School of Law

Emory University, School of Law History

Emory University School of Law was established in 1916 and is a private institution. The 600-acre campus is in an urban area 7 miles northeast of Atlanta. The primary mission of the law school is dedicated to integrative, international, and interdisciplinary legal study and is committed to promoting scholarly excellence in a diverse community. The school educates leaders in society based on a common quest for knowledge, pursuit of public service, and advocacy for justice. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Atlanta area. Students have access to national and regional businesses. Facilities of special interest to law students are the more than 45 clinics with federal agencies, judges, public interest offices, and businesses. Housing for students is readily available from the University and private parties, in the immediate area, which offer many different options, such as apartments, condos and rental homes. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

Emory University, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and S.J.D. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 6 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in judaic studies), J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration), J.D./M.Div. (Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity), J.D./M.P.H. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Health), J.D./M.T.S. (Juris Doctor/Master of Theological Studies), J.D./Ph.D. (Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in religion), and J.D./REES (Juris Doctor/Russian East European Studies Certificate).

The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, environmental law, intellectual property law, international law, litigation, tax law, law and religion, child advocacy, feminist jurisprudence, and legal theory. In addition, clinics are available to second- and third-year students for 3 credits, generally. Seminars are also open to second- and third-year students for 3 hours of academic credit. During the summer, most students have paid internships with firms, businesses, government offices, or public interest agencies. A small number of students may be offered research assistantships. Field placements are open to second- and third-year students for academic credit with more than 50 local businesses and federal and state courts and agencies. Students may take advantage of ABA accredited law school study abroad programs. Tutorials are offered to all students by professors on an individual basis. Academic assistance is made available to any student by request. Special consideration is given to minority students in the admissions process; scholarships are offered to minority students based on merit and need; and our diversity office offers programs and initiatives to build community and prepare our students for success in diverse legal communities. The most widely taken electives are Criminal Procedure, Individual Tax, and Family Law.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 90 total credits, of which 47 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.25 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure I and II, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Methods, Legal Writing, Research, and Appellate Advocacy, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of a writing requirement, Business Associations, Evidence, Legal Profession, and Trial Techniques. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 2-day period prior to registration and 1 day of optional activities that introduces students to the university and the law school communities. Students also attend a small section class during orientation.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.25 and have completed the upper-division writing requirement.

Emory University, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 297,273 hard-copy volumes and 106,439 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 3867 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Dow-Jones, Infotrac, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, RLIN, WESTLAW, and Wilsonline Indexes are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a European Union depository and a federal depository. Recently, the library expanded electronic resources and wireless Internet access throughout the library and law school. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 4956 to 1 and to students is 419 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by visiting historically black colleges, attending college law fairs in the fall, sending mailings to minority students, and hosting several special on-site visits throughout the year. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and have a ranking of at least the top 50% of the class, although the top 20% to 25% is preferred. Preadmissions courses consist of the occasional CLEO summer institutes and a small program sponsored by the Georgia Legislature for minority students and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Four students are chosen by Emory to participate in summer law classes held at the University of Georgia. Passing grades in the courses allow them to enroll at Emory Law School in the fall.

Emory University, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 3913 applied, 1025 were accepted, and 254 enrolled. Twenty-two transfers enrolled. The median GPA of the most recent first-year class was 3.42.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include LSAT results, GPA, and academic achievement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is March 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, a personal statement, TOEFL for foreign applicants, a nonrefundable application fee of $70, 2 letters of recommendation, and r

Emory University, School of Law Financial Aid

About 85% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $41,748. Awards are based on need and merit, along with both merit and need; loans are either need or non-need, depending on the loan. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is April 1. Special funds for minority or disadvantaged students include scholarships based on merit and need. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at some time shortly after students are accepted, but before a tuition deposit is required.

Emory University, School of Law Students

About 47% of the student body are women; 28%, minorities; 9%, African American; 10%, Asian American; 8%, Hispanic; and 2%, 4% Foreign. The majority of students come from the Northeast (33%). The average age of entering students is 23; age range is 20 to 50. About 45% of students enter directly from undergraduate school. About 2% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 98% remain to receive a law degree.

Student-edited publications are the Emory Law Journal, Emory International Law Review, and Emory Bankruptcy Journal. Annually, moot court teams participate in internal competitions, the Georgia Intra-State Moot Court, the National First Amendment Moot Court, and the Jessup International Law Moot Court competitions, among others. Other competitions include the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition, the Negotiation Competition, and the National Hispanic Bar Association Moot Court Competition. Law student organizations include the Alternative Dispute Resolutions Society, the Emory Public Interest Committee, and the Health Law Society. Local chapters of national associations include the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy, and Phi Alpha Delta. Campus clubs and other organizations include Legal Association of Women Students, Black Law Students Association, and Emory Gay and Lesbian Advocates.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 6 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is no summer session. Transferable summer courses are not offered.