CECIL C. HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF LAW
MEMPHIS
LAW
WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
CECIL C. HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF LAW
memphis.edu/law
Choosing a law school is a big decision. There are a lot of factors to consider, like how to pay for it, the type of experience you are looking for, opportunities for success and the location of the school. Occasionally, it might even feel like information overload at a time when you’re in need of clarity and guidance. That’s why this viewbook attempts to set out information as clearly as possible, giving you the information you need to make the best decision in a straightforward and helpful manner. Of course, this is just a bit of the icing on the cake that is Memphis Law. For more in-depth information and guidance, visit memphis.edu/law for additional details about anything you see in these pages.
Memphis Law | 1
CONTENTS 2 | memphis.edu/law
MEMPHIS LAW
EDUCATION
COMMUNITY
OPPORTUNITY
3 Dean’s Note
10 Academic Programs
22 Memphis
40 Careers
26 Location
42 Scholarships
28 Alumni Community
42 Extended Education Opportunities
5 Top Of Our Class
12 Value 12 Bar Preparation 15 Faculty 17 Experiential Learning
29 Alumni Profiles 31 Student Life & Community
18 Clinics
32 S tudent Profiles
19 Externship Program
33 Y oung Alumni Profile 34 Diversity 36 The Building
44 A dvanced Criminal Prosecution Intersession 44 Partnerships & Programs 45 Advocacy Program 46 Admissions Process
DEAN’S NOTE I am proud and extremely grateful to be dean of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. This is a dynamic law school and city. It’s where I have grown from a junior faculty member to the dean of the law school, working on a number of initiatives and partnerships that are important not just for our University, but for our community as a whole. This city is where I’ve chosen to raise my family, not only because my career is here, but because I feel that it is the best place to do so in terms of opportunities and quality of life. When facing the decision of which law school to attend, I can think of no better place than Memphis Law. From my own personal experience, I can attest that you will benefit from a combination of academic and rich cultural experiences and the development of relevant employability skills and relationships. Whether you want to prepare yourself to provide general legal services or develop expertise in a specialized area of the law, our faculty and academic programs will prepare you for where you want to go. The COVID-19 crisis has dictated so many of our recent decisions and will continue to impact our day-to-day lives at Memphis Law. I want to make sure you know that our faculty and administration have adapted to these new challenges and are prepared to continue providing the excellent education and learning environments that Memphis Law is known for. Great teachers in classrooms are capable of great teaching remotely, and our current students have come to expect excellent teaching from our tremendously talented faculty. We can and will continue to deliver high-quality legal education throughout this pandemic, regardless of the circumstances, at any time or place. Our location in downtown Memphis allows our students to get the best of both worlds. Being located in the heart of the legal and economic community allows our students to participate in numerous unique clinics and externships in law offices, businesses and courtrooms, literally just steps from our classrooms and available nowhere else. This great
advantage still holds true, no matter what the health crisis may bring. Our urban and metropolitan location has allowed us to build relationships and partnerships for years, which we could not have done anywhere else. And in times like these, our students are now on the front lines of learning how to practice in whatever situations and environments arise as a result of the impact COVID-19 has on the changing legal world. Our students are working alongside seasoned legal veterans in our legal clinics and externship programs as they learn how to provide quality legal services to clients via a variety of new means. We could not do this without our years of strong partnerships and experience as a result of our location in Memphis and the legal community. On top of the benefits to your education and career, living in Memphis means you’ll be able to take advantage of all the benefits of a big city but without the usual hefty price tag. One of the most attractive features of life in Memphis is a remarkably low cost of living. In fact, it’s 15% below the national average. From the price of dinner to the cost to heat and cool your home, the price of daily life in Memphis makes less of a dent in your disposable income than it would in other cities.
Those savings mean even more when you consider our perpetual standing as one of the “best value” law schools in the nation, meaning you will likely have much less debt upon graduation than you would elsewhere, while living in a city that is more affordable to enjoy your life. Additionally, more of your paycheck from your new job can go to things besides bills, since you’ll have such a high chance of employment soon after graduation. With 85% of our graduating class currently employed, Memphis Law has been recognized by preLaw Magazine as a member of their 2019 “Employment Honor Roll.” Great things are happening on the bluffs of the Mississippi River at Memphis Law. We look forward to meeting you here! Katharine T. Schaffzin Dean & Professor of Law
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TOP OF THE CLASS Our accolades and rankings don’t just make us feel proud. They give you an idea of what coming to Memphis Law really encompasses.
