Graduate Record 2010-2011 [ARCHIVED RECORD]
School of Law
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Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants. Consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation, Virginia has educated generations of lawyers, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service. A faculty of nationally acclaimed experts in their fields and outstanding teachers lead Virginia’s 1,100 students to appreciate the power of law to shape human behavior and to influence political, social and cultural life.
Virginia is justly famous for its collegial environment that bonds students and faculty, and student satisfaction is consistently cited as among the highest in American law schools. Intellectual challenges are met in a spirit of cooperation. Small first-year sections promote individual inquiry while providing support and friendship. Students learn together, reading each other’s work and freely sharing course outlines and other materials, confidently relying on the nation’s oldest student-run Honor System to maintain the highest ethical standards.
Virginia has a national reputation for producing highly skilled lawyers with a healthy combination of legal acuity and personal balance. American Lawyer magazine once identified Virginia as one of only two law schools in the country with graduates practicing in each of the nation’s top 100 law firms.
Address
School of Law
580 Massie Road
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400405
Charlottesville, VA22903-1738
(434) 924-7354
www.law.virginia.edu
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Admission Information
Profile of the 2009 Entering Class The 368 students who entered the first year of law study at the University of Virginia in August 2009 were selected from a total of 7,880 applicants.
The median grade point average was 3.85 on a 4.0 scale. The median LSAT score was 170.
The Law School has continued its policy of giving preferred status to Virginia applicants, and a large number of highly qualified non-Virginians must be turned away for lack of space. A total of 778 Virginia residents applied for admission in 2009-2009, compared with 7,102 out-of-state applicants.
Applications for Admission Applications for admission must be submitted on forms obtained electronically through the Law School Admission Council (www.lsac.org). Students are accepted only for the fall semester starting in late August of each year. Applications may be filed after the completion of six semesters (or the equivalent) of undergraduate work. Application volume was approximately 8,600 in 2009-2010; applicants should complete their applications by the March 1 deadline to ensure an admissions decision by April 15. Applicants should consult the School of Law website at www.law.virginia.edu for information on relevant deadlines and application instructions.
Each year, many highly qualified college graduates apply for the necessarily limited number of places in the first-year class. The admissions process aims to select from the applicant pool an entering class of students who will contribute to the Law School, to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and to the nation. These contributions, both before and after graduation, require exceptional academic ability. No applicant is admitted without the prospect of successfully completing the requirements for the degree, but qualifications other than academic credentials are also necessary to succeed in the legal profession today. Legal education must prepare students to work in a wide variety of settings with individuals who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Exposing students to a multiplicity of perspectives, and to classmates who will express those perspectives, is essential to preparing them for the challenges they will face in their professional lives. To that end, the admissions committee considers many factors in addition to intellectual aptitude and academic achievement. Among these are geographical, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological diversity, as well as individual traits and experiences that predict success, such as dedication or a constructive response to adversity.
No one, however, is admitted or denied admission solely on the basis of any purely numerical indicator. Rather, all of the information in each application file is reviewed personally by an admissions professional. That review involves assessment of personal characteristics and achievements, as well as letters of recommendation.
In this process, no quota is set for any classification of applicants, though an effort is made to assure an appropriate balance of Virginia residents and out-of-state students. No quantitative advantage is given to any classification of applicants. Every application is considered its merits, recognizing the strong qualifications of many applicants for a limited number of places.
Transfer Credit Students admitted to the Juris Doctor degree program with advanced standing (transfer students), will be granted a maximum of 32 semester credits for course work completed at a U.S. law school that is either approved by the American Bar Association or is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Transfer credit will be awarded only for course work deemed equivalent to first-year course work at Virginia.
Course Work Prior to Matriculation Credit will not be granted for any course work completed prior to matriculation as a J.D. degree candidate in an ABA-approved law school within the U.S.
Degree Requirements Candidates for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree must successfully complete all required courses, meet minimum academic requirements, earn a minimum of 86 credits and six residency semesters, satisfy the upper-level writing requirement, and maintain a standard of behavior characteristic of a prospective member of the legal profession.
Health Students who have been admitted to the University must complete a personal medical history form. Appropriate forms are sent after admission is granted. All health requirements must be met prior to registration.
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Financial Aid
Title IV Institutional Code: 003745
The University of Virginia School of Law assists its students in financing their legal education through a variety of resources, including scholarship assistance; Title IV federally sponsored programs such as Stafford Student Loans, and Grad Plus Loans; and private sector educational loans. Most scholarship assistance is awarded on a combined basis of academic merit and financial need. Some scholarships are awarded solely on merit. Scholarships are awarded to first-year students and are typically renewed for the second and third years of law school, so long as the student’s academic progress is satisfactory. International students are eligible for scholarship and private loan assistance only.
How To Apply for Financial Aid All admitted first-year students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarship assistance, and a separate application is not required. Applicants who wish to be considered for need-based scholarships and federal loans must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and complete the School of Law University Financial Aid Application (UFAA). The recommended deadline for filing these forms is March 1. Rising second- and third-year students must submit a FAFSA only. The recommended deadline for current students is May 1.
The FAFSA is available on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The School of Law University Financial Aid Application is available at http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/prospectives/finaid/ufaa.htm.
Budgets
Students’ budgets are determined by the University Financial Aid Committee and are standardized for all graduate and professional schools at the University. Modifications are made to reflect the actual costs incurred by law students in general. The Law School Financial Aid Office works individually with students to develop realistic budgets that meet the costs of obtaining a legal education and to identify sources of financial support that will enable students to achieve their educational and professional goals.
