Although the university annually receives fewer applications than other top law schools, it is very selective in its admission process. The university received 1,408 applications and admitted only 411 applicants in 2007. The median LSAT score was near 160, and the median GPA was a sound 3.59. With respect to the 2006–2007 academic year the tuition fees at the school were about $11,500 for in-state and $27,760 for out-of-state candidates.
Academics and Curriculum:
Students at University of Tennessee College of Law have to participate in the introductory session about an overview of the law practice before actually starting out with their first-year sessions. After their first year, these students are required to choose among 70 elective courses in various law practice areas wherein they have to complete the required 89-credit hours for graduation.
Students can also enlist services from one of the school’s clinics, such as the Mediation Clinic, if they wish to have practical hands-on experience in the legal field. Last year, US News & World Report ranked the clinical program 16th in the US from the list of 180 clinical programs which were considered; it ranked first in the southeast.
The business transactions curriculum of the school helps second- and third-year law students understand the legal aspects of the working of public, private, and non-profit enterprises.
Quality of Life:
Students of the law school enjoy a good life in Knoxville. The strategic location of the college campus at the centre of the city provides law students the opportunity to spend free time in one of the bars, clubs, restaurants, cafes, and affordable eateries near the school’s campus. Also, students can easily do outdoor activities because of the school’s proximity to the Great Smoky Mountain. Students can find reasonably priced apartments and houses near the law school campus.
Employment Prospects and Bar Passage:
Employment prospects after graduating from the university’s law school students are best in the state itself and good in the southeast region as well. About 75 percent of graduates mostly work in Tennessee, while about 15 percent find jobs in the southeast region. Other than these places, employment prospects are not that good. Students of the law school generally fare well in the bar exams. About 89 percent of the graduates passed the Tennessee bar exam on their first attempts in 2007.
Synopsis:
For applicants who hope to secure lucrative jobs in Tennessee, this law school is a good option to consider. Law students will generally like the aura of the school and also enjoy the quality of life at the university at affordable prices.
