Appalachian School of Law

Appalachian School of Law is a relative newcomer in legal education. The school has a small student body and is located in Grundy, a small town in western Virginia. It takes its namesake from being nestled in the coalfields of the Appalachian Mountains. The law school's website emphasizes "professional responsibility, dispute resolution, and practice skills" in its program.

History

In the early 1990s, the idea of establishing a law school in southwestern Virginia was proposed by Joseph E. Wolfe, an attorney from Norton, Virginia. The proposal immediately attracted support from local business owners, civic leaders, lawyers, and educators. They subsequently formed a Steering Committee of eighty members to make the school's mission statement and conducted a feasibility study.

In May 1995, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia approved the Appalachian School of Law (ASL) formation. In April 1996, Buchanan County signed a compact with ASL, which provided funds for renovation and operating costs. Additionally, The Appalachian Regional Commission contributed to ASL's operating costs.

The Commonwealth of Virginia Council of Higher Education granted ASL authorization to enroll students for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in April 1997. This marked the beginning of ASL as it held its first faculty meeting and classes on August 8 and 12, respectively, with nine faculty members and seventy-one students in attendance.

Finally, ASL Charter Class graduated on May 12, 2000. On February 19, 2001, the school received provisional approval from the American Bar Association, and several years later, on June 12, 2006, it received full approval. Today, the Appalachian School of Law is a fully functioning and respected law school in southwestern Virginia. It has since gained a reputation for excellence in legal education and developed a top-notch faculty passionate about teaching the law to its students. ASL has also established itself as an integral part of Buchanan County by providing legal services to its citizens.

The school's staff, faculty, and students continue to work hard to ensure that ASL remains a vital institution and continues contributing to the legal education of its students and the Southwest Virginia community. ASL aims to provide a quality, affordable and accessible legal education that offers exceptional degree programs while emphasizing professional responsibility and public service. This commitment will continue to impact not only the region's lawyers but also its citizens.

Admissions

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	144 - 147 - 153	146 - 147 - 152
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	2.76 - 3.17 - 3.44	2.96 - 3.27 - 3.57
Acceptance rate	44.8%	42.2%
Applications received	607	578
Acceptances	272	244
Matriculants	6	12

During the 2022 application cycle, Appalachian School of Law received an impressive amount of applications - 578. Of those applicants, 244 were offered admission and accepted to participate in the 1L class, with a total size of 62. This reflects a yield rate of 25.41%, as 62 out of the 244 accepted opted to attend the Appalachian School of Law.

The median LSAT score for the 1L class is 147, with a 25th percentile of 146 and a 75th percentile of 152. Similarly, the median GPA accepted by the school is 3.27, with a 25th percentile of 2.96 and a 75th percentile of 3.57. These figures provide a good starting point for potential applicants in understanding the strength of Appalachian School of Law's incoming classes.

In conclusion, Appalachian School of Law received 578 applications during the 2022 application cycle, with 244 being accepted and 62 ultimately enrolling to become part of their 1L class. Their median LSAT score is 147, and their median GPA is 3.27, with 25th, and 75th percentile scores in both categories also provided. This paints a picture of an impressive incoming 1L class at the Appalachian School of Law.

Application Fee

To apply to the Appalachian School of Law, applicants must complete and submit an electronic application (e-app) through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The e-app requires that applicants provide their personal information and academic records, as well as other necessary documents that may include letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a personal statement. Applicants are also required to provide a fee of $60 in order to submit the electronic application.

Application Requirements

The application process to attend the J.D. program at Appalachian School of Law requires prospective students to provide a few key items of information and documentation. Before applying, all applicants must submit an Electronic Application (E-app) through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) along with any additional required documents. A resume should also cover educational, professional, and volunteer history. ASL also requires a personal statement of 500 words to describe the applicant's professional goals and qualifications.

Finally, a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is the first academic criterion for applicants. All transcripts from each college, university, or high school dual enrollment program attended must be submitted to qualify for admission.

By completing the application process and providing the necessary information, prospective students can confidently apply to the Appalachian School of Law's J.D. program. Those accepted into the program will have taken an essential step toward their future professional development and career goals.

LSAT Score

The Appalachian School of Law requires all applicants to take the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). This test assesses an applicant's ability to think critically and perform at a high level, making it an essential part of the admissions decision. To ensure that all scores are recent and relevant, the Admissions Committee will only consider the highest official score reported from LSAT testing dates within the past five years preceding the intended term of enrollment. Applicants must also include ASL's LSAC school code (5829) when submitting their scores to ensure that they are accurately recorded for review. This information will help evaluate academic performance and prepare for success at ASL.

Letters of Recommendation

ASL requires two letters of recommendation; however, up to four are accepted by the Law School Admissions Council. It is strongly recommended that the authors of these letters be those with direct, personal knowledge of the applicant's abilities and character, such as their former professors, supervisors or other professional contacts. Letters from family members or friends who do not have firsthand experience with the applicant's academic or professional performance will not be considered.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of tuition at Appalachian School of Law is guaranteed not to increase for the first year you attend. After that, your tuition will be adjusted depending on changes to the cost of attendance or your enrollment status.

Each year, the Appalachian School of Law creates a student budget that includes direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are tuition and fees, while indirect costs include housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses.

Cost of Attendance for
First Year Students, 2022 -2023:
Tuition: $41,000
Room and Board: $15,000
Books and Supplies $2,600
Personal/Misc: $2,800
Transportation $3,400

ASL offers financial aid advice to help minimize the effects of over-borrowing. If you need a personal financial review, you can request an appointment by emailing financialaid@asl.edu.

