospects for graduates are traditionally strongest in Washington D.C. and Atlanta, while the school’s reputation in New York and Chicago is steadily improving. Some graduates have expressed concern regarding Vanderbilt’s job placement on the West coast, although the school states that approximately 40 law firms from California come to Vanderbilt to conduct interviews in a typical year. The school’s career office is said to be “to die for” by a recent graduate, and reportedly will go to great lengths to help students land jobs, regardless of where they may stand in class rankings. A testament to the efforts of Vanderbilt’s career office is the fact that 94% of the class of 2007 had secured employment by graduation. Generally, Vanderbilt graduates are not impeded by the bar exam, as nearly 90% of those who sat for the exam in recent administrations in the state of Tennessee succeeded in passing the exam, compared to an overall 80% state-wide passage rate. Synopsis: Vanderbilt University Law School offers qualified applicants the chance to be a part of a small student body while living and studying in tranquil, yet lively, Nashville. With several innovative and interdisciplinary academic programs, the school allows students to explore the legal field during their time at the law school, while the school’s reputed faculty ensures that graduates leave with a solid legal academic foundation. When the school’s impressive national reputation and strong job placement are also taken into account, it becomes evident that the Vanderbilt University Law School offers everything that most candidates could want in a law school. Contact Information: 131 21st Avenue South
Quick Reference: U.S. News 2008 Ranking: 16th |
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Offering a “first-rate legal education” in a “sophisticated, friendly, and livable city”, Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Law School has long been considered amongst the twenty best law schools in the nation. Vanderbilt takes great pride in the small size of its student body, which, combined with the school’s distinguished faculty, creates “an exceptional environment for law studies and professional development”. Overall, Vanderbilt offers highly qualified applicants an opportunity to study law in a laid-back, yet vibrant and lively atmosphere. 
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