The University of Tennessee Law School in Knoxville offers one of the most affordable, public legal educations in the country; it is currently ranked 59th among the country’s law schools by U.S. News and World Report. Tennessee Law had a 29% acceptance rate in 2007, making it a rather competitive public law school.
Nonresident students may apply to become reclassified as residents, but must show "proof that the move to Tennessee was not primarily for obtaining educational opportunities, if such proof exists." Note that at least at first glance, it would seem that this is a stricter residency standard than many other state schools around the country.
Tennessee Law's 3-year full-time Juris Doctor (J.D.) program operates from mid-August to mid-May; there is also a summer session, but no part-time program.
Contact Information
1505 W. Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37996-1810
(865) 974-4131
Email: lawadmit@utk.edu
Website: http://www.law.utk.edu/departments/admiss/prospecstuhome.htm
Fast Facts (Class of 2010)
- Enrollment Information
- GPA/LSAT Scores
- Costs and Fees (2007-2008)
Applicants: 1,411
Accepted: 412
Enrolled: 157
Women: 41%
Students of color: 27%
Student to Faculty Ratio: 1: 13
LSAT Median: 159
LSAT 25/75 Percentile: 154-161
UGPA Median: 3.55
UGPA 25/75 Percentile: 3.34-3.78
Tuition:
$11,502 (In-state residents)
$27,762 (Non-residents)
Room and board: $8,996
Application Procedures
Application fee: $15
Application deadline: March 1, 2009 for Fall 2009 admission
Applicants can fill out a paper application from the school’s catalog (request a copy online) or submit an electronic application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).
In addition to the application and fee, applicants must submit:
- Personal statement
- Essay
- LSDAS report
- Two letters of recommendation
Transfer Procedures
Tennessee Law accepts transfer students who are in good standing at their current law school and ready to start their second year. The school’s website calls transfer admission "limited" and "competitive."
Transfer applicants are urged to call the admissions office by June 15 to see whether transfer applications are being accepted, and then to complete applications by July 15. In addition to the $15 application fee and completed application, transfer applicants must submit the following:
- Personal statement
- Essay
- Letter stating reason for transfer
- Official LSDAS report
- Two letters of recommendation, at least one from law school faculty at current school
- Letter of good standing, including class rank, from current dean
- Official law school transcript
- Copy of official law school catalog.
For more information on transferring to Tennessee Law, see Transfer Applicants.
Degrees and Curriculum
In order to earn a Juris Doctor degree, a Tennessee Law student must acquire 89 semester hours of credit with a GPA of at least 2.00. For more information on graduation requirements, see Degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
The first-year curriculum includes Legal Process I and II, Civil Procedure I and II, Contracts I and II, Torts I and II, Criminal Law, and Property. Upper-level required courses include Constitutional Law and Legal Profession. Students must also take a Perspectives Course, Expository Writing, and Planning and Drafting.
Tennessee Law offers two dual degree programs, JD/MBA and JD/MPA, in which students can earn a J.D. along with another professional degree from one of the university’s graduate or professional schools; applications to the programs must be filed separately.
Study Abroad
Tennessee Law doesn't run any study abroad programs of its own, but students may earn credit through summer sessions at pre-approved programs through American law schools. For more information, see Foreign Study.
Law Journals and Other Activities
The University of Tennessee has one student law journal, the Tennessee Law Review.Along with many student organizations, the law school has specialized programs, centers, and clinics for specific legal interests including the Clayton Center for Entrepreneurial Law and the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution.
Bar Exam Passage RateA majority of Tennessee Law students take the Tennessee State Bar Exam and, in 2007, achieved an 91.6% pass rate. The overall pass rate for the Tennessee Bar Exam was 78%.
Post-Graduation Employment
From the 2007 graduating class, 74% were employed at graduation and 95.3% were employed nine months after graduation. Starting salaries in the private sector averaged $61,500, and $42,750 in the public sector.
Sixty-one percent of the Class of 2007 secured work in private practice, 22% received judicial clerkships or other government positions, 10% entered the business field, 6% went to public interest jobs, and 1% took academic positions.
