JURIS DOCTOR
COLLEGE OF LAW
Welcome to Belmont Law. Lawyers are a tremendous force for good. At Belmont Law we believe lawyers have a special responsibility in American society. We value public service, and our goal is to produce leaders in the bar and in our community. We incorporate ethics, professionalism and integrity into everything we do. We believe law students become professionals on the day they enter law school, rather than on the day they graduate.
During my career as a lawyer I have witnessed numerous changes in our profession. For one, law firms today expect new lawyers to “hit the ground running.” Consequently, the Belmont Law faculty of experienced teachers, scholars and practicing attorneys integrate traditional legal analysis and practical legal skills, with the goal of graduating practice-ready attorneys for today’s global market.
Additionally, today it is more common for someone with a law degree to have multiple careers with different employers. A quality legal education is the foundation that provides the flexibility to pursue one’s dreams. We take seriously our obligation to help prepare our students to make the choices that will lead to a more productive and satisfying life.
We hope you will take the opportunity to review our website and learn more. We also invite you to visit us in the vibrant city of Nashville. It would be my pleasure to meet with you personally to explore how Belmont Law can prepare you to become a successful attorney, as well as the many opportunities to serve others with a law degree.
Hope to see you soon,
ALBERTO R. GONZALES
Dean and Doyle Rogers
Distinguished Professor of Law
80th Attorney General of the United States
Former White House Counsel to the President
Former General Counsel to the Texas Governor
Former Texas Secretary of State
Previous Justice of the Supreme Court
QUALITY LEGAL EDUCATION
in Tennessee’s capital city
STUDENT to FACULTY RATIO 11:1
One of Forbes’ FASTEST
CITIES IN AMERICA GROWING
Nashville combines big-city charisma with small-town charm to create an enriching experience for Belmont Law students. As Tennessee’s capitol city, Nashville is a major urban, government and not-for-profit center. Nashville is music, sports, and culture; quiet parks and rowdy festivals; cowboy boots and business suits. Welcome to Music City.
WHY BELMONT LAW
The mission of Belmont University College of Law is to prepare qualified students with an excellent understanding of the law that will equip them to become professional counselors, advocates and judges; researchers, teachers and philosophers of the law; entrepreneurs; and engaged citizens. Belmont University College of Law is committed to the Christian tradition. We believe that instilling the highest standards of personal and professional conduct is our ethical and communal responsibility. We seek to ensure that the knowledge and values that we transmit to our students serve the ends of justice.
INDUSTRIES IN THE “IT” CITY
Music and Sports Entertainment
Government
Non-Profits
Health Care Management
Corporate Operations
Advertising and Media
Tourism
Located 2 miles from
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
Practice-oriented program just STEPS FROM
MUSIC ROW
FRANK G. CLEMENT, JR.
Tennessee Court of Appeals
“I have had the pleasure to work with several Belmont College of Law students as interns and three graduates as law clerks in my chambers. I am consistently impressed with their commitment to the profession and ability to quickly learn how to accomplish the task at hand.”
SHERIE EDWARDS
Past President, Tennessee Bar Association
“I have had the pleasure of mentoring students through the Belmont Law Inn of Court. Through one-on-one mentorship and working on legal education presentations, I have been impressed with the students’ intellectual curiosity, dedication to studies, professionalism and ability to interact with attorneys, judges and fellow law students on a high level.”
RUSS MILLER Member Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
“We have had tremendous success hiring Belmont Law students through our summer associate program over the past five years. Belmont Law students have impressed our attorneys with their strong work ethic, professionalism and the quality of their work. We will continue to look to Belmont in the future for law students that have the potential to be great lawyers.”
ACADEMICS
JURIS DOCTOR PROGRAM
Belmont Law offers an innovative curriculum that integrates traditional legal analysis and practical legal skills. Each semester of the JD curriculum builds upon the prior semester. One unique aspect of Belmont Law’s curriculum is the practicum required each semester. Through practicum work, students become proficient in the practice of law. Students must also complete a rigorous writing requirement during their second or third year in order to graduate.