Budgets for the 2009-2010 academic year are estimated as follows:
| Residency |
VA |
Non-VA |
| Tuition |
$38,800 |
$43,800 |
| Room, Board, Misc |
$16,142 |
$16,142 |
| Books |
$1,800 |
$1,800
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| Loan Origination Fees |
$1,258 |
$1,258 |
| Total |
$58,000 |
$63,000 |
The Law School’s Financial Aid Office is authorized to increase a student’s budget up to $2,500 toward the cost of any computer upon written request from the student and submission of supporting documentation (i.e., sales receipt or PC vendor’s price quote). Adjustments to a student’s cost of attendance may also be made to accommodate some non-discretionary expenses such as child care and medical expenses not covered by insurance.
Standard Forms of Financial Aid
Scholarships Scholarship assistance is provided through the generosity of alumni and friends of the School of Law and from general funds allocated by the school. Most scholarship assistance is awarded on a combined basis of academic merit and need, but some scholarships are awarded solely on merit. All admitted applicants will be considered for merit-based assistance, and no separate application is required. Scholarships are typically renewed for the second and third years of law school, so long as the student’s academic progress is satisfactory.
Stafford Student Loan Program Stafford Loans are loans available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents in interest-subsidized and unsubsidized forms. The University participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program (DL) for Stafford Loans. To borrow subsidized Stafford Loan funds, students must demonstrate financial need under a standard needs analysis. Students may borrow up to $8,500 in subsidized Stafford Student Loans, with the federal government paying the interest on the loan while the borrower is in school and for a six-month grace period following graduation or withdrawal.
Students may borrow an annual maximum of $20,500 in combined subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans. While interest begins accruing immediately on Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, students may defer payment while enrolled and for a six-month grace period following graduation. The maximum amount a student can borrow under the Stafford Loan program is $138,500.
Supplemental Education Loans Supplemental educational loans are available to help meet any costs of education not covered by scholarship assistance or Stafford Student Loans. Students may borrow additional loan resources through either the federally sponsored GradPlus Loan Program or private-sector educational loans. The GradPlus loan carries a fixed interest rate of 8.5 percent and requires a basic credit inquiry. Private loans have variable interest rates and are based on the applicant’s credit history and ability to repay. Interest rates are based on market indicators and may vary from lender to lender. An eligible co-borrower or co-signer may be required. The School of Law’s Financial Aid Office is not involved in the credit evaluation process. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to borrow private-sector educational loans, assuming that the borrower meets established credit criteria which may include a U.S. co-signer.
Outside Scholarships Students who receive scholarships from sources other than the University of Virginia must inform the Financial Aid Office in writing. Outside scholarships will not reduce the amount of any scholarship assistance from the School of Law, but may reduce students’ borrowing eligibility.
Emergency Loans Emergency Loans can be obtained to cover unforeseen, educationally-related expenses that may arise during the academic year. The Law School offers emergency loans in amounts not to exceed $400. Students must provide a written request to the director of financial aid indicating the nature of the expense and the amount needed. These loans are interest free and are limited to one per academic year.
Bar Examination Loans These loans are available through participating lenders during the final year of study and are based upon the student’s credit worthiness. Repayment begins nine months after graduation.
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Career Services
Over the years, students in the School of Law have consistently been able to obtain outstanding permanent and summer jobs. Many of these jobs have their genesis in the large On-Grounds Interviewing sessions that are conducted at the Law School during the fall and the spring. In the fall of 2009, for example, more than 580 public- and private-sector law offices from 33 states, the District of Columbia , and 2 foreign countries conducted more than 5,500 interviews at the Law School in August and September.
Many others jobs result from students applying for positions that are posted by employers and others on our online system. Last year, an additional 1,200 positions were posted on the system for students and alumni. Still others jobs are the result of the combined efforts of the students and both the Career Services Office and the Public Service Center. These efforts also often involve our broad alumni network. Finally, our Office of Judicial Clerkships has one of the most successful placement records in the country, with graduates clerking in the Supreme Court of the United States, most federal Courts of Appeals, state supreme courts and appellate courts, and a wide range of federal and state trial courts.
The high esteem in which Virginia students are held by legal employers has led to a broad range of different employment opportunities. Within nine months of graduation in 2009, 397 out of 402 graduates had informed the Career Services Office that they were employed: 286 with law firms, 52 as judicial clerks; 38 with federal, city or state government agencies or public interest groups; 9 with corporations or consulting firms; 4 in academic jobs or graduate study, 1 in a non-legal job, and 7 with the military.
The Career Services Office, the Public Service Center, and the Office of Judicial Clerkships all offer a wide range of services to students seeking permanent and summer employment. Each office provides counseling in every aspect of the job application process. This begins with helping students to clarify their interests and to identify positions that would best employ their particular combination of skills. The offices then assist with the preparation of resumes and cover letters, provide counseling on interviews (including practice interviews) and assist with pre- and post-offer strategy.
The Career Services Office and the Public Service Center have developed and maintain an extensive Law School Alumni Network, made up of nearly 2,000 of its graduates who have volunteered to provide advice and assistance to students and graduates in the job market. The network is accessible to students and graduates via the Alumni Connection on the UVA website. The Office of Judicial Clerkships has its own network of judges, court personnel and current and former judicial clerks.
Other projects conducted by the Career Services Office, the Public Service Center, the Office of Judicial Clerkships include panel discussions and programming on various kinds of legal opportunities; regional job fairs and remote interviewing programs; an annual public interest job fair; symposia on job search techniques and strategies; a mock interview program for first-year students; and projects designed to promote careers in public service, such as Student Funded Fellowships, which provide stipends to students in summer public-service jobs, and the University of Virginia Public Service Loan Assistance Program, which provides loan assistance to graduates in public service positions.