#2
MOST AFFORDABLE CITY IN THE U.S. FORBES MAGAZINE
2019 EMPLOYMENT HONOR ROLL MEMBER PRELAW MAGAZINE
TOP
25
IN U.S. FOR
LAW DEGREES AWARDED TO
AFRICAN AMERICANS
TOP
40
LEGAL WRITING PROGRAM U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
5 TOP
BEST LAW SCHOOL BUILDING
IN THE NATION (THREE-TIME WINNER) PRELAW MAGAZINE
CITIES FOR MILLENNIALS TIME MAGAZINE
RANKED AS
“ONE OF THE BEST LAW SCHOOLS FOR DIVERSITY” IN THE COUNTRY (13th)
85% OVERALL EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR RECENT GRADUATES DATA FROM CLASSES 2017-2019
PRELAW MAGAZINE
21
st
IN U.S. FOR
FEDERAL JUDICAL CLERKSHIPS NATIONALLY RANKED
THE LOWEST LAW SCHOOL
TUITION & FEES IN TN
(IN-STATE AND OUT-OF-STATE)
CLINICAL TRAINING PROGRAM (#69) U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
Memphis Law | 5
MEMPHIS LAW A STRONG FOUNDATION BUILT ON EDUCATION, WITH A STRONG CORE CURRICULUM SET UP TO HELP YOU EXCEL IN YOUR FUTURE LEGAL CAREER AND PASS THE BAR EXAM. 6 | memphis.edu/law
The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is uniquely exceptional in many ways, all of which prepare you for success at every stage of your career. We provide a strong foundation built on EDUCATION, with a strong core curriculum that is set up to help you excel in your future legal career and pass the bar. Our faculty consists of brilliant and approachable men and women, whose dedication to their students is made clear at every turn. They are adept at not only teaching students the legal skills necessary to succeed after law school but are also devoted to guiding and supporting our students as they pursue their J.D. degree. Your education at Memphis Law will inevitably lead you into the greater Memphis COMMUNITY. Our location in downtown Memphis is undeniably beneficial to you as a student. We are not only in the heart of the legal community – walking distance to courts, government offices and law firms – but we also are situated in the middle of the downtown Memphis community, which has become one of the fastest-growing and most desirable downtowns in the country. With affordable costs of living and a vibrant social and recreational
scene, Memphis is a destination for those looking to have fun, experience some authentic culture and grow into their new life. You will also become a part of the larger Memphis Law network with access to our wide-ranging alumni community throughout the city, state and country. Being the only public law school in a large metropolitan city in the Mid-South area, we have alumni in the majority of major corporations, law firms, business sectors and areas of government, which is always a strong advantage for any young graduate looking for connections. The OPPORTUNITIES you gain via our educational program and community connections allow you to be prepared for real-world success, where your legal skills will be applied directly and in a practical manner, helping further your education with real-world scenarios but also making a direct impact on the Memphis community through our unique partnerships and programming. Our Externship Program, Legal Clinic and variety of partnerships throughout Memphis utilize our strong connections in the Mid-South to help our students become practiceready before leaving law school.
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EDU TIO 8 | memphis.edu/law
UCA ON THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM AT MEMPHIS LAW PREPARES YOU TO ACTUALLY PRACTICE LAW, NOT JUST TO THINK LIKE AN ATTORNEY.
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EDUCATION WE HAVE PROGRAMS AND EXPERTS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE YOU EXCEL AT THE BAR EXAM UPON GRADUATION. 10 | memphis.edu/law
There are a lot of things you’ll need to consider about law school, but one of the most important parts of your decision will be the quality of education you’ll receive while pursuing your J.D. degree. The academic program at Memphis Law prepares you to actually practice law, not just to think like an attorney. That’s because our commitment to diversity carries over to our belief that attorneys come in as many forms as there are students in law school, and we are able to provide you with the type of legal education that fits whatever your future career may be, while maximizing your options. Additionally, we have programs and experts in place to make sure you excel at the Bar Exam upon graduation. Tennessee also has recently adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE), which means that graduates who take the UBE earn a portable score that can be used to apply for admission in other UBE jurisdictions. All of this means you are prepared to succeed, both in law school and beyond.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Memphis Law operates on the semester system and requires 90 semester hours for the J.D. degree. A full-time student is required to enroll in at least 12 hours each semester. Students in the full-time program normally graduate in three years. Summer classes are sometimes available, and students can graduate after five semesters and two summer sessions of full-time study. First-year students will enroll in a set of required core courses. Second- and third-year students may customize their curriculum with a range of recommended and elective courses, seminars and externships. In addition to the required core courses, students must meet additional graduation requirements, including: • Advanced writing requirement • Pro bono requirement • Six credit hours of experiential learning
We also offer a number of dual- and joint-degree programs as well as certificate programs, including: • JD/MBA
• Certificate in Business Law
• JD/MA in Political Science
• Certificate in Health Law
• JD/MPH
• Certificate in Tax Law
• Fast-Track MPH
• O nline Certificate Program in Healthcare Compliance
• Certificate in Advocacy
FIRST YEAR SECOND YEAR FALL TERM Contracts I Torts I Legal Methods I Civil Procedure I Property I
“
SPRING TERM Contacts II Torts II Legal Methods II Civil Procedure II Property II Criminal Law
Constitutional Law Evidence *A student is required to complete Evidence and Constitutional Law by the end of spring of the second year. If a student takes either or both courses in the summer term between the first and second year, this requirement will be satisfied.