Our JD program creates practice-ready attorneys through practical skills such as litigation, negotiation, client interviewing, and legal research & writing. Students graduate with the skills needed for success.
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
JD + MBA PROGRAM
Complete both degrees in 3 years with the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business.
3 + 3 PROGRAMS
Earn a BA or BS along with a JD through one of Belmont’s approved 3 + 3 programs.
CERTIFICATES
Our three certificate programs reflect top industries in Middle Tennessee. Students may earn a certificate in addition to their JD within the three-year curriculum. Completion of a certificate indicates to prospective employers that a student has specialized knowledge in their chosen field. Students obtaining a certificate will receive a notation on their transcript.
CRIMINAL LAW CERTIFICATE
HEALTH LAW CERTIFICATE
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT LAW CERTIFICATE
PROFESSOR LUCIAN DERVAN
Director of Criminal Justice Studies
PROFESSOR DEBORAH FARRINGER
Director of Health Law Studies
PROFESSOR
LOREN MULRAINE Director of Music & Entertainment Law Studies
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
PROFESSOR KRISTI ARTH
Director of Experiential Learning
Arth’s vision for the Experiential Learning Program at Belmont Law is “to graduate law students with the experience and judgment necessary to be effective, ethical, and fulfilled legal practitioners.”
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM
Our Experiential Learning Program is built on a scalable and repeatable model that affords students the opportunity to earn credit in multiple placements throughout their time at Belmont Law. Students who successfully complete all three levels of the Experiential Learning Program earn an honor cord for Distinction in Experiential Learning. Upper-level students have the opportunity to practice under the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Student Practice Rule through the Experiential Learning Program. Students utilizing their limited practice permission have argued in front of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, handled hearings in juvenile court, conducted the examination of witnesses at trial and more.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Belmont students have the opportunity to participate in summer externships, in-semester field placements, and clinical legal education through Belmont Law’s Experiential Learning Program. Students have participated in experiential learning placements in more than 200 organizations world-wide. Experiential Learning students can earn credit hours working in live-client situations, under the direct supervisor of an attorney. A small sample of sites include:
• Tennessee Court of Appeals
• Disability Rights Tennessee
• Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender’s Office
• Nashville Predators
• Davidson County Department of Children’s Services
• United States Attorney’s Office—Middle District of Tennessee
• Nashville Metropolitan Council
• Tennessee Attorney General—Consumer Advocate and Protection Division
• District Attorney’s Office
• CMG Worldwide
• Reel Muzik Werks
• Triage Cancer
• Tennessee Supreme Court
CLINICS
In partnership with the Tennessee Justice Center pursuant to our Speer Foundation Grant, we offer the Healthcare Justice Clinic. We also offer field clinics such as the Criminal Law Field Clinic and the Poverty Law Field Clinic.
The Tennessee Justice Center and Belmont College of Law have joined to create the Healthcare Justice Clinic, made possible by the Speer Foundation. The clinic focuses on pro bono work for families of children with special needs, older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities who need long-term care.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Belmont students have opportunities to study aboard through classes like Belmont Legal Globalization. Students continued their studies of international white collar crime in Australia, where they met with the Consulate General and various members of the U.S. Law enforcement community at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney to learn about their international law enforcement operations.
Belmont Law students enjoyed Australian excursions outside of meetings with top government officials and hands-on experiences with their judicial system.
PUBLIC INTEREST
PRO BONO CLINICS
Belmont partners with community organizations to put on pro bono legal clinics in the Middle Tennessee area. Our students have had the opportunity to volunteer with several groups including, but not limited to:
• Expungement Clinics
• Estate Planning Clinics
• Free Legal Answers Clinics
• Debt and Bankruptcy Clinics
• Immigration Clinics
SPECIALIZED CAREER SERVICES
The Office of Career and Professional Development offers specialized career counseling to students seeking public interest careers. Services include resume and cover letter review, individual coaching, and public interest job search strategies. The Office regularly hosts programming focused on public interest careers and even has a Public Interest Coordinator to assist students interested in this legal practice.