The Law School’s graduates literally cover the nation. The most popular locales for graduates of the classes of 2001-2009 include Washington, DC (722 graduates), New York City (577), Atlanta (155), Boston (106), Richmond (105), San Francisco Bay Area (99), Chicago (92), Los Angeles (91), Houston (65), Philadelphia (64), Dallas (49), Baltimore (43), Charlotte (41) and San Diego (40).
Members of the Class of 2009 accepted positions in 30 states, the District of Columbia and 4 foreign countries.
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Academic Regulations
Academic Regulations Academic regulations are published annually by the Law School. Current year regulations may be found online at www.law.virginia.edu.
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Activities and Awards
Student Activities
A Cappellate Opinions is a group of male and female students who practice and perform contemporary a cappella music. They strive to perform at various Law School events such as the Public Interest Law Auction and Barristers’ Ball. However, their primary purpose is to enjoy making music together.
Action for a Better Living Environment (ABLE) is a student-run service organization that provides student volunteers opportunities to help disadvantaged children in the Charlottesville community. ABLE volunteers have the opportunity to provide weekly after-school tutoring services to children of all ages in both reading and math. Other ABLE volunteers become “big siblings” to children in the community. The program matches up law students with “little siblings” to create one-on-one relationships. The goal of this program is to provide mentorship, friendship, and support to underprivileged kids on a consistent weekly basis.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nonprofit and nonpartisan national organization, works in the courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. The ACLU Chapter of UVA Law is a diverse group of law students who are interested in understanding and protecting civil liberties. The ACLU-UVA raises awareness and encourages discussion around campus about civil liberties issues through issue advocacy and public education events and by monitoring civil liberties in the community. Members can also connect with practicing civil rights attorneys in Virginia through our close connection with the ACLU of Virginia, www.acluva.org.
The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy is a national organization of law students, law professors, practicing lawyers and others. The Society aims to help revitalize and transform the legal debate, from law school classrooms to federal courtrooms, and to counter the dominant vision of American law today, a narrow conservative vision that lacks appropriate regard for the ways in which the law affects people’s lives. The Society seeks to restore the fundamental principles of respect for human dignity, protection of individual rights and liberties, genuine equality and access to justice to their rightful—and traditionally central—place in American law. For more information on the national organization, please visit www.acslaw.org.
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) provides an academic and social network for the Asian-American law students at UVA; promotes the welfare of its members through educational, professional, cultural and social programs; and reaches out to the Law School community on local and national issues pertaining to Asian-Americans.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA) represents the views of Black students at the School of Law; promotes the welfare of its members through educational, professional, cultural, and social programs; and provides a forum for the discussion of local and national issues affecting both the Black law student community and the university community as a whole.
Child Advocacy Research & Education (CARE) is a student-run service group that takes a legal approach to issues affecting children, including education, juvenile justice, foster care, and immigration. Through partnerships with local and national children’s law and advocacy organizations and CARE-generated projects, we assist in the direct representation of children and strive for broader systemic change through policy research and advocacy.
Conference on Public Service and the Law brings together students, faculty, litigators, and policymakers for an exploration of various public interest issues facing today’s legal community and provides excellent opportunities for job networking.
Cowan Fellows Human Rights Study Project (HRSP). See Human Rights Study Project.
The Domestic Violence Project (DVP) at the University of Virginia School of Law is a law student pro bono project organized under the Legal Assistance Society. DVP strives to address the problem of domestic violence both directly (through pro bono service) and indirectly (through educational efforts to raise awareness and understanding of the issue). DVP educates the law school community about issues of domestic violence through speakers, discussion panels, films, and other events. DVP volunteers also monitor domestic violence-related criminal justice proceedings in Charlottesville, Albemarle, and several other surrounding jurisdictions through the Shelter for Help in Emergency’s Court Monitoring Program, and assist the Commonwealth’s Attorney Offices of Charlottesville and of Albemarle in their prosecution of domestic violence cases by interviewing victims of domestic violence through the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Project (CAP). In addition, DVP provides law student volunteers for the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Domestic Violence Project (PDVP), organizes police ride-alongs, and more.
Extramural Advocacy Team - See National Trial Advocacy Team and Extramural Moot Court.
Extramural Moot Court is part of the External Advocacy Team along with the National Trial Advocacy Team. Students from all years are welcome to try-out for Extramural Moot Court. It sponsors participation in a number of different extramural competitions in many areas, including: constitutional law, criminal law, environmental law and trademark law.
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies seeks to promote an awareness and application of the following principles: that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is the duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.
The Feminist Legal Forum is dedicated to advancing feminist discussion and awareness at the Law School. The Feminist Legal Forum provides a place for law students to examine legal issues which affect women, clarify what feminism means to young lawyers, and unite to eradicate sexism in the legal profession and within the law school.
First Year Council’s (FYC) elected representatives plan social events for the first-year class, act as liaisons between the first-year class and the administration, and help plan orientation activities for the following year. Class officers and Student Bar Association representatives for the first-year class are elected from this council.
The Fowler Society was founded to honor the relationship between law and grammar and to recognize that legal professionals are not only practitioners but also scholars of the written word. The Society encourages awareness and use of proper English construction; promotes the achievements of Henry Watson Fowler, lexicographer and author of Fowler’s Modern English Usage; debates the ideas that Fowler himself debated so expertly; and celebrates the other great grammarians and scholars who have contributed so much to the study, preservation, and exaltation of the English language.
