Editing Appalachian School of Law

{{Infobox Law School
| nickname                    = ASL
| image                       = [[Image: ASL Sign in Front.jpg|190px|The Sign.]]
| motto                       = 
| parent                      = 
| established                 = 1994
| type                        = Private ABA School of Law
| endowment                   = 
| dean                        = Clinton W. Shinn (Interim)
| street_address              = 1169 Edgewater Dr
| city                        = Grundy
| state                       = VA
| country                     = US
| full_time_students          = 
| part_time_students          = 
| full_time_faculty           = 
| adjunct_faculty             = 
| ranking                     = 
| tier                        = 
| bar_pass_rate               = 
| lsat_75_percentile          = 
| median_lsat                 = 
| lsat_25_percentile          = 
| gpa_75_percentile           = 
| median_gpa                  = 
| gpa_25_percentile           = 
| underemployment_score       = 
| library                     = 
| subsidized_annual_tuition   = 
| unsubsidized_annual_tuition = 
| tuition_subsidy_basis       = 
| website                     = http://www.asl.edu/
| aba_profile                 = 
}}

The '''Appalachian School of Law''' (ASL) is a fully-accredited private [[law school]] on a four building campus in [[Grundy, Virginia]], a small town near the convergence of [[Virginia]], [[Kentucky]], and [[West Virginia]]. The school offers a three-year [[Juris Doctor]] degree, and enrolls approximately 370 full-time students.<ref name="Appalachian School of Law - Student Body">{{cite web
| url = http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/directory/dir-law/brief/stude_03187_brief.php
| title = Appalachian School of Law - Student Body
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = U.S. News and World Report
| language = English
}}</ref>  The law school was founded in 1994 and it admitted its first class of students in August 1997.
ASL was started and brought to [[Buchanan County, Virginia]] as a tool of economic development for the region. The school is fully accredited by the [[American Bar Association]]. ASL is notable for its focus to community service and leadership, emphasizing [[professional responsibility]] and [[alternative dispute resolution]] in its curriculum and requiring students to complete 25 hours of community service per semester in order to graduate. Each student is also required to complete an externship before graduation. ASL is also notable for the [[Appalachian School of Law shooting|shootings]] that took place on campus [[January 16]], [[2002]]. 

==History==
[[Image:AtriumASL.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The Atrium at ASL, circa 2002.]]
ASL traces its roots back to [[1993]] when [[Norton, Virginia]] lawyer Joe Wolfe came up with the idea to create a law school in Central [[Appalachia]].  His idea was well received by local business leaders and a steering committee was founded in [[1994]] and grew to eighty members. The committee surveyed lawyers and found that legal education needed to emphasize [[professional responsibility]] and [[alternative dispute resolution]] as these pillars of law school were becoming more important in today's law practice. The committee gained permission of the [[Virginia General Assembly]] to start a law school in [[1995]] and continued to secure endorsements from local civic associations and industrial development authorities.  [[Buchanan County, Virginia]] approached the committee in [[1996]] and offered the grounds and buildings of the former Grundy Elementary and Intermediate Schools to which the steering committee accepted.<ref name="ASL Course Catalog">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/documents/2006-2007Catalog.pdf
| title = Catalog 2006-2007
| accessdate = 2007-03-09
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

A $1 million loan (which was later converted into a grant) financed the buildings' renovations.<ref name="Buchanan’s 10-year-old $2.5 million debt forgiven">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bdtonline.com/cnhi/bdtonline/homepage/local_story_068210953.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
| title = Buchanan’s 10-year-old $2.5 million debt forgiven
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Bluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph
| language = English
}}</ref> 

The State Council of Higher Education in Virginia granted the school the ability to enroll students studying for the [[Juris Doctor]] Degree in [[1997]].  The charter class of 71 students first attended classes on [[August 12]], [[1997]].<ref name="ASL Course Catalog">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/documents/2006-2007Catalog.pdf
| title = Catalog 2006-2007
| accessdate = 2007-03-09
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

