Vanderbilt University

Law School Overview

U.S. News Rankings

Ranking score and category

Rank Category Name #15 Best Law Schools

Specialties Locked in Environmental Law

Law School Overview

The Law School at Vanderbilt University has an application deadline of April 1. The full-time program application fee at the Law School at Vanderbilt University is $50. Its tuition is full-time: $46,804 per year. The student-faculty ratio is 13.1:1. The Law School at Vanderbilt University has 78 full- and part-time faculty on staff.

There are about 200 students in each class at Vanderbilt Law School, a private school in Nashville, Tenn. The first year curriculum is composed of mandatory courses; students can elect their own courses or take clinicals in their second and third years. Law students can complete joint degrees through other highly ranked academic schools at Vanderbilt including a J.D./M.B.A. through the Owen Graduate School of Management; a J.D./M.D. through the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; and a J.D./M.P.P. (Master of Public Policy) through Peabody College.  Vanderbilt also offers a Ph.D. in Law and Economics for students who already have a J.D. or who will pursue a law degree and doctoral degree concurrently.

There are five academic journals for students to get involved with, including the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law and the Journal of Risk and Uncertainty. Students can study abroad during the summer through the Vanderbilt in Venice program, led by law faculty.

Notable alumni of Vanderbilt Law School include Robert Hays, Jr., managing partner of international law firm King & Spalding; Fred Thompson, a former senator and Law & Order actor; and Pauline LaFon Gore, the mother of former Vice President Al Gore.

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Year founded	1874
Public/private	Private
Law school designation	National

Admissions

Application deadline	April 1
Full-time program application fee	$50
Part-time program application fee	N/A
Admissions Phone	(615) 322-6452
Admissions E-mail	admissions@law.vanderbilt.edu
Web site	http://www.vanderbilt.edu/law/

Academics

Full- and part-time faculty	78
Student-faculty ratio	13.1:1
Total faculty	90

Student Body

Enrollment (full-time)	580
Gender distribution (full-time)
J.D. candidates graduating in 2011-2012	196

Cost

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $46,804 per year
Room and board	$13,340

Careers

Employed at graduation 2	65.2%
Median private sector starting salary	$125,000
Median public service starting salary	$56,000

Library

Total volumes and volume equivalents

630,263

* Law School Overview details based on 2012 data