Graduate Law Students Association (GLSA) is the representative body for all LL.M. and S.J.D. candidates. It organizes social functions for its members and represents their interests with faculty.
The Health Law Association is open to all law, LL.M., medical, graduate, and undergraduate students. Its purposes are to explain what health law is, to give students a better view of the different areas of health law, to introduce types of classes we have available, and to promote a healthy environment. The group sponsors many speakers and seminars in the health law field throughout the year and organizes social activities with medical and other graduate students. We also participate in pro bono activities with the UVA Medical Center.
Human Rights Study Project (HRSP) promotes the study of law affecting the protection of basic rights in foreign countries. HRSP combines the group-oriented and continuous character of a student organization with the scholarly aims of academically credited independent research. Each year, the Project team travels to the country that is the subject matter of its study to conduct interviews and collect other research unavailable in the United States. www.student.virginia.edu/~hrsp
JD/MBA Society serves as a focal point for communication between JD/MBA students and the law and business school administrations, as well as the faculty, student body, alumni, and prospective students of the schools; promotes the exchange of information and advice among JD/MBAs; improves the functioning of the JD/MBA program; and sponsors events and activities which promote interaction among the law and business school communities. The JD/MBA Society welcomes all students.
Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) provides cultural, educational, and social programming for Jewish law students, and serves as a resource for the rest of the Law School.
John Bassett Moore Society of International Law’s (J.B. Moore) primary objective is to contribute to the development of international law by fostering interest and understanding in the field. To promote that goal, the Society sponsors speakers, conferences, publications, an international moot court team and pro bono human rights projects, as well as numerous other programs.
Journal of Law & Politics is the first and only nonpartisan publication devoted exclusively to examining the interaction between law and politics. Founded in 1982 under the guidance of then-Circuit Judge Antonin Scalia, this interdisciplinary publication consists of articles, essays, and commentaries by scholars, practitioners, and national political leaders.
Just Democracy’s mission is to empower citizens of all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnic and racial communities and political persuasions to participate in the democratic process by exercising the right to vote. To accomplish this, Just Democracy has formed J.D. chapters at the nation’s law schools, thus establishing a network of concerned law students throughout the country that develop voting rights projects on an ongoing basis. These chapters organize and train law student volunteers to work within their local communities to ensure that people who turn out to vote aren’t wrongly turned away. In past elections, the J.D.-UVA Chapter has worked locally in Charlottesville, as well as at the Richmond Registrar of Voters and alongside state election officials at the State Board of Elections. Just Democracy is committed to independence and nonpartisanship in all activities.
Lambda Law Alliance provides an academically and socially supportive network for members of sexual minorities and their allies enrolled in the Law School. The organization also heightens awareness throughout the Law School, as well as the University community, about legal issues relevant to sexual minorities. Lambda attempts to keep the community informed of its interests and concerns and pushes for the expansion of equal civil rights for all.
Latin American Law Organization (LALO—formally Voz Latina) is an all-inclusive student group devoted to increasing awareness of legal issues facing Latinos and Latin America. The group works to increase Latino representation at the Law School, augments the exploration of Hispanic-related issues in the law, and provides cultural and social programming that is of interest to the Law School community.
Law Christian Fellowship (LCF) is a nondenominational Christian fellowship dedicated to understanding the person and claims of Jesus Christ. LCF remains uniquely committed to presenting Christianity to the Law School and the surrounding Charlottesville community through fellowship, service, and outreach.
Law Partners is a social networking group for couples connected with the Law School. It was designed to foster a sense of community among students and their significant others, to function as a support group, and to create networks to help facilitate a smooth transition into life in Charlottesville.
Law Student Advocacy Project (LSAP) pairs law students with Virginia state employees who need assistance in preparation for grievance hearings before state hearing officers. LSAP volunteers work to prepare the employee’s case, and then actually argue the case before state administrative hearing officers. This involves conducting direct and cross-examinations of witnesses, and giving opening and closing statements. Volunteers receive pro bono hours for all their time.
Legal Advisory Workshops for Undergraduate Students (LAW for US) is a mentoring program for undergraduate students run by Law School students. The program targets minority undergrads and students who will become first-generation attorneys at each level of the process of preparing for law school admissions. This program also receives pro bono credit.
The Legal Assistance Society is dedicated to helping underprivileged people in Charlottesville and the surrounding area. LAS is an umbrella organization that provides funding and administrative support to UVA Law School volunteer groups. Through its six projects: the Domestic Violence Project, the Legal Education Project, the Migrant Farmworkers Project, the Native American Law Project, the Rappahannock Legal Services Clinic, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project, LAS provides varied opportunities for its members to gain practical legal experience. Many of the projects are in conjunction with a legal organization in the area. The individuals who seek help from LAS projects do not generally have easy access to legal assistance.
The Legal Education Project (LEP), run by the Legal Assistance Society, involves visits by law students to area middle schools in order to help teenagers learn more about the legal system. Weekly classroom visits are coordinated with the students’ language arts or civics courses. The weekly classes introduce the trial process, with law students instructing on such topics as opening and closing statements, effective cross examination, and evidence. Each semester culminates in a mock trial held at the Law School, with the middle school students serving as lawyers and witnesses trying to persuade a judge (a UVA law professor) and a jury of law students.
The Libel Show is an annual theatrical production which has been humoring the Law School since 1908 (making us the longest running student organization on campus). Each year the Show lampoons our professors and life at the Law School through a variety of impersonations, song parodies, and skits. The Libel Show’s mission is to do everything within its power to help the Law School community enjoy raucous laughter. Most of the Show’s work takes place in the spring semester. About 200 students write, sing, act, dance, and work as run crew on the Show. Whether you’re a 1L or a 3L, and whether you have experience doing any theater in the past or not, you can be part of the Libel Show!
