A perennial fixture on the U.S. News and World Report list of top law schools, the Emory University School of Law takes advantage of its close proximity to the business center of the South, Atlanta, as well as its affiliation to Emory University's diverse academic programs. With the Atlanta skyline in sight and the gorgeous Emory campus all around, law students at Emory develop the practical legal skills necessary to succeed in today's competitive market while reflecting on the legal issues that continue to challenge and excite generations of legal scholars.
Originally founded as a manual labor school in 1836 by the Methodist church, Emory University has since grown to become an international research center. The addition of the School of Law in the 1910s, along with the Schools of Theology, Business, and the Arts and Sciences, played a large role in Emory's rise to prominence. Earning its ABA accreditation in 1920, the School of Law has become a dominant player in a geographical area that continues to grow in importance in the legal field.
In addition to the standard JD, Emory offers its share of dual degree programs. Options include the JD/MBA, the JD/Master of Divinity, the JD/Master of Theological Studies, the JD/PhD in Religious Studies, and the JD/Master of Public Health. All of these programs allow students to complete the two degrees faster than if they were to be pursued separately.
Emory University's exceptional academic breadth as well as its proximity to numerous government and international agencies located in Atlanta make these dual degrees particularly attractive. For example, students in the joint JD/Master of Public Health program benefit from the nearby Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The Carter Center, and the national headquarters for the American Cancer Society. Likewise, the School of Law has partnered with the well-respected Candler School of Theology and the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Religion to form a national hub for the ecumenical and inter-faith discussion of the complex interactions between law and religion.
Students at Emory excel in the traditional legal curriculum, but also benefit from comprehensive training meant to give them a head start on the practical skills necessary to be successful lawyers. For example, all second year students are required to participate in the highly acclaimed Trial Technique Program, a two week, intensive boot camp led by trial lawyers, judges, and drama coaches. Students simulate all aspects of trial preparation, management, and advocacy, and are videotaped in a courtroom built on campus specifically for this purpose.
Similarly, Emory students have access to numerous clinical opportunities. The Barton Law and Policy Clinic, established in 2000, strives to empower under-served children in Georgia's welfare system. Although students do not provide direct legal representation for the children, they staff legal clinics, provide cogent research and analysis for policymakers, and oversee a free informational website. Likewise, the Turner Environmental Clinic offers free legal assistance to those seeking to protect Georgia's forests and natural habitats. In this program, second and third year students take on important cases under the supervision of staff trial lawyers. Finally, many students take advantage of a Field Placement Program, interning in major corporations, law firms, government agencies, and non-profit organizations in the greater Atlanta area.
Student life is what you might expect from a top-ranked southern law school: intellectually stimulating and intense, but not cutthroat. Student organizations cover the entire legal spectrum, and students are encouraged to find their particular niche in the legal world early on, whether it be as an editor for one of Emory's three legal journals, a competitor in the Moot Court Society, or an advocate with the Emory Public Interest Group. Students are expected to display the ethics and responsibility central to the legal profession in their interactions with one another, faculty, and administration, and the long-standing honor system stands as a testament to the trust faculty invest in their students.
Tuition at Emory is $32,772 for the academic year. The School of Law is aware of the considerable financial commitment of a legal education, and tries to assist students in obtaining the best financial aid packages possible. 86% of students receive some form of financial aid. There are also significant scholarship opportunities, such as the Woodruff Fellows Program that covers tuition and fees and provides a $3000 stipend for candidates with exceptional academic and leadership qualifications.
Getting admitted to Emory is difficult, although not impossible. Recent acceptance rates have hovered around 21% of the 4,000 applicants. Once accepted, students enjoy a unique blend of education and lifestyle, honing their intellect as legal scholars and practitioners, enjoying the wonders of an elegant southern campus and a world-class city.
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