[[Buchanan County, Virginia|Buchanan County]] brought ASL to [[Grundy, Virginia|Grundy]] in order to revitalize a town that had been in a steady economic decline since the town's Flood of 1977. ASL has brought a positive economic impact on its home town, including spurring construction of rental homes and the opening of additional businesses in the area. ASL has become a success story for the concept of higher education as an economic development tool.<ref name="Buchanan’s 10-year-old $2.5 million debt forgiven">{{cite web
| url = http://www.bdtonline.com/cnhi/bdtonline/homepage/local_story_068210953.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
| title = Buchanan’s 10-year-old $2.5 million debt forgiven
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Bluefield (WV) Daily Telegraph
| language = English
}}</ref> The school has brought in $12 million per year to the local economy.<ref name="Colleges bring coal country a fresh mine of resources">{{cite web
| url = http://www.uacp.org/news_roanoke_times_uacp_asl.html
| title = Colleges bring coal country a fresh mine of resources
| accessdate = 2007-04-03
| format = HTML
| publisher = Roanoke Times
| language = English
}}</ref>ASL's economic success spurred the conception and implementation of the [[University of Appalachia College of Pharmacy]] which was founded in 2003 and opened its doors in 2005.<ref name="Open House">{{cite web
| url = http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/backissues/3-1-07/Default.asp
| title = Open House
| accessdate = 2007-03-16
| format = HTML
| publisher = Virginia Mountaineer
| language = English
}}</ref>
===January 2002 campus shooting===
{{main|Appalachian School of Law shooting}}
On [[January 16]], [[2002]], ASL Dean Anthony Sutin, Professor Thomas Blackwell, and 1L student Angela Dales were shot and killed by disgruntled student Peter Odighizuwa, 43, of [[Nigeria]].  When Odighizuwa exited the building, he was subdued by two students armed with personal firearms.  At trial, Odighizuwa was found mentally competent, pled guilty to the murders to avoid the [[death penalty]], and was sentenced to multiple life terms in prison.<ref name="Against All Reason">{{cite web
| url = http://law.utoledo.edu/students/lawreview/volumes/v36n1/Davis%20WJ.htm
| title = Davis, W. Jeremy, "Against All Sense and Reason or Change and the Art of Getting Lucky"
| accessdate = 2007-04-04
| format = HTML
| publisher = University of Toledo Law Review
| language = English
}}</ref>

==Profile==
[[Image:ASLApCourtroom.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Appellate Courtroom.]]
According to the Law School Admissions Council's 2005 profile, ASL's student body demographic was as follows: 88.5% Caucasian, 2.5% African American, 2.5% Asian American, 0.3% Mexican American, 0.5% Puerto Rican, and 0.5% Hispanic with 5.2% not reporting. 67.6% of the student body is male, while 32.4% of the student body is female. The student to faculty ratio in 2005 was 19.3 to 1 and typical first year class size is 101. For the fall 2005 entering class, 1302 applied for admission, of which 527 were granted admission and 149 matriculated into the first year class. The 25-75 percentile range for [[LSAT]] scores and undergraduate GPA is 147-152 and 2.64-3.33. 70% of graduates are employed nine months after graduation and 70% passed the Tennessee bar exam in 2005. (A plurality of ASL graduates choose to take the Tennessee bar exam. Other graduates choose other states including Virginia.)<ref name="LSAC Guide">{{cite web
| url = http://officialguide.lsac.org/OFFGUIDE/pdf/aba5829.pdf
| title = LSAC Guide to the Appalachian School of Law
| accessdate = 2007-04-11
| format = HTML
| publisher = Law School Admissions Council
| language = English
}}</ref>ASL was ranked "fourth tier" in the [[U.S. News and World Report]] law school listings, its first appearance since becoming fully accredited.<ref name="Ranking">{{cite web
| url = http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/brief/lawrank_tier4_brief.php
| title = ASL Ranking
| accessdate = 2007-04-11
| format = HTML
| publisher = U.S. News and World Report
| language = English
}}</ref>