The Migrant Farmworkers Project (MFP), run by the Legal Assistance Society, works with the Virginia Justice Center for Immigrant and Farmworkers (a program of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Legal Aid Society) to assist an isolated population in great need of legal assistance. The Virginia Justice Center represents immigrant workers and farmworkers throughout the state of Virginia. Although the Center handles mostly employment law cases, it also takes housing and discrimination cases. Members of the Migrant Farmworkers Project at UVA visit migrant farm labor camps and inform workers about their rights. The project also seeks to increase awareness about the substandard treatment and conditions in which immigrant workers live and work in the state of Virginia. Interested students do NOT need to speak Spanish to make a difference in the lives of these marginalized workers. All are welcome.
Moot Court Board - The William Minor Lile Moot Court Board administers the Lile Moot Court Competition, in which second-year students may voluntarily compete in teams of two persons. The field of competition is narrowed by a process of elimination that continues through the third year, culminating in the final round argument in the spring of each year. The third-year students on the Board draft and edit all of the problems for the competition and judge the first two rounds, with the aid of other third-year students. Distinguished judges from both federal and state courts preside in the semi-final and final rounds. Through participation in Moot Court activities, a student receives valuable training in legal writing and the art of advocacy.
Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA) is open to all students at the Law School, Muslim and non-Muslim. MLSA is dedicated to furthering a discussion of issues related to Islamic Law as well as contemporary issues facing the people of the Islamic World. It is also committed to creating an awareness of and celebrating Islamic culture. MLSA’s mission is twofold: to create and sustain an academic forum in which the law school community can engage in discussion as well as benefit from expertise of scholars and practitioners, and to establish a platform from which students can work together to effect change.
The National Trial Advocacy Team is part of the Extramural Advocacy Team along with Extramural Moot Court. The team provides an opportunity for law students to hone their trial advocacy skills. The program represents the School of Law in nationwide mock trial competitions.
Native American Law Students Association (NALSA) is an all-inclusive student group devoted to increasing awareness of legal issues affecting Native populations and enabling students at the University of Virginia School of Law to engage in cultural, educational, professional, service, and social activities related to Native culture, communities, and the like. NALSA also aims to help the faculty consider the concerns of Native students when considering academic matters, events, admissions, and other aspects of UVA Law.
NeW at UVA Law (Network of Enlightened Women) is a book club for culturally conservative women associated with the law school. NeW aims to cultivate a community of culturally conservative women and expand the intellectual diversity at institutions of higher learning. We are a nonpartisan educational organization. NeW at UVA Law is a recognized chapter of the Network of enlightened Women, Inc., the nation’s premier club for conservative university women. We read books such as What Women Really Want by Celinda Lake and Kellyanne Conway, Who Stole Feminism? by Christina Hoff Sommers, What Our Mothers Didn’t Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman by Danielle Crittenden, Talking from 9 to 5: How Women’s and Men’s Conversational Styles Affect Who Gets Heard, Who Gets Credit, and What Gets Done at Work by Deborah Tannen and Taking Sex Differences Seriously by Steven Rhoads.
North Grounds Softball League (NGSL) is a student organization that runs and organizes softball at the Law School. The NGSL also runs a softball tournament in the spring, the University of Virginia School of Law Spring Softball Invitational, in which teams from over 50 schools participate.
The Order of the Coif is the Law School’s one academic honor society. Membership is limited to those individuals who have graduated in the top ten percent of their class, based on three years attendance at the Law School, and who have otherwise met high standards of integrity and dedication.
Outdoors at VA Law (OVAL) is committed to enhancing the law school experience by organizing local outdoor excursions such as nature walks, hikes, caving, rafting, climbing, skiing and snow-shoeing. OVAL aims to help law students achieve a balanced approach to life and the study of law.
The Peer Advisor Program helps acclimate first-year students to the Law School experience. Second- and third-year students conduct orientation activities for first-year students, providing guidance and support throughout the students’ law school career.
Phi Alpha Delta - The Thomas Jefferson Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International is dedicated to the service of the student, the Law School, the profession, and the community. The chapter sponsors speakers and hosts social events. The fraternity provides a forum for members to broaden their professional experience.
Pro Bono Criminal Assistance Project (P-CAP) is a student volunteer organization of the law school that provides an array of legal assistance in the community, primarily in the area of criminal defense work. P-CAP does not accept direct solicitations. All law students are welcome to join one of the five P-CAP groups: Appointed Cases, Bail Project, Capital Cases, Beaumont Juvenile Project, and Litigation Committee.
Public Interest Law Association (PILA) is a student-run organization dedicated to promoting and supporting public interest law among students in the Law School. PILA provides fellowships to students who accept volunteer or low-paying summer internships in public service, educates the Law School community about public interest law, and serves as a support network for students interested in the public sector
Rape Crisis Advocacy Project (RCAP) supports survivors of rape and sexual assault through advocacy, legal research and education. Advocacy: Volunteer through SARA to provide direct support to survivors. Legal Research: Come to our weekly meetings to contribute to on-going legal research on current issues in sexual assault while earning pro bono hours. Community Education: Educate the Law School community about sexual violence and the legal issues involved. Legislative Advocacy Project: Change the antiquated laws regarding rape and sexual assault in both Virginia and federally.
