Appalachian School of Law, Grundy, VA

The Campus
 
Characterized by traditional architecture, the classrooms and other facilities have been fully updated with interactive communications technology. The humble and attractive campus of ASL consists of two buildings: the main academic building, created from the town's former high school and gymnasium complex, and the law library. These buildings were joined, remodeled, and expanded as part of an extensive and award-winning architectural project. The two-story law library features a comprehensive collection accessible through microforms and computer-managed information databases, as well as individual and group study areas, a computer lab, and wireless and hard-wired Internet access.

The Curriculum

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Distinguishing ASL from almost all law schools in the country, each of its students is required to volunteer 25 hours per semester to community service by completing a project of his or her choosing. Every first-year student completes a 200-hour unpaid externship; students work as judicial clerks and in prosecutors' and defenders' offices, governmental agencies, and private practices. Second-year students complete a mandatory alternative dispute resolution class. Third-year students take a fixed number of capstone courses, which provide students with a comprehensive review of subject matter essential to the practice of law. The courses, which vary from year to year, are extensively detailed on ASL's website. Moot court credit is awarded to students who complete two years of service on the moot court board, compete in an interscholastic moot court competition, and prepare at least one brief. Certified Civil Mediation helps students who seek listings as court-referred mediators to complete the first phase of their certification requirements, providing at least 20 hours of mediation skills training, as required by the Supreme Court of Virginia.

The Cost

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With an out-of-state tuition cost of $19,900, the average loan received by a student at ASL is $21,372. Sources of financial aid include grants such as the Angela D. Dales Merit Scholarship, as well as assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia, which is available to Virginia residents. Along with federal loans such as Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS Loans, private supplemental resources are available, including Access Group's Law Access Loan, Key Bank's Law Achiever Loan, and Sallie Mae's Law Student Loan. To apply for a student loan, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Student Organizations
 

• ABA/LSD
• American Constitution Society
• ATLA
• AWIL
• BLSA
• Christian Legal Society
• Federalist Society
• Gay and Straight Legal Alliance
• Honor Court
• Law Journal
• Libertarian Society
• Phi Alpha Delta
• Phi Delta Phi
• Republican Law Students Association
• SBA/ABA

Law Publications
 

• Appalachian Journal of Law
• Appalachian Natural Resources Law Journal, an online journal scheduled to begin in spring 2007.

ASL's Top Six Picks for Summer Reading
 

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• One L by Scott Turow
• Gideon's Trumpet by Anthony Lewis
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
• Law School Without Fear: Strategies for Success by Marshall Shapo and Helene S. Shapo
• The Moral Compass of the American Lawyer: Truth, Justice, Power, and Greed by Richard A. Zitrin and Carol A. Langford

Local Points of Interest
 

• Sugar Hill Park: Located in nearby St. Paul, the park has hiking, bicycling, fishing, canoeing, and raft rentals.
• Historic Crab Orchard: A historic museum and learning center featuring pioneer arts, crafts, and skills.
• Pocahontas Exhibition Mine: An attraction featuring coal mining history and exhibits.
• Historic Barter Theatre: Located in nearby Abingdon, the theater opened in 1933. Admission at the time was "35 cents or the equivalent in produce." Luminaries who have been associated with the Barter Theatre include actors Ernest Borgnine, Gregory Peck, and Patricia Neal and playwrights Noel Coward, Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, and George Bernard Shaw.