LAW STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE
Belmont encourages students to complete the Pro Bono Pledge by performing 50 or more hours of pro bono service during their law school careers. These students are recognized at graduation and are named a Law Student for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Belmont Law students partnered with the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the Administrative Office of the Courts Access to Justice Initiative to launch the first ever Essential Documents for Essential Workers clinic. Volunteer attorneys met with officers from the Franklin Police Department to draft and execute Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advanced Healthcare Directives. Law students and Belmont staff served as witnesses for the estate documents.
Belmont Law students partnered with Doors of Hope, a re-entry program representative, and TN Supreme Court Access to Justice to offer legal aid at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and Work Center.
MENTORSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT
ATTORNEY MENTORS
The opportunity to connect with judges and attorneys in a structured format on a monthly basis is an invaluable benefit offered to first-year students through our chapter of the American Inns of Court.
PEER MENTORS
Match with a 2L or 3L through our Peer Mentor Program to receive advice on class preparation, exams, outlining, summer internships, and networking within the student body.
Class of 2020
“As the first person in my family to go to law school...I felt like I was navigating a foreign land without a compass. That all changed when I met my attorney mentor. From our first meeting until today, my mentor has been a constant source of guidance, stressrelief and friendship.”
JESSICA GAPP
YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
FALL
1L
Professional Development Week
Meet legal professionals at the Employer Information Day and on-campus interviews
Apply for summer legal positions and summer externships
FALL
2L
Professional Development Week
Network through special-interest student organizations
Apply for summer legal positions and summer externships
Grow professional identity through specialized coaching and workshops
FALL
3L
Professional Development Week
Bar Refresher Course
Finalize after-grad employment
Meet your attorney mentor
Monthly American Inn of Court meetings begin
Meet with the Office of Career & Professional Development for resume coaching, cover letter writing, interview and application workshops
1L SPRING
Begin student membership in the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA)
Continue & strengthen relationship with Inn of Court attorney mentor
On-Campus Interviews (OCI’s)
2L
SPRING
Renew your student membership in the TBA
Check our career portal bi-weekly for job postings
3L
SPRING
CAREER SERVICES
THE OFFICE OF CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Career and Professional Development prepares students for success through individualized coaching, small group workshops, and employer fairs. On-campus interviews, mock interviews, internships, and assistance with job placement are just some of the services provided.
Resume writing
Career advising
Personalized employer communication strategies
Job search strategies
GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES
68% FIRMS
7% BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
13% GOVERNMENT
4% PUBLIC INTEREST & EDUCATION
ABA employment data from the most recent reported class
8% JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS
Employer fairs and on campus interviews are just a couple ways our students connect with others, creating a strong employment success rate.
for extensive networking opportunities.
Belmont Law graduates are practicing all over the United States and provide a robust alumni base
FACULTY
Belmont Law’s faculty is highly experienced and well-credentialed. To learn more about our fulltime faculty members, visit belmont.edu/law.