The Rappahannock Legal Services Clinic (RLS), run by the Legal Assistance Society, is a project intended to provide the community’s indigent population with invaluable legal services. Student volunteers deal with such issues as bankruptcy advice, debtor/creditor issues, family law, and landlord-tenant law. Those student volunteers who have taken certain required courses (such as Evidence) may have the opportunity to actually counsel some of Rappahannock’s clients (with the help of the Rappahannock attorneys). However, this project is open to all law students, regardless of classes taken. This clinic is held every Friday afternoon in Culpeper, Va. Students who commit themselves to this project are asked to volunteer one to two afternoons per semester.
Rex E. Lee Law Society (RELLS) seeks to promote high ethical and moral values in the study and practice of law. The organization serves as a resource for the Law School and provides assistance and information to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) who are studying or interested in studying law at the University of Virginia.
St. Thomas More Society is UVA’s Catholic outreach organization. The Society provides spiritual and social support to the Catholic population of the Law School, and those interested in the Catholic faith; promotes the spiritual growth of our members through catechesis, prayer and community service programs; and ensures that Catholic graduates of UVA are imbued with a knowledge of the law that is shaped and strengthened by the Catholic faith.
Street Law is a student-run organization in which law students write lesson plans and teach substantive legal issues to 12th grade students at local high schools. The purposes of the program include: introducing high school students to the law and legal professions, educating high school students on their rights and responsibilities under the law, providing a connection between law students and the Charlottesville community, and encouraging the professional development of law students through emphasis on communication and teaching skills.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) is the student governing association for the Law School, with the general goal of improving the law school experience. As the official representative of the Law School student body, the SBA advises the dean of student sentiment, appoints students to joint faculty-student committees, initiates projects furthering student interests, and arranges social activities. Everyone is welcome to join one of the SBA’s 18 committees (such as Programming, Diversity, Academic Concerns, Public Service, Barristers’ Ball), or to run for class representative or office in the spring.
Student Legal Forum (SLF) brings dynamic speakers to Grounds to discuss high-profile legal issues, politics, and other civic concerns of interest to law students and the university community.
Students United to Promote Racial Awareness (SUPRA) is a student organization funded completely by the Law School Foundation in order to promote communication, interaction, and understanding among students with different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This is accomplished primarily through autonomous dinner groups that are purposefully racially diverse.
Virginia Animal Law Society (VALS) is dedicated to providing a forum for education, advocacy, and scholarship aimed at protecting the lives and advancing the interests of animals through the legal system and raising the profile of the field of animal law. VALS conducts pro bono work, hosts speakers, plans student events, and holds fund raisers. The organization is affiliated with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit group of attorneys dedicated to defending animals from abuse and exploitation throughout the country.
Virginia Employment and Labor Law Association (VELLA) seeks to educate the student body about all aspects of the field of labor and employment law including career opportunities, networking with alumni and to provide a forum for ideas in labor and employment.
Virginia Environmental Law Forum (VELF) is a student discussion group regarding environmental issues and careers. The Forum also aims to improve the environmental curriculum; its members volunteer at local nonprofit environmental groups.
Virginia Environmental Law Jounal (VELJ) is dedicated to providing a national forum for research and discussion in the areas of environmental and natural resource law. Published quarterly by Law School students, the Journal includes articles by scholars, practitioners, and environmental professionals, as well as student notes, on a broad array of topics from environmental justice to corporate liability.
Virginia Innocence Project Student Group (VIPS) recruits law student volunteers to investigate claims of individuals imprisoned in Virginia who claim to be innocent. Those who seek help from VIPS have in almost all cases exhausted the remedies that they have under the legal system and are desperate for assistance. VIPS volunteers will have the opportunity to work for justice for these people. VIPS operates under the guidance of the UVA Innocence Project Clinic and the Washington, D.C.-based Innocence Project of the National Capital Region (IPNCR), which includes student groups from five other D.C.-area law schools, including Georgetown University, the University of Maryland and American University. Since 1989, the Innocence Project groups established across the country have been responsible for 151 exonerations of innocent individuals, including eight in Virginia.
Virginia Journal of Criminal Law publishes a biannual journal devoted to burgeoning issues in criminal law and procedure. The Journal includes articles by scholars and practitioners, as well as student notes.
Virginia Journal of International Law (VJIL) is the oldest continuously-published, student-edited law review in the United States devoted exclusively to the fields of public and private international law. Published quarterly by a board of student editors, issues of the Journal include articles by noted practitioners, scholars, and jurists, as well as student-written notes and comments. Topics covered in the Journal range from public international law issues such as human rights, Law of the Sea, and foreign sovereign immunity, to private international law issues such as arbitration, international trade, and taxation. Positions on the Journal’s Editorial Board are open to all students in the Law School and in other schools of the University who successfully complete a written tryout that is conducted every spring and fall.
Virginia Journal of Law and Technology (VJoLT) is UVA Law’s only e-journal and provides a forum for students, professors, and practitioners to discuss emerging issues at the intersection of law and technology. Recent issues of the Journal have included articles on biotechnology, telecommunications, e-commerce, Internet privacy, and encryption. Because VJoLT publishes full text articles directly to the web, its audience is not limited by a fixed number of subscriptions; anyone with Internet access can read any article that the Journal has ever published free of charge on www.vjolt.net.
Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law is a student-edited law journal which publishes articles exploring the intersection of law and social policy issues. Recognizing the significance of the law and legal institutions on social conditions, the Journal provides a forum in which to examine contending legal, judicial, and political perspectives. Among the issues the Journal addresses are: health care policy, welfare reform, criminal justice, voting rights, civil rights, family law, employment law, gender issues, education, and critical race theory.