Scholarships

The Appalachian School of Law offers a variety of scholarship opportunities to its students in the form of a credit against tuition. This merit-based program requires no prior applications and is determined based on the information provided within the admissions application.

This scholarship opportunity is designed to help reduce some of the financial burden associated with higher education and to provide students with the motivation and resources to become successful members of the Appalachian School of Law community. The awards are determined by merit, not need, and may be renewed for up to four years, provided the student remains in good academic standing.

Academics & Curriculum

Appalachian's newcomer status, small size, and remote location limit the school's national recognition and academic reputation. US News & World Report gave Appalachian School of Law a Tier 4 ranking. Its peer assessment review was a lowly 1.4 out of 5. With only 17 faculty members, Appalachian has a student-to-faculty ratio of 15.8-to-1. While the school claims its small size helps foster a sense of community and camaraderie, many students find the lack of options when choosing classes to be onerous. Additionally, students find fault with the brutal grading curve. In the past, the curve forced out an average of 10 to 15 percent of the student population after the 1L and 2L years.

The first-year curriculum at Appalachian is similar to other law schools. Students must take a rigorous course schedule that includes civil procedure, contracts, torts, criminal law, legal process, and property law classes. 2L and 3L students follow a general outline of courses, with open electives for students who wish to explore different areas of law. Appalachian indicates that all students must complete at least 90 semester hours and a selection of requisite courses to graduate.

Experiential Learning

The Appalachian School of Law has prioritized ensuring that its students leave the school with practical legal experience long before they even graduate. To this end, ASL offers an extensive Externship Program that allows students to gain hands-on legal experience and establish valuable professional contacts. Through this program, students can observe court proceedings, conduct legal research, interview clients, and help develop trial strategies.

Externship Program

The Appalachian School of Law (ASL) requires all students to complete an externship field placement to earn three credits for successful completion. During the spring semester, the externship component consists of a classroom component with lectures and other academic instruction. In the following summer, students will work under the direction of a seasoned lawyer for at least 200 hours. This externship allows the student to apply the knowledge and skills acquired from their classroom instruction to real-world situations in the public interest or pro bono legal environments.

The ASL externship experience also meets the requirements for bar admission in various states. For example, New York requires applicants taking the bar exam to complete 50 hours of pro bono work.

ASL offers its externship database comprised of hundreds of approved sites from across the country, allowing students to choose where they would like to do their field placement. With such a broad range of options, students are sure to find an externship suitable for their interests and goals.

By completing an externship with ASL, students can merge their academic knowledge with real-life experience in the legal field. This exposure helps our students prepare for their eventual entry into the profession and provides valuable networking opportunities. So, if you want to gain hands-on legal experience, the ASL externship is an excellent way to start.

In addition to courtroom experience, the Externship Program also offers students a chance to gain insights into public service and working for government entities or non-profit organizations. This allows students to learn how government works practically and how attorneys help serve the public.

Clinics

The Appalachian School of Law has developed an innovative Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) which seeks to address the legal needs of low-income people. This strategic collaboration uses a holistic approach that combines medical, legal, and business expertise to effectively respond to socio-economic problems that can substantially impact health outcomes. Through this program, healthcare patients and others in need receive assistance to help resolve legal issues that could be exacerbating their medical issues. MLPs have had promising results, and the Appalachian School of Law's MLP is no exception. The MLP at Appalachian provides services such as pro bono legal advice, case representation, public benefits assistance, and other services to help those in need. The MLP also provides an invaluable learning opportunity for Appalachian Law students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in providing legal assistance and working with clients from various backgrounds. Through this program, Appalachian is helping to provide access to justice while educating future generations of attorneys. This is a beautiful example of how Appalachian Law is making an impact in the community.

Quality of Life

Grundy (population: 1,105) is not precisely a social hub. While the mountain town offers proximity to gorgeous parks, mountain trails and stables for horseback riding, the town proper boasts little more than a three-screen movie theater, an active YMCA, and a locally-renowned flood control program. Students complain primarily about poor housing and water quality in Grundy, as well as the homogeneity of the population, elements of which may not be friendly to outsiders and minorities.

Employment Prospects & Bar Passage

The median private sector salary for recent Appalachian School of Law graduates was $70,689, while the median public sector salary for graduates was $46,057, according to US News. The $70,689 number may be an average rather than a median, especially since the school did not submit 25th or 75th-percentile salary figures, and an average would be skewed upward by the few students that found high-paying jobs. Students have praised the Appalachian career services office as amicable and helpful. Some student complaints, however, have focused on the mandatory six-week, non-paid externship during their first summer.

Synopsis

Students at Appalachian spend nearly $48,000 a year for a 65 percent chance of employment within nine months of graduation. Many students will earn a salary that, even before taxes, would not sufficiently cover one year of attending law school. For even small-town lovers and mountaineers, the numbers alone should make students without substantial scholarship money wary about choosing the Appalachian School of Law.

Contact Information

Appalachian School of Law
Office of JD Admissions
PO Box 2825
1169 Edgewater Drive
Grundy, VA 24614
Phone: (276) 244- 1203
Email: admissions@asl.edu

Summary

Established	1994
Location	Grundy, VA
Dean	B. Keith Faulkner
2022 US News Ranking	143
LSAT Median Score	147
GPA Median Score	3.27
Bar Passage Rate	75% (2022)
Employment Rate	59.5% (2022)
Cost	$41,000
Average Debt	$117,964
Application Deadline	Fall 2022 Application Deadline: August 5, 2022

Forum and Discussion

Appalachian School of Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums

Reference

https://www.asl.edu/
LSD Law
Rank #147
Appalachian School of Law
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Guide to Fee Waivers