PROFESSOR ELLEN BLACK
Former New York City Liability and Commercial Litigation Attorney
PROFESSOR TRACEY CARTER
1993 Truman Scholar
Former Chief Diversity Officer, Tennessee State University
Former Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office
PROFESSOR TRAVIS BRANDON
Former Associate in the Energy & Environment group at San Fransico Law Firm, advising clients such as the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund
Yale University and Stanford University Graduate
International Association Defense Counsel Trial Academy Graduate
PROFESSOR LYNN ZEHRT
Five-time recipient of the Best Professor Award, bestowed by Belmont Law students
Former Clerk for United States District Court for Northern and Middle Alabama
PROFESSOR JEFF KINSLER
Winner of ten teaching awards, having taught at several law schools in the United States and Australia
Former Partner at Chicago Law Firm, Yale Law School Graduate
PROFESSOR CATHERINE HAMMACK-AVIRAN
An Empirical Bioethicist and Legal Scholar with Nationally Recognized Expertise in Law, Ethics, and Social Issues in Biomedical Research, Health, and Healthcare
EXPERIENCED TEACHERS
PROFESSOR ANDREA GEMIGNANI
Practiced Education Law as a member of the Virginia Bar
Serviced as Director of Advocacy for the Special Education Advocacy Center in Nashville
PROFESSOR ASHLEY GRIFFITH
Former Deputy General Counsel at Tennessee’s State Medicaid Agency, TennCare
Former Litigation Associate at Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
PROFESSOR MAXIMILIANO GLUZMAN
Former Immigration Attorney representing clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Former Business Attorney in Buenos Aires, Argentina
PROFESSOR DON COCHRAN
Presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee
Former Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama
PROFESSOR DAVID HUDSON
Author, co-author, or co-editor of more than 40 books
First Amendment Fellow for the Freedom Forum Institute
Former resident scholar, First Amendment Center
EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD
PROFESSOR TORRY JOHNSON
Three-term former District Attorney General of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County
Served on the American Bar Association’s Task Force on the Federalization of Criminal Law
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH USMAN
Law clerk to Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Former Associate at Ropes & Gray LLP
PROFESSOR JULIE CROMER YOUNG
Represented High-Profile Clients with Litigation, Trademark and Copyright Law at Chicago Firm
Former co-chair of the Women and the Law Conference; Graduate of Harvard Law School
PROFESSOR HAROLD SEE
Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama
Contributing editor to the Federal Circuit Bar Journal
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
#1 IN THE NATION FOR HIGHEST ULTIMATE BAR PASSAGE RATE TWO YEARS IN A ROW
95%
EMPLOYMENT RATE
2023 Graduating Class
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
PreLaw Magazine
#1 IN THE STATE Highest Bar Pass Rate American Bar Association
ALUMNI SUCCESS
Belmont alumni are contributing to their communities all over the United States. They return for symposiums and other special events to connect with our students.
JESSICA BUTLER
Class of 2019, Assistant Public Defender – Appellate Division
“Belmont Law strives to make every student practice-ready with a wide offering of practical experiences, from summer internships to the Board of Advocates competition teams. Through the field placement program, I was able to gain exposure to several areas of practice, with placements at the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, the 21st Judicial District Public Defender, and even a semester clerkship on the Tennessee Court of Appeals. These opportunities gave me the perfect foundation for my current work in indigent appellate defense.”
JOE STOVALL
Class of 2018, Marine Corps Judge Advocate (JAG)
“I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I was always welcome to walk into any of the faculties’ offices to discuss school, career goals, or even life in general. It is truly a one-of-a-kind support staff you have at your fingertips. Furthermore, Belmont promised to have me practice-ready coming out of school, and it followed through on that promise. Thanks in large part to Belmont Law, I am confident that when my time comes, I will serve my country and my Marines in an exceptional manner.”
EMMIE FUTRELL
Class of 2018, Partner at Ortale Kelley
“The individualized coaching that I received through Moot Court and my professors’ determined dedication to my legal education not only gave me the skills I needed to feel confident and prepared to seamlessly begin arguing motions and conducting bench trials, but also gave me the confidence I needed to patiently and earnestly attain my dream job.”
STUDENT LIFE
MICAH BARRETT
Class of 2023
“I chose Belmont Law because it is highly respected not only by the community but also future employers. In addition, Belmont Law offers practicum courses that provide real world practice and creates practice ready attorneys.”
THOMAS STEELE
Class of 2020
“Unlike the typical persona of law school, Belmont is not at all a cut-throat or ultra-competitive atmosphere. While every student strives to do well and works really hard, there is an overall atmosphere of camaraderie and kindness. My experience here is that the students and faculty want you to succeed, and most are more than happy to help you however they can.”
JOSEPH NORTH
Class of 2020
“I chose Belmont Law because its sincere culture and challenging curriculum are perfectly suited for grooming ambitious law students into confident legal professionals.”
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS & JOURNALS
BELMONT LAW REVIEW & BELMONT LAW JOURNAL
The Law Review and The Law Journal each publishes an annual journal, consisting of articles written by attorneys, professors and scholars, and notes written by Law Review members.
BOARD OF ADVOCATES
Students have the opportunity to practice trial advocacy, appellate advocacy and arbitration.