Appalachian School of Law was granted full accreditation by the [[American Bar Association]] on [[June 12]], [[2006]]. The school had been provisionally accredited by the ABA since February 2001. Students who complete their course of legal study at this approved law school are eligible to take the bar examination in all 50 states and the [[District of Columbia]]. Prior to February [[2001]], graduates of the school were allowed to sit for the bar examination in [[Virginia]] and [[West Virginia]].<ref name="ASL Full Accreditation">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/article.php?story_id=135&cmd=verbose
| title = ASL Receives ABA Full Accredidation
| accessdate = 2007-03-15
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

==Campus==
[[Image:ASLlibrary.jpg|thumb|left|250px|The Law Library, 2002.]]The campus of ASL currently consists of three buildings, the main academic building, the Student Organization House, and the law library. A fourth building, Booth Hall, is under construction.

The main academic building was created from the town's former high school (and junior high school) and gymnasium complex; these buildings were joined and extensively remodeled and expanded as part of a $1 million<ref name="VCEDA forgives loans for projects">{{cite web
| url = http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-03-10-0012.html
| title = VCEDA forgives loans for projects
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Bristol Herald Courier
| language = English
}}</ref> award-winning architectural project.<ref name="Project profile">{{cite web
| url = http://www.t-l.com/default.php?do=ClientProjects&JobID=130&header=Project%20Profile
| title = Appalachian School of Law
| accessdate = 2007-04-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Thompson and Litton
| language = English
}}</ref>  The main building contains an appellate courtroom (which doubles as the auditorium for large events), a trial courtroom, five seminar rooms, student mailroom, the Lion's Lounge, and faculty and staff offices. Most rooms are wired for internet access.<ref name="ASL Course Catalog - Facilities">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/documents/2006-2007Catalog.pdf
| title = Catalog 2006-2007 (page 5)
| accessdate = 2007-04-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

The two-story law library is adjacent to the main building. The building has 24,780 square feet and has facilities for seminar classes and group study rooms. The library contains over 196,000 volumes. Once the former Grundy Elementary School, this building has also been extensively remodeled and features individual and group study areas, a computer lab, and both wireless and wired internet access.
<ref name="ASL Library">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/library/information.php
| title = Library General Information
| accessdate = 2007-03-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law Library
| language = English
}}</ref>

The student organization house, located across Slate Creek from the main campus, houses offices for student organizations including the Student Bar Association, Moot Court, and the Law Journal.  A privately owned coffee shop operates out of this building during the school year.<ref name="ASL Course Catalog - Facilities">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/documents/2006-2007Catalog.pdf
| title = Catalog 2006-2007 (page 5)
| accessdate = 2007-04-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

A fourth campus building, Booth Hall, is now under construction. Booth Hall will be situated behind and to the rear of the main academic building and law library. The building will have 58,000 square feet of space on three floors. Thirty three parking spaces will be situated on the first floor.  Additional classrooms, including one that seats 150 students, computer lab, student lounges, and a conference room will be included in the new building. The building is estimated to be completed in 2008 and will house the school's Business Office and President's Office.  The building will also house facilities for [[Southwest Virginia Community College]], which will share classroom space with ASL.<ref name="New Building Planned">{{cite web
| url = http://www.virginiamountaineer.com/backissues/5-25-06/Default.asp
| title = New Building Planned
| accessdate = 2007-03-16
| format = HTML
| publisher = Virginia Mountaineer
| language = English
}}</ref>

==Academic program==
[[Image:ASLPhoto2005.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Photo of academic building at the Appalachian School of Law in 2005.]]Students at Appalachian complete the traditional law school curriculum as required by the [[American Bar Association]] (ABA); however, the school distinguishes itself from almost all of the other 192 ABA accredited law schools in the country, as its students are required to volunteer 25 hours each semester on community service projects, ranging from dispute resolution training to humane society management. Only 11 other law schools have similar mandatory programs.<ref name="ASL Community Service Program">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/current/communityserv.php
| title = Community Service
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

