Frequently Asked Questions

Facts and Statistics

Application Information

LSAT

Notification and Acceptance

Curriculum

Campus Visits

Child Care

Career Services

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS FACTS AND STATISTICS

What is the size of the entering class? The size of the 2009 entering class is 143.

What is the enrollment at the University of Memphis School of Law? Enrollment for Fall 2009 in the law school is 421. The University of Memphis' total enrollment is approximately 20,000 students.

What are the median LSAT scores and GPA’s of enrolled students? The median LSAT score for Fall 2009 is 156 and the median undergraduate grade point average is 3.42. For more specific LSAT and UGPA information, please review our profile information.

What is the geographic makeup of the student body? A large majority of our students are Tennessee residents, but we have approximately 10 other states and three foreign countries represented.

THE APPLICATION INFORMATION

When is the application deadline? The application deadline for admission as a first-year student is March 1st.

Are letters of recommendation required? Letters of recommendation are not required at the University of Memphis School of Law, but applicants are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should be from former professors, instructors, or other professionals who can provide relevant information on the applicant's intellectual ability, academic performance, and potential for success in law school. Letters from personal or family friends or social acquaintances which provide only minimal information on an applicant’s abilities are not considered helpful. We prefer the letters be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation service that serves all member schools. This service is included in your LSDAS registration subscription.

Do you grant interviews? The Law Admissions Office does not conduct evaluative interviews for the purpose of admission, but applicants are welcome to visit the law school, meet with admissions staff, observe a class and take a tour with a student guide. To arrange a visit, contact the Law Admissions Office at lawadmissions@memphis.edu or 901.678.5403.

What is the application fee? Are application fee waivers granted? The application fee is $25 ($40 for foreign students) and must be submitted before the committee will review the application. An application fee waiver may be granted by LSAC to students who are deemed eligible for a fee waiver by LSAC. Please refer to the LSAC website at www.LSAC.org for more information. A copy of the fee waiver letter from LSACs must accompany your application in order for the application fee to be waived.

What are some factors considered by the admissions committee? Our admissions process seeks those applicants with the greatest chance for success, both in their education and in their future careers. As a result, admission into the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is competitive, and many different factors are considered in admissions decisions. To be considered for admission in 2010, applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution or the foreign equivalent and must have a score from an LSAT taken from June 2004 through February 2009. We look closely at the admission index, which is based on the applicant's undergraduate GPA and the applicant's highest LSAT score. Applicants are encouraged to explain, in an addendum, any variance in their LSAT scores. Our application requires a personal statement and the LSDAS report.

Other factors considered in the admissions process include overall academic record, extracurricular activities, community involvement, employment, and other life experiences. Applicants are encouraged to submit letters of recommendation addressing their potential for academic success.

As a publicly assisted institution of the state, Tennessee residents may be given preference in selection; however, non-resident applicants are encouraged to apply. Non-resident applicants are asked to provide the admissions committee with a separate addendum detailing their reasons for wanting to attend the University of Memphis School of Law. the School of Law recognizes the benefits of diversity in the classroom. We endeavor to create a student body representative of a wide range of social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. In the personal statement, applicants are encouraged to identify ways in which they may contribute to the diversity of the law school

How is residency determined? At the University of Memphis, residency is determined using the regulations established by the Tennessee Board of Regents. An initial determination of residency is made based on the information submitted on the law school application. For more information on residency classification, please contact the Admissions Office at 901.678.5403.

LAW SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TEST (LSAT) &
LAW SCHOOL DATA ASSEMBLY SERVICE (LSDAS)

What is the LSAT exam and where do I get information? The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test required for admission to all ABA accredited law schools. It provides a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing applicants. The test is administered four times a year at hundreds of locations around the world.

Should I prepare for the LSAT exam? There are many different ways to approach the Law School Admission Test. Applicants are encouraged to prepare for the LSAT. More information on preparing for the LSAT can be found in the LSAT/LSDAS Information Book. Information on commercial preparation programs is available at http://www.memphis.edu/lawadmissions/know.php.

What happens if I retake the LSAT? For Fall 2010 admission, LSAT scores taken June 2005 or later will be reviewed for admission to the University of Memphis School of Law. If the applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the highest LSAT score will be used in the admissions index. Applicants are encouraged to explain, in a separate statement, any variance in their LSAT scores.

Must I register with Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)? Yes. Almost all ABA-approved law schools, including the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and several non-ABA-approved schools, require an applicant to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).