Virginia Law & Business Review is a premier journal of business law scholarship. It is published twice a year by law students of the University of Virginia. The student-editors are members of the Virginia Law & Business Review Association, a not-for-profit corporation chartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The journal addresses accounting, antitrust law, bankruptcy law, commercial law, corporations law, corporate finance, corporate governance, employment law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate law, securities regulation, secured transactions, takeover litigation, venture capital financing, and other corporate law subjects.
Virginia Law and Business Society was founded in 1981 and seeks to provide students with the most robust business and law experience available at any law school in the nation. Each year, the Society sponsors a variety of academic, professional, and social activities for students interested in careers in law and business.
Virginia Law Democrats encourages political discourse and learning about the political process, promotes student and community awareness of political issues, and actively works for the election of Democratic candidates to public office at the local, state, and federal levels.
Virginia Law Families supports and promotes the interests of students facing the challenges of attending law school while raising children. Among its primary objectives are promoting social interaction and the sharing of information among interested persons, including both current and prospective parents. Issues of specific concern include child care, medical resources, and family activities or community events, with particular emphasis on low-cost options to help those on a tight budget. Virginia Law Families also supports the Law School admissions staff by encouraging individuals with families to apply for admission and attend the School of Law, and by serving as an information resource for potential attendees
Virginia Law and Graduate Republicans is the primary organization for law and graduate students who wish to support the local and national candidates of the Republican Party and to promote Republican ideas and ideals at the University of Virginia.
Virginia Law Grilling Society is centered around students gathering in an informal manner to meet new people in a casual non-academic environment. Additionally, interested members will explore the art and mastery of grilling through different techniques, trips and guest lecturers. Of course, underlying all Virginia Law Grilling Society events is a commitment to the values that make this University a unique community: honor, friendship and working towards positive change. Our club is not just about grilling with friends on a sunny afternoon; it’s about fostering the friendships and memories that make Charlottesville and the University such a special place.
Virginia Law Libertarians seeks to cultivate an accurate understanding of the Libertarian Party on campus, to encourage friendly debate regarding political issues in dispute both within the Libertarian Party and between political parties, to promote social interaction between fellow Libertarians and to support representatives of the Libertarian Party throughout the election process.
Virginia Law Review, established in 1913, is a student-edited journal of general legal scholarship published eight times a year. Original student work makes up approximately half of each issue. Review members are responsible for all phases of editing and publication. The Review selects the majority of its members on the basis of academic performance. The remainder are chosen on the basis of writing ability, a combination of academic performance and writing ability, or writing ability and potential for other contributions (Virginia Plan).
Virginia Law Rod & Gun Club seeks to promote America’s traditions of hunting, fishing, archery, and marksmanship within the Law School. The Club provides opportunities for members and non-members alike to participate in exciting, educational hunting, fishing, and shooting range trips. Further, the Rod & Gun Club exists to advocate within the Law School for the rights of sportsmen and gun owners.
Virginia Law Veterans shares information about veterans benefits and issues among interested persons; sponsors speakers on issues of concern to the veterans and military community; encourages public interest in, and pro bono work on, issues related to the welfare and interests of military personnel and veterans; identifies members of the Law School community who, based on previous military experience, can serve as information resources for anyone conducting research on national security or international law and policy issues; provides support to Law School admissions staff by encouraging military veterans and active-duty personnel to both apply for admission to the Law School and matriculate; and promotes social interaction between the diverse population of military and Coast Guard veterans, active duty, national guard, and reserve personnel at the Law School. Membership is open to any interested person with no requirement of any past or present tie to the military.
Virginia Law Weekly is the weekly newspaper of the Law School community. Its editorial board and staff are comprised entirely of students. Circulated among students, faculty, alumni, and numerous law libraries, it provides a forum for the discussion of issues and activities in the Law School.
Virginia Law Wine Society is an organization centered around the appreciation of and education about wine. Though recently established, the group plans to organize tastings with guest speakers, trips to local vineyards and other wine-related events.
Virginia Law Women is dedicated to addressing issues that interest, concern, and affect women in law school. Members may take part in VLW’s mentor-mentee program, attend VLW meetings and activities, and/or join any of VLW’s active committees (i.e. scholarship, speakers, community affairs, feminist awareness).
Virginia Society of Law & Technology (VSLaT) exists to serve the law school by establishing a forum for the discussion of issues relating to law and technology. The society organizes and sponsors events such as student panels, faculty discussions and practitioner presentations. We encourage students with little or no technical background to participate in our group.
Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal (VaSE) focuses on all aspects of both sports and entertainment law. Published biannually by the students and the Law School, the Journal features articles written by sports and entertainment law professors, as well as those written by experienced practitioners in the sports and entertainment law fields. In addition, law students interested in sports or entertainment law are invited to join through a written tryout process held each semester.
Virginia Sports Law Society (VSLS) provides an educational forum for students dedicated to exploring the interface between sports and the law. The primary goals of VSLS are to consistently host informative events featuring sports law professionals, provide career networking opportunities for students, and promote a comfortable setting where students can socialize and discuss relevant issues in sports. Membership in VSLS is open and welcome to all students who share a passion for sports and the law.
Virginia Tax Review Association (VTR) publishes the first student-edited law journal focusing on tax law issues. Published four times per year, the Review consists of articles written by practitioners and academics, as well as notes and comments written by students. Members are selected on the basis of their performance in a writing tryout held every spring and fall.
Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA) affords students the opportunity to help low-income and elderly residents of Charlottesville complete their income tax returns during tax season. Students receive training on how to provide assistance and are encouraged to come as often as their schedules allow. VITA is a project of the Legal Assistance Society.