ASL offers a Pre-Admission Summer Opportunity (PASO) programs for students who have the potential to become good lawyers and law students but whose LSAT's and GPA's do not necessarily reflect their skills and talents.  The program lasts four weeks, three of which are independent home study, the final week is the on-campus lecture and final exam. The top scorers on the final exam may be offered admission to the fall's first year class.<ref name="Admissions Procedure">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/admissions/procedure.php
| title = Admissions Procedure
| accessdate = 2007-04-04
| format = HTML
| publisher = ASL Office of Student Services
| language = English
}}</ref>

First year students arrive one week before the academic year starts to partake in a one credit course called [[Introduction to Law]] which covers the basic skills needed in order to succeed in law school. Students also register for classes and finalize their financial aid needs then.<ref name="ASL Introduction to Law">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/introlaw.php
| title = Introduction to Law
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

First year students cover legal foundation courses: [[Torts]] (4 credits), [[Contracts]] (6 credits), [[Property]] (6 credits), [[Civil Procedure]] (5 credits), [[Criminal Law]] (3 credits) and [[Legal Writing|Legal Process]] (6 credits).  Legal Process teaches students [[legal research]] and [[Legal writing|writing]]. First-year students also take an orientation course to the [[community service]] program in the first semester and an additional legal research course in the second semester. First-year students may not take any electives.<ref name="ASL Curriculum">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/curriculum.php
| title = Curriculum
| accessdate = 2007-03-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>
Additionally, all first-year students are required to complete a 200-hour unpaid externship over the summer before their second-year. This requirement is usually met by students working as judicial clerks, interns in prosecutor and defense offices, state and federal governmental agencies, and private practices.  Placements have included state supreme courts, the [[Environmental Protection Agency]], and the [[U.S. Department of Justice]].  The school provides assistance in locating and obtaining these positions.<ref name="Externship">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/courses.php#externship
| title = Externship
| accessdate = 2007-03-16
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>
Second year students cover additional legal foundation courses: [[Constitutional Law]] (6 credits), [[Evidence]] (4 credits), [[Professional Responsibility]] (3 credits), and [[Secured transactions in the United States|Secured Transactions]] (3 credits).  Students also cover [[Trusts and Estates]] (3 credits) and [[Business Associations]] (3 credits), and are allowed to take electives, such as [[Appellate Advocacy]]. Students also fulfill their [[alternative dispute resolution]] requirement in the second year.<ref name="ASL Curriculum">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/curriculum.php
| title = Curriculum
| accessdate = 2007-03-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

Students in their third year have the most options when it comes to electives. Third year students are required to take [[Family Law]] (3 credits), [[Criminal Procedure]] (3 credits), [[Payment Systems]] (3 credits),  and [[Tax Law]] (3 credits).  Additionally, students have their [[capstone]] experience in a writing intensive seminar.  Each students takes two practicums focusing on the practical aspects of legal practice.<ref name="ASL Curriculum">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/curriculum.php
| title = Curriculum
| accessdate = 2007-03-08
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>
===Alternative dispute resolution===
ASL is distinguished by its requirement that all second-year students complete a mandatory [[Alternative Dispute Resolution]] (ADR) class.  The school has also held ADR training in local schools; this program drew national attention, particularly from former U.S. [[Attorney General]] [[Janet Reno]], who has publicly congratulated the school on this effort. <ref name="Law and Community Service: The Appalachian School of Law">{{cite web
| url = http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=599
| title = McDaniel, Lynda, "Law and Community Service: The Appalachian School of Law"
| accessdate = 2007-04-03
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian Regional Commission, ''Appalachia Magazine''
| language = English
}}</ref> Students are given an overview of different types of conflict resolutions, particularly mediation, negotiation, and arbitration. Ethical issues are explored in addition to legal and policy ramifications. Students learn the strengths and weaknesses of each method of dispute resolution and learn which methods are appropriate for certain situations.<ref name="Dispute Resolution">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/prospective/courses.php#disputeresolution
| title = Course Descrptions
| accessdate = 2007-04-19
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>
<p>Students also have the option of taking additional courses in their second and third years to earn certification for mediation under the "Lawyer as a Problem Solver" Certificate Program. Students must complete basic law school procedure courses, two ADR focused courses, and an additional problem solving skills course.<ref name=" ASL Graduate Begins Prestigious Masters of Law Program">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/article.php?story_id=142&cmd=verbose
| title =  ASL Graduate Begins Prestigious Masters of Law Program
| accessdate = 2007-03-15
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref> ASL offers two courses to fulfill this requirement: [[certified civil mediation]], and advanced negotiation. The school has two faculty which solely teach [[alternative dispute resolution]] related courses.<ref name="Unique Aspects of ASL's ADR Curriculum">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/article.php?story_id=155&cmd=verbose
| title =  Unique Aspects of ASL's ADR Curriculum
| accessdate = 2007-04-19
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