The LSDAS provides a service including a five year subscription that prepares and provides a report for each law school to which you apply. The report contains information that is important in the law school admissions process. Your report will include:

An undergraduate academic summary
Copies of all undergraduate, graduate and law school transcripts
LSAT scores and writing sample copies
Copies of Letters of Recommendation if processed by LSAC

NOTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

How can I check the status of my application? It is the applicant’s responsibility to check on the status of his or her application. Applicants will receive email notification when the application is received and when the applicant file is complete. Thereafter, the applicant can check the status of their application through his or her LSAC account.

When are applicants notified of admission decisions? Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions between February and April. Written notification letters are mailed to the applicant’s current address.

What is the deposit deadline and cost of deposits? The deposit deadline is April 20th or two weeks after notification, whichever is later. The cost of the deposit is $250.00. This is a non-refundable fee. If the student matriculates at the University of Memphis School of Law, $200 of this fee is credited to his or her fall tuition. The remaining $50.00 is an orientation fee.

Can I defer my acceptance? Yes, deferrals are granted on an individual basis. You must pay the seat deposit of $250.00 and submit in writing a formal request indicating your reason for a deferral. Deferrals are granted for one academic year.

CURRICULUM

Are faculty members accessible to students? The Faculty of Law at The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law consists of 27 academic lawyers dedicated to excellent classroom instruction and student professional development, meaningful scholarship, and distinguished service to the community and the legal profession. These men and women offer through their courses a rich and varied curriculum designed to educate students and prepare them for a variety of career opportunities after graduation. In addition to classroom instruction, the faculty members maintain an “open-door” policy making them available to students at almost anytime. The faculty is more than willing to aid students in their legal education and pursuit of a legal career.

What clinical opportunities are available? The School of Law conducts legal clinics to promote the development of good lawyering skills by its students. For the 2008-2009 academic year, legal clinics are Elder Law and Child & Family Litigation. The Legal Clinic courses allow students to develop important skills by working with indigent and elderly clients through Memphis Area Legal Services. Students also work with children in delinquency and dependency proceedings. Students provide high-quality legal services to clients under the direct supervision of a director and four full-time clinic supervising attorneys. The students in the clinic, which is housed at the offices of Memphis Area Legal Services, interview clients, conduct factual and legal investigations, provide client counseling, negotiate, prepare, and try civil cases for Legal Services clients. Students may also work with clinic faculty members in addressing legal problems confronting elderly citizens and children in need of legal assistance.

What is the average course load? The school operates on the semester system and requires 90 semester hours for the Jurist Doctor (J.D.) degree. A full-time student is required to enroll in at least 12 hours each semester, and the average course load is usually between 14 and 16 hours per semester. Students in the full-time program normally graduate in three years.

Is there summer school? Summer classes are available, but they are not mandatory. Some students graduate after five semesters and two summer sessions of full-time study.

Does Memphis have any areas of concentration? In addition to the required courses, the elective courses cover a wide range of substantive legal knowledge and lawyering skills. The upper-level curriculum permits students to take courses in specialty areas of law, develop fundamental lawyering skills, and concentrate their legal education in particular areas of interest.

CAMPUS VISITATION INFORMATION

How do I schedule a campus visit? To arrange a law school visit, please contact the Law School Admissions Office by email at lawadmissions@memphis.edu or call 901.678.5403.

Directions to the law school? The law school is located at 3715 Central Avenue on the University of Memphis campus. The law admissions office is located in Room 203. Detailed directions are available at http://www.memphis.edu/directions.html.

CHILD CARE AVAILABLE

Is there a child care facility on campus? The University of Memphis provides a child care facility on its campus. The facility’s phone number is 901.678.5059 and is located at 3875 Tiger Paw South. In order to qualify for child care services, there are several requirements:

Parent or legal guardian must be currently enrolled at the University of Memphis
Ages from 30 months to 12 years
Parent must sign a contract with the facility
Child’s immunization record must be current and submitted to the facility
$30.00 registration fee (non-refundable)
$2.50 per hour charge for child care service

The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am – 9:00 pm; Friday 7:30 am – 4:30 pm; and Saturday 8:00 am – 12:30 pm

How can I get more information on the city of Memphis? For more information on the city of Memphis, please visit -

http://www.ci.memphis.tn.us

http://www.memphis.citysearch.com

CAREER SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS

What is the bar passage rate? The July 2008 bar pass rate was 94.1% for first-time takers, and the July 2007 bar pass rate was 95.9%.

What percentage of students are employed within 6 to 9 months of graduation? 95% of known Memphis 2008 graduates looking for legal employment were employed within 9 months of graduation.

What is the average starting salaries for Memphis graduates? The median starting salary for Memphis 2008 graduates was $59,281.

Where do students practice (firms & geographically)? Memphis alumni practice in all 50 states and overseas. The greatest concentration of alumni is in the Southeastern United States, but there are significant numbers in other cities such as Dallas, Washington, DC, and Chicago.