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Virginia Law School
With a 25th-75th percentile range of 3.53 to 3.83 for its 2008 entering class, and a corresponding LSAT distribution from 167 to 171, Virginia remains as selective as many of its peers in the top fourteen law schools. However, in-state residents enjoy a major advantage in admissions, with some 40% of the seats in each class reserved for Virginia applicants. Officially, the LSAT/GPA index is the first category by which applications are sorted, but Virginia's admissions staff stress that they consider all applications fully. Approximately 5,500 students apply for admission annually, with slightly over 1,000 gaining entrance to the law school and 360 or so actually filling their seats. Applicants who send in their completed applications by November receive early notification of their decisions by the middle of December.
A fairly mid-sized school, Virginia Law divides entering students into sections of 30. 1Ls take all of their first semester courses with the members of their section, fostering a community within the larger class. Students report a fairly tight curve at about a B+ mark, with the exception being a pass/fail Legal Research and Writing course in the first semester. The curve applies across the curriculum, unlike some other programs where it is limited to the primary courses (and not those offered for clinical or seminar credit). Although students regard Virginia's curriculum as challenging, they are quick to point to the friendly attitudes of their peers and the strong teaching abilities of the faculty. Virginia Law School - Legal Specialties Virginia's excellent faculty has helped to build strong focuses in commercial, constitutional, corporation securities, and labor law; tax and intellectual property are also highlights of the Virginia program. The school also offers significant basis for study in human rights and environmental law for the less corporate-minded. Virginia enjoys a strong reputation for public service work and historical ties to Washington, D.C. Virginia Law School - Quality of Life Virginia is situated in a "college town" area, and many find the surroundings a welcome relief from the bustle of the big city that typifies a Northwestern or NYU Law student's experience. There is a popular perception that Virginia Law is the most "undergraduate-like" of the top law programs in its social atmosphere, but as always that is an assertion which remains debated by students and alumni. The beauty of the campus and Charlottesville, however, is generally unquestioned and the town offers a variety of dining and some nightlife options. Students report that the high quality of the facilities is a major selling point for the school.
The Law School places great emphasis on the fact that it is one of a select few institutions to have placed alumni into every one of the current "Vault Top 100" law firms, and indeed a high number of graduates go into private practice. About 13% of each class will pursue a judicial clerkship, a fairly low percentage for a Top 14 school, but the university ranks in the top ten for placement of Supreme Court clerks for 1991-2005. Whatever their career goal, however, Virginia Law graduates will enjoy national name recognition and join one of the most dedicated alumni bases of any law school in the nation. Contact Information Phone: (434) 924-7351 |
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Founded by Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Law is one of the oldest legal institutions in the United States, and has steadily maintained the lead among public law schools with close rivals Michigan and Boalt Hall (Berkeley). Students are able to enjoy both the attractions of Charlottesville and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains, while attending school near the major legal markets of the East Coast. They also attend a school that has national reach in placing its graduates, with a strong network of alumni in both the judicial system and private practice. 
Virginia Law School - Admissions and Tuition
Virginia Law School - Curriculum and Academics
Virginia Law School Employment Prospects