Women of Color provides social support to the diverse population of women at the Law School; promotes the welfare of its members through educational, professional, cultural, social and community service programs; and provides a forum for the discussion of issues affecting women of color in the Law School and the University community as a whole. Women of Color seeks to achieve these goals through service projects and fundraisers benefiting the University community and the greater Charlottesville-Albemarle community, social gatherings to promote fun and friendship, and open communication and involvement with the administration, professors, other student organizations, and the undergraduate community.
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Annual Awards and Honors
Bracewell and Patterson Oral Advocacy Awards Established by the Houston firm in 1988. Twenty-four outstanding first-year oral advocates are selected to receive a check and a certificate.
Mortimer Caplin Public Service Award Established in 1992 by Mr. Caplin, ‘40, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service under President Kennedy, and given at commencement to a graduating student who is entering a career in the public service sector and who demonstrates the qualities of leadership, integrity, and service to others.
Edwin S. Cohen Tax Prize This monetary prize is given annually to the graduating student who has demonstrated, by the sustained excellence of his or her performance in tax courses, superior scholarship in the tax area.
Hardy Cross Dillard Prize Established in honor of Hardy Cross Dillard, retired Judge of the International Court of Justice and former Dean and James Monroe Professor of Law. This monetary prize and plaque are awarded to the author of the best student note in a current volume of the Virginia Journal of International Law.
Faculty Award for Academic Excellence Presented to the student who has had the most outstanding academic record during his or her three years in Law School.
Robert E. Goldsten (‘40) Award Established by the man for whom it is named and given to the student who has, in the opinion of the faculty, contributed the most to classroom participation. The winner receives a monetary award and a lifetime membership in the University of Virginia Alumni Association.
Eppa Hunton IV Memorial Book Award Established in 1977 by the Richmond, Virginia law firm of Hunton & Williams, in honor of Eppa Hunton IV, ‘27. The award is presented annually to a third-year student who has demonstrated unusual aptitude in litigation courses and shown a keen awareness and understanding of the lawyer’s ethical and professional responsibility.
Margaret G. Hyde Award Established in 1930 by Forrest J. Hyde, Jr., ‘15. Under the terms of the donation, a monetary award is made to an outstanding member of the graduating class whose scholarship, character, personality, activities in the affairs of the school, and promise of efficiency have, in the opinion of the law faculty, entitled him or her to special recognition.
Jackson and Walker Award This monetary award is presented by the Dallas law firm to the student who has attained the highest grade point average in his or her class after four semesters.
Herbert Kramer/Herbert Bangel Community Service Award Established in 1989 by Mr. Kramer, ‘52. This monetary award is given annually to a third-year student who has contributed the most to the community during his or her stay in Law School.
Law School Alumni Association Best Note Award This monetary award is presented to the member of the graduating class who wrote the best note in a current issue of a Law School publication.
Thomas Marshall Miller Prize Established by Emily Miller Danton in 1982 in memory of her father, Thomas Marshall Miller, who attended the LawSchool, this monetary award is given annually to an outstanding and deserving member of the graduating class, selected by the faculty.
National Association of Women Lawyers Award This honorary membership in the National Association of Women Lawyers is awarded each year to an outstanding woman in the graduating class.
John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics A monetary award given by the Olin Foundation to the graduate or graduates who have produced outstanding work in the field of law and economics.
Mary Claiborne and Roy H. Ritter Prizes These four prizes for character, honor, and integrity were established in 1985 by C. Willis Ritter, ‘65 to honor his parents. Under the terms of the award, four monetary prizes are given annually to two female and two male members of the second-year class. The prize is applied against each recipient’s tuition during his or her final year of study. In addition, each recipient is given an appropriate certificate and the names of the winners also appear on a plaque in the library.
Rosenbloom Award. A monetary award established by Daniel Rosenbloom ’54 to honor a student with a strong academic record who has significantly enhanced the academic experience of other law students by volunteering support and assistance to them.
Shannon Award Established by the Z Society to encourage outstanding scholarship at the University, the award is presented each year to the student with the highest academic record after five semesters.
Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award Established in honor of the late Hardy C. Dillard, by Earle K. Shawe, ‘34. Mr. Shawe is the founder and senior partner of Shawe & Rosenthal, a Baltimore firm devoted exclusively to labor and employment law. This monetary award is given to the graduating student who shows the greatest promise of becoming a successful practitioner in the field of labor relations.
James C. Slaughter Honor Award This monetary award was established by the Textile Veterans Association in honor of James C. Slaughter, ‘51, and is presented to an outstanding member of the graduating class.
Stephen Pierre Traynor Award This award for excellence in appellate advocacy was established in 1970 by the late Roger J. Traynor, former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, in memory of his son. The monetary award is presented to the participant in the final round of the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition who, in the opinion of the judges of the final round, presents the best oral argument.
Roger and Madeleine Traynor Prize Established in 1980 by a gift from retired Chief Justice and Mrs. Traynor of California, these prizes are awarded each year to acknowledge the best written work by two graduating students. Each winner receives an appropriate certificate and a monetary award.
Trial Advocacy Award The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association presents an award to a graduating student who best exemplifies the attributes of an effective trial lawyer.
Virginia State Bar Family Law Book Award Established by the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Chapter of the AmericanAcademy of Matrimonial Lawyers, this award is presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated the most promise and potential for the practice of family law.
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Course Descriptions
Frequency of Course Offerings Not all courses are offered each year. The nature of the Law School curriculum allows significant variations in course titles and course content depending on the interests of faculty members.
Note: The current year’s course offerings may be found online at www.law.virginia.edu. A list of courses offered during the past three academic years is also available at this web site.
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