Lawyers and clerks alike spend
SECOND OR THIRD YEAR
the majority of their time
A. Professional Responsibility and
researching and writing, so
B. Two Courses in both the Statutory Menu and Practice Foundation Menu:
acquiring a strong foundation during 1L year in learning how to effectively and efficiently research legal issues, as well as conveying that research in the most cogent way, is essential to any successful legal career.” – David W. Marshburn (JD ’17)
STATUTORY MENU Corporate Tax Fair Employment Practice Income Taxation Legislation Sales Secured Transactions Labor Law
PRACTICE FOUNDATION MENU Administrative Law Business Organizations Decedents’ Estates Family Law Conflicts of Laws Remedies
C. Criminal Procedure I D. Bar Exam Preparation Course
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2020-21 ANNUAL TUITION AND FEES VALUE
Memphis Law has been a tremendous value in legal education for years. With reliably consistent “best value” rankings, combined with the affordability of living in Memphis, it is easy to see why it’s the perfect combination of value for your money. From the price of a night out on Beale Street to the low cost of a downtown apartment, daily life in Memphis simply takes a smaller bite out of your wallet. In fact, Memphis Law is one of the MOST AFFORDABLE law schools in the entire country. We have the lowest in-state AND out-of-state law school tuition and fees in Tennessee and are in the TOP 5 for most affordable out-of-state law school tuition in the entire country.*
BAR PREPARATION
(Entire Academic Year/Two Semesters) Additionally, Memphis Law’s outof-state tuition comes in as more affordable than the in-state tuition of 80% of all law schools in the country, meaning that no matter where you are from, Memphis Law is likely one of the most affordable law schools for you to attend. In fact, there are 22 states where it is more expensive for a student to attend their in-state law school, rather than pay Memphis Law’s more affordable out-of-state tuition. *Information and comparisons compiled using 2019 ABA 509 reports from accredited law schools in the U.S.
In addition to what you learn in your law school classes and the commercial bar review courses, the University of Memphis School of Law also offers workshops and programs designed to help you assess and practice the skills necessary for passing the bar. These workshops cover each part of the bar exam – the essay, multiple choice and performance test portions. Thus, you have the opportunity to not only learn the appropriate substance but to also hone the necessary skills related to each portion of the bar exam.
12 | memphis.edu/law
In-State:
$19,218*
Out-of-State:
$24,008*
Estimated Expenses Room and Board:
$10,425
Books/Supplies:
$1,969
Transportation:
$2,534
Miscellaneous:
$3,270
*Based on full-time enrollment for the academic year. Part-time tuition and fees are billed by the credit hour. Tuition and fees above include a $20 per credit hour law library fee with no maximum (30 hours for entering students in the 2020-21 academic year).
Our curriculum also includes a required upper-level bar preparation course for graduation. This is a course to help graduating students prepare for the bar exam both by reviewing some substantive law and instructing on how successfully to navigate multiple-choice, essay and Multistate Performance Test questions. The class reviews substantive criminal law, constitutional law and tort law. Students answer simulated multistate and essay questions and receive regular feedback on their performance. There will be graded mid-term and final examinations and a graded Multistate Performance Test. It’s important to remember that this course is in addition to, not a substitute for, a summer bar exam preparation course.
The UNIFORM BAR EXAM (UBE) also should be a factor in your law school consideration. More than two-thirds of states in the U.S., including Tennessee, have adopted the UBE, which is a uniformly administered and graded bar exam with a portable score that can be used to apply for bar admission in other participating UBE states or jurisdictions.
Attending law school at Memphis Law means that you’ll have the advantage of portability, with your bar exam score being transferable to other UBE jurisdictions across the country. That means, more than ever before, you really can practice anywhere with a law degree from Memphis Law.