• Mock Trial
• Moot Court
• Transactional Team
AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
CRIMINAL LAW SOCIETY
ENTERTAINMENT LAW SOCIETY
FAMILY LAW SOCIETY
PHI ALPHA DELTA
FEDERALIST SOCIETY
HEALTH LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
LATINO LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
LEGAL AID SOCIETY
OUTLAW STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION
WOMEN’S LEGAL SOCIETY
PROFESSOR
AMY MOORE Director of Advocacy
Leads award-winning advocacy teams to national and regional tournaments, including wins in both the National Moot Court Competition and National Appellate Advocacy Competition. Belmont Law has also been named national champions of the National Health Law Transactional Competition twice now!
FIRST
(FUNDAMENTAL
SECOND YEAR (EXPERTISE YEAR)
THIRD YEAR (CAPSTONE YEAR)
PRACTICUM OPTIONS
One practicum course is required each semester. Practicum courses are typically smaller classes (20 students or less) to allow students to dive into the practical aspects of the law.
Advanced Trial Advocacy
¢ Board of Advocates Competition
Client Interviewing, Counseling & Communication
Criminal Procedure
Estate Planning
¢ Health Care Fraud and Abuse
Immigration Law Practicum
Juvenile Law
Legal Globalization and Comparative Law: Australia
Legal Technology Practicum
Practical Issues in Criminal Law
ELECTIVE OPTIONS
q
¢ Belmont Law Journal
Immigration Law
International Criminal Law
National Security Law
q
¢ Law Review
Sentencing Law
State Constitutional Law
¢
White Collar Crimes
q Copyright Law
q Cyber Law
q Debtor-Creditor Law
¢ q Employment Discrimination
q Entertainment Law
q Federal Income Taxation
q First Amendment
q Franchising Law
KEY
Criminal Law Certificate
q Entertainment & Music Business Law Certificate
¢ Health Law Certificate
Trial Advocacy
Wrongful Convictions
¢ q Alternative Dispute Resolution
¢ q Contract Drafting
q Entertainment Law Practicum
q Film and Television Transactional Law
¢ q Negotiations
¢ q Mediation
q Music Industry Contracts
¢ Elder Law
¢ Health Law Practicum
¢ Medical Malpractice
¢ Non-Profit Organizations
Advanced Legal Research
Applied Legal Ethics
Criminal Law Field Clinic
Family Law Practicum
Field Placement
Healthcare Justice Clinic
Law Office Management
Poverty Law Field Clinic
Practical Issues in the Judiciary
Pretrial Litigation
Real Estate Transactions
q Intellectual Property
q International Business Transactions
q Law & Economics
q Law and Literature
q Mass Media Law
q Sports Law
q Trademark Law
¢ Administrative Law
¢ Biomedical Ethics
¢ Disability Law
¢ Employment Law
¢ Health Care Business and Finance
¢ Health Law
¢ Insurance Law
¢ Mental Health Law
¢ Products Liability
¢ Public Health Law
¢ Workers Compensation
Electives and practicums rotate depending on need and interest.
Business Torts
Conflict of Laws
Corporate and Partnership Tax
Education Law
Environmental Law
Election Law
Estate & Gift Taxation
Family Law
Federal Courts
Land Use
Law of Private Practice
Law and Religion
Race and the Law
Remedies
Sales
Separation of Powers
State and Local Taxation
Summer Externships
SCHOLARSHIPS
Bruin Tuition Remission Scholarships
• Range from 25% to 100% tuition remission
Dean’s Scholars Program
• 100% tuition remission for select Early Decision Applicants
Bell Tower Scholars Program
• 50% tuition remission for select AAE Applicants
Belmont Alumni Grant
• 20% tuition remission to Belmont alumni who do not qualify for other scholarships
61%
STUDENTS
RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS†
†Median merit scholarship of $37,875 for 2022–2023 academic year
Belmont University is a Christ-centered community. The University faculty, administration and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics, and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. In compliance with federal law, including provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin,
policies; or employment. Consistent with
Officer/Deputy