==Student life==
ASL has an active student body involved in activities not only on campus but within the local community and the legal profession as well. 
[[Image:ASLApproach.jpg|thumb|right|300px|View of Main Academic Building from the footbridge above Slate Creek.]]
Officially recognized student organizations on campus:<ref name="ASL Student Organizations">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/current/studentorg.php
| title = Student Organizations
| accessdate = 2007-03-15
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>
{| border="0"
|-
|valign="top"|
* [[American Bar Association]] - Law Student Division 
* [[American Constitution Society]]
* [[American Trial Lawyers Association]]
* Association of Women in Law
* Black Law Students Association
* [[Christian Legal Society]]
* [[Criminal Law Society]]
* Democratic Society
|valign="top"|
* [[Federalist Society]]
* Gay and Straight Legal Alliance
* Libertarian Society
* [[Phi Alpha Delta]]
* [[Phi Delta Phi]]
* Republican Law Students Association
* Sports and Entertainment Law Society
* Sutin Public Interest Association
|}

ASL's student body governs itself through the Student Bar Association. The SBA is divided into three branches, the Senate, Executive, and the Honor Court. The Senate consists of three elected senators for the first year, second year, and third year classes.  The Executive Branch consists of the Student Body President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, plus any committees that the President appoints to assist in his or her endeavors.  The Honor Court consists of five elected judges, one for the first year class and two per upper class.<ref name="ASL Student Bar Association">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/current/sbaaba.php
| title = SBA/ABA
| accessdate = 2007-03-09
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

ASL also fields moot court teams that compete in national competitions.  Students can audition for the team through either the Appellate Advocacy class in the second year or through an annual intra-school [[moot courtroom|moot court]] challenge in the fall of the third year.<ref name="ASL 3RD ANNUAL INTRASCHOOL MOOT COURT COMPETITION">{{cite web
| url = http://www.asl.edu/article.php?story_id=108&cmd=verbose
| title = ASL 3RD ANNUAL INTRASCHOOL MOOT COURT COMPETITION
| accessdate = 2007-04-02
| format = HTML
| publisher = Appalachian School of Law
| language = English
}}</ref>

==Journals==
*[http://www.asl.edu/current/lawjournal.php Appalachian Journal of Law]
* Appalachian Natural Resources Law Journal (Online Journal - Spring 2007)

==External links and further reading==
* [http://www.asl.edu/ ASL Web Site]
* [http://www.arc.gov/index.do?nodeId=599 "Law and Community Service: The Appalachian School of Law" by Lynda McDaniel (Appalachian Regional Commission)]
* [http://www.law.stetson.edu/lawrev/abstracts/PDF/32-1Davis.pdf "The Appalachian School of Law: Tried by Still True" by Wendy B. Davis (Stetson Law Review)]
* [http://officialguide.lsac.org/OFFGUIDE/pdf/lsac5829.pdf LSAC Guide to ASL]
* [http://officialguide.lsac.org/OFFGUIDE/pdf/aba5829.pdf ABA Statistics for ASL]
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|37.27676|-82.095038}}

==References==
<div class="references-small">{{reflist|2}}</div>

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{{Colleges and universities in Virginia}}
{{BuchananCountyVA}}

[[Category:Law Schools]]