School of Law

History

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. The school was first housed in Pavilion III in the University of Virginia’s Academical Village, where students began taking classes in 1826, and later moved into Clark Hall for several decades until the North Grounds facility was built in the 1970s. For more information about the School of Law’s history, see http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/about/timeline.htm

The School Today

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. Virginia has a national reputation for producing highly skilled lawyers with a healthy combination of legal acuity and personal balance.

Virginia Law offers more than 200 courses in a broad array of subjects. The School of Law has curricular programs or extensive coursework in law and business, law and public service, international law, legal and constitutional history, criminal law, human rights, environmental and land use law, intellectual property, health law, public policy and regulation, law and the humanities, race and law, immigration law and animal law.

Virginia offers 20 clinics that give students access to real-world cases, contact with clients and the experience that gives them a head start as attorneys. Students also benefit from skill-building courses in public speaking, professional ethics and legal writing.

Extracurricular opportunities, such as the Law School’s 10 student-run journals, moot court and pro bono work, further provide students with valuable learning experiences. In addition to the Law School’s William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition, many students also participate in national advocacy competitions through the Extramural Advocacy Team, including trial advocacy and moot court contests.

Address

School of Law
University of Virginia
580 Massie Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903-1738
(434) 924-7354
www.law.virginia.edu

Facilities

The Law School is located on the North Grounds, about a mile from the central University Grounds, as part of a graduate-professional complex that also includes the Darden School of Business. The school includes Clay Hall, the main entrance to the Law School; Withers-Brown Hall, the building to the right of the main entrance that houses classrooms, administrative and faculty offices, and the Arthur J. Morris Law Library; and Slaughter Hall, the building on the left, which includes classrooms, student organization offices, moot courtrooms, the Law School Foundation and Alumni Association, and student services such as the offices of Career Services, Public Service, the registrar and Student Affairs. To the back of the school, Scott Commons includes a cafeteria, dining rooms, student mailboxes and study/lounge space. The Law School has wireless Internet access available to students, staff and visitors, as well as computer lab access in the Law Library.

Activities and Organizations

Virginia Law is enriched by the scope of student organizations, extracurricular activities and the community spirit that permeates student life. Opportunities include 10 student-run academic journals, 70 interest-centered organizations, student self-governance (both Law School and University), and a vibrant range of social and athletic activities. In addition, the University and local community are both large enough to offer something to meet anyone’s interests and small enough to make active participation compatible with a student’s rigorous academic schedule.

Student Organizations

• A Cappellate Opinions
• ACLU-UVA LAW
• Action for a Better Living Environment
• Advocates for Life at Virginia Law
• American Constitution Society
• The Aristotle Society
• Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
• Black Law Students Association
• Child Advocacy Research & Education
• Conference on Public Service and the Law
• Domestic Violence Project
• Extramural Advocacy Team
• Extramural Moot Court
• Federalist Society
• First Year Council
• Feminist Legal Forum
• Graduate Law Students
• Health Law Association
• Human Rights Study Project
• JD/MBA Society - Jewish Law Students Association
• John Bassett Moore Society of International Law
• Lambda Law Alliance
• Latin American Law Organization
• Law Christian Fellowship
• Law Partners
• Law Student Advocacy Project
• Legal Advisory Workshops for Undergraduate Students
• Legal Assistance Society
• The Legal Education Project
• The Libel Show
• Migrant Farmworkers Project
• Moot Court Board
• Muslim Law Students Association
• National Trial Advocacy Team
• Native American Law Students Association
• North Grounds Softball League
• Outdoors at VA Law
• Peer Advisor Program
• Phi Alpha Delta
• Pro Bono Criminal Assistance Project
• Public Interest Law Association
• Rape Crisis Advocacy Project
• Rappahannock Legal Services Clinic
• Rex E. Lee Law Society
• Rivanna Investments
• St. Thomas More Society
• Street Law
• Student Bar Association
• Student Legal Forum
• Students United to Promote Racial Awareness
• Virginia Animal Law Society
• Virginia Employment and Labor Law Association
• Virginia Environmental Law Forum
• Virginia Entrepreneurial Society (Law School Chapter)
• Virginia Innocence Project Student Group
• Virginia Law & Business Society
• Virginia Law Democrats
• Virginia Law Families
• Virginia Law and Graduate Republicans
• Virginia Law Racquet Club
• Virginia Law Rod & Gun Club
• Virginia Law Students for Reproductive Justice
• Virginia Law Veterans
• Virginia Law Weekly
• Virginia Law Wine Society
• Virginia Law Women
• Virginia Society of Law & Technology
• Virginia Sports Law Society
• Volunteer Income Tax Association

Academic Journals

• Journal of Law & Politics
• Virginia Environmental Law Journal
• Virginia Journal of Criminal Law
• Virginia Journal of International Law
• Virginia Journal of Law & Technology
• Virginia Journal of Social Policy & the Law
• Virginia Law & Business Review
• Virginia Law Review
• Virginia Sports & Entertainment Law Journal
• Virginia Tax Review

Although these organizations have members who are University of Virginia students and may have University employees associated or engaged in their activities and affairs, these organizations are not a part of or agencies of the University. They are separate and independent organizations that are responsible for and manage their own activities and affairs. The University does not direct, supervise or control these organizations and is not responsible for the organizations’ contracts, acts or omissions.

Honors/Awards/Scholarships

• Bracewell and Giuliani Oral Advocacy Awards
• Mortimer Caplin Public Service Award
• Mortimer Caplin Public Service Fellowship
• Edwin S. Cohen Tax Prize
• Claire Corcoran Award
• Hardy Cross Dillard Prize
• Hardy Cross Dillard Scholarship
• Faculty Award for Academic Excellence
• Linda Fairstein Public Service Fellowship
• Carl M. Franklin Prize
• Robert E. Goldsten (‘40) Award
• Eppa Hunton IV Memorial Book Award
• Margaret G. Hyde Award
• Jackson and Walker Award
• Robert F. Kennedy Award for Public Service
• Herbert Kramer/Herbert Bangel Community Service Award
• Law School Alumni Association Best Note Award
• Thomas Marshall Miller Prize
• Monroe Leigh Fellowship in International Law
• National Association of Women Lawyers Award
• John M. Olin Prize in Law and Economics
• Powell Fellowship in Legal Services
• Pro Bono Service Awards
• Mary Claiborne and Roy H. Ritter Prizes
• Rosenbloom Award
• Shannon Award
• Earle K. Shawe Labor Relations Award
• James M. Shoemaker, Jr., Moot Court Awards
• James C. Slaughter Honor Award
• Stephen Pierre Traynor Award
• Roger and Madeleine Traynor Prize
• Trial Advocacy Award
• Virginia State Bar Family Law Book Award

Degree Information

The Law School offers the first professional degree in law and two graduate law degrees:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.)
• Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)

Academic Rules and Regulations

Academic policies are published annually by the Law School. Current-year policies may be found online at: http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/academics/academics.htm