University of Alabama Law School

Located in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama Law School is one of the best bargains in the country for both in-state and out-of-state residents, particularly since out-of-state students can pursue Alabama residency after their first year. Alabama is currently ranked #30 among the country’s law schools by U.S. News and World Report, making it a great legal education at a great price--especially for those who would like to practice in Alabama or another southeastern state upon graduation. Its 2007 acceptance rate was 29.2%.

Alabama Law’s 3-year full-time Juris Doctor (J.D.) program operates from mid-August to mid-May; no part-time or evening programs are available. Housing information is available through the Office of Housing and Residential Life.

Contact Information

Box 870382
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-5440

Email: admissions@law.ua.edu
Website: http://www.law.ua.edu

Fast Facts (Class of 2010)

• Enrollment Information (Class of 2010)
  

  Applicants: 1,197
  Enrolled: 182

  Women: 38.4%
  

  Student to Faculty Ratio: 1: 9.8

• GPA/LSAT Scores
  

  LSAT Median: 164
  LSAT 25/75 Percentile: 160-165

  UGPA Median: 3.63
  UGPA 25/75 Percentile: 3.31-3.84

• Costs and Fees (2008-2009)
  

  Tuition: $12,564 (resident); $24,158 (nonresident)
  Total estimated budget for residents: $29,435
  Total estimated budget for nonresidents: $41,513

Application Procedures

Application fee: $40
Application deadline: March 1, 2009 for Fall 2009 admission

Applicants can request a paper application, download an , or apply online at the school’s website or through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

Along with a completed application and fee, applicants must also submit:

• Two essays
• One letter of recommendation
• Completed LSDAS file

Transfer Procedures

Transfer applicants must have attended a law school that is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS), usually for at least a year. First-year grades are “significant” in transfer admissions decisions as the school claims it is “rare” to accept someone ranked below the top 25% of his or her current law school class.

Transfer applicants must complete an application as described above for J.D. applicants, marking the box at top marked “Transfer.” Deadline is July 20 for the fall term.

For more information on transferring to the University of Alabama Law School, see Application for Transfer Students.

Degrees and Curriculum

In order to earn a Juris Doctor degree, a student must 90 semester hours of credit, including three credit hours in designated professional skills courses. For specific requirements, see the Student Handbook.

The first-year curriculum includes Contracts I, Torts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Legal Research and Writing in the fall; Contracts II, Property, Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Research and Writing (Moot Court) in the spring. Students choose all courses during the second and third years of study, although a course called The Legal Profession is required in the second year. Students must also complete a seminar or publish an article in a student journal.

Alabama Law offers several joint degree programs in which students can earn a J.D. along with another professional degree from one of Alabama’s graduate or professional schools, including Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Ph.D in Economics, Masters of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and an M.A. or Ph.D in Political Science.

Alabama Law also offers degree programs for International Masters of Laws (LL.M.) and L.L.M. in Taxation. More information on these degrees is available under Other Degrees.

Study Abroad

Alabama Law has summer study abroad programs in Switzerland and Australia.

Law Journals and Other Activities

Alabama Law has three student journals: Alabama Law Review, The Journal of the Legal Profession, and Law and Psychology Review.

Along with many student organizations, the law school has specialized clinics for specific legal interests as well as the Public Interest Institute.

Bar Exam Passage Rate

A majority of Alabama Law students take the Alabama State Bar Exam and, in 2007, achieved a 97.2% pass rate. The overall pass rate for the Alabama Bar Exam was 79%.

Post-Graduation Employment

From the 2006 graduating class, 83.7% were employed at graduation and 96.5% were employed nine months after graduation. Starting salaries in the private sector averaged $85,000, and $54,000 in the public sector.