Belmont University College of Law

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Belmont University College of Law
Parent school Belmont University
Established 2011
Dean
Location Nashville, TN, US
Enrollment 276
Faculty (See List)
USNWR ranking 138
Bar pass rate 97%
Annual tuition $44,470
Website
ABA profile link
Outlines 0 (See List)
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Belmont University College of Law is located in Nashville, TN

Belmont University College of Law is a private law school in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 2011, the College of Law was accredited by the American Bar Association in 2013, the earliest possible time allowed by accreditation guidelines.[1] Although relatively young, Belmont Law has established a strong reputation in Tennessee for its high bar passage and employment statistics.

History[edit | edit source]

Belmont University announced plans for the College of Law in 2009, with the first class beginning in 2011.[2] Belmont Law was accredited by the American Bar Association in 2013, making it the first new accredited law program in Tennessee in over 50 years [1] and the first new law school in Middle Tennessee in nearly 100 years.[2] Belmont Law achieved American Bar Association accreditation in the earliest possible time allowed by accreditation guidelines.[1]

Curriculum[edit | edit source]

The college's curriculum includes the Juris Doctor (J.D.) with specialized certificate programs available in Criminal Law, Health Law, and Entertainment Law.[3] The College of Law curriculum focuses on creating practice-ready attorneys with a practicum requirement in each semester to help students become proficient in the “practice” of law.[4] These practicums give instruction in all aspects of the practice of law, such as legal writing, legal research, client interviewing, document drafting, litigation, negotiation, and more.[4]

In 2017, a dual JD/MBA program was launched, allowing students to take classes for both degrees concurrently and complete requirements for both degrees within three years.[5]

Facilities[edit | edit source]

Belmont Law Baskin Center
Belmont Law Baskin Center

The law school is housed in the Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, a 75,000-square-foot LEED Gold building atop a five-level underground garage.[6] The Baskin Center houses more than a dozen large classrooms, a trial courtroom, an appellate court room, faculty offices, student commons, and a two-story law library. [7]

Organizations and Publications[edit | edit source]

Students can hone their oral and written advocacy skills through local and national competition through the Board of Advocates program, which includes mock trial, moot court, and transactional teams.[4]

The College of Law publishes four academic journals, the Belmont Law Review,[8] Criminal Law Journal,[9] Entertainment Law Journal, and Health Law Journal.[10]

Employment[edit | edit source]

Statistics for the class of 2018 indicate 96% of students are employed in some capacity, with 95% employed in bar passage required or J.D. advantage positions.[11] Most graduates remain in state, with 89% employed in Tennessee. [12] Of those employed, 63% work at a law firm, 14.5% work in business or industry, 18.5% work in government or judicial clerkships, and 4% work in public interest. [12]

Belmont Law's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 6.4%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2018 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[13]

Bar Passage[edit | edit source]

On the July 2019 bar exam, 97.18% of Belmont Law's first-time test takers and 94.52% of its total takers passed, [14] the highest of any law school in Tennessee and +23.62% above the state's overall 70.90% pass rate. [15] In 2018, 94.52% of Belmont Law's first-time test takers and 90.79% of its total takers passed the bar exam,[16] ranking 12th in the nation for bar passage. [17]

Costs[edit | edit source]

Tuition costs for the year 2019 are $44,470,[18] with 49% of students receiving scholarships. [19] Belmont Law ranks #104 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students based on 283 tuition rates from 194 law schools, with in-state tuition counting separately. [20]

Board of Advocacy Achievements[21][edit | edit source]

National Champion Year
L. Edward Bryant, Jr. National Health Law Transactional Moot Court 2019
Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition 2019
National Health Law Moot Court Competition, Southern Illinois University 2015
National Finalist Year
American Association for Justice Mock Trial Competition 2017
Regional Champion Year
American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition 2019
American Association of Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition 2019
American Bar Association's National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) 2018
American Bar Association's National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) 2017
American Association for Justice Mock Trial Competition 2017
American Association for Justice Mock Trial Competition 2015
Regional Finalist Year
American Bar Association National Appellate Advocacy Competition 2019
National Moot Court Competition, New York City Bar Association 2016
Best Brief/Memo Year
Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition 2018
L. Edward Bryant, Jr. National Health Law Transactional Moot Court Competition 2017
Best Oral Advocate Year
Emory Civil Rights and Liberties Moot Court Competition 2019
National Moot Court Competition, New York City Bar Association (Regional) 2014

References[edit | edit source]