A NOTE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF BAR PREPARATION | PROFESSOR DESHUN HARRIS Change has arrived at Memphis Law, and with that change we have seen our bar passage rates improve. Using what we know through research and data gathering, we have and will continue to adopt changes for our students’ success.
REQUIRED
UPPER-LEVEL BAR PREP COURSE
UBE & MEMPHIS LAW =
PRACTICE ANYWHERE EXPANSIVE
BAR PREP COURSES
& WORKSHOPS OFFERED INNOVATIVE
BAR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
14% BAR PASSAGE INCREASE FROM 2018-19
There is a strong correlation between final law school grade point average and bar passage. For many institutions, those students falling in the bottom quartiles will struggle to pass the bar exam on the first try. It may be the case that if a student has struggled to learn the law in law school, they will likely also struggle so on the bar exam. To combat this, we started extending students, understanding of the bar exam and the necessary learning techniques into the first-year curriculum. This spring, we began offering all first-year students a Legal Analysis course, where they learn about each component of the bar exam and have an opportunity to see how the subjects they are taking now are tested on the exam. The hope is that this early exposure will help students see the need for better study skills and recognize the work they are doing today can benefit them in the future. As an institution, we started investigating how to potentially incorporate a more robust academic support program to better support our first-year students (and maybe even our second-year students). Our bar efforts also include extending opportunities for third-year law students. We currently offer a spring third-year bar course. In that course, students learn the
different components of the bar exam and develop strategies to prepare for each component. We recently offered a onecredit course that covered all MBE-tested topics across seven days. The course was designed to be an intensive boot camplike experience to expose students to bar questions and begin their preparation for the subjects. We hope to continue extending our bar-focused efforts by repeating this course, while also evaluating the possibility of a bar course offered in the fall. The idea behind extending bar preparation into the third-year law students’ fall semester is to give our students more time to learn how to prepare for the bar exam, instead of waiting until the spring, which may be too late. Because most graduates prepare for the bar exam completely alone and online, we want to increase opportunities for our students to interact with others. Thus, we are growing our summer bar preparation efforts for our graduates preparing for the bar exam. Each summer, students have the opportunity to attend workshops that explore each component of the exam and provide practical advice about preparing for the bar exam. We plan to expand these workshops to provide more assessments, feedback and stress management activities. We also will extend the reach of the law school by engaging our alumni in mentoring our bar-takers. Bar-takers can benefit from the support of alumni as they prepare for the bar exam. Change is happening here at Memphis Law and we are raising the bar for our success.
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FACULTY PROFILE | PROFESSOR DEMETRIA FRANK Our diversity program is led by Professor Demetria Frank, who looks at diversity as something that helps to contribute to the intellectual discourse and inclusive environment here at Memphis Law. Her inspirational community and teaching efforts help our students achieve the highest academic standards, while helping to make the law school open and innovative for all of our students.
“I always wanted to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Law is a poetic dance that requires you to paint some vivid factual pictures to get your point across. Memphis Law helped me learn that.” – Brandon Boykin (JD ’16)
14 | memphis.edu/law
Professor Frank, a member of our law faculty as well as the director of the law school’s Office of Diversity and
Inclusion, has worked to address diversity-related issues that are echoed across the spectrum in the City of Memphis. She is the primary individual responsible for ensuring that these important initiatives are addressed, focused on and incorporated into the law school’s growth and success. Professor Frank's highly-regarded expertise on issues involving systemic bias and inequity, community development, federal court litigation practice and the overgrowth of the detention and prison industries has resulted in a
variety of new partnerships and relationships on behalf of the law school, and her work has helped make the Office of Diversity and Inclusion even more impactful in its efforts to help both Memphis Law students and the community. By helping to expose our students to the diversity-related issues found throughout the world, she is helping to prepare our students to deal with them immediately. A native of Houston, Texas, Professor Frank attended the University of Texas School of Law and began her legal career as a toxic tort litigation attorney before moving into the public sector as a community prosecutor in the Dallas City Attorney’s Office. She also served as an associate judge for the City of Dallas before joining the academic realm and ultimately becoming a vital piece of the Memphis Law team in June 2013.
FACULTY
Memphis Law faculty bring both distinguished scholarship and a depth of experience to their roles as your dedicated educators and legal mentors. Faculty include experts in antitrust law, gun rights, health care, patent law, trademarks and copyrights, corporations, constitutional law and many more areas of expertise. Experience & Expertise Our professors have extensive realworld expertise that refines their classroom teaching abilities. Memphis Law faculty also includes former federal law clerks, authors of leading legal scholarship, experienced trial and corporate attorneys, department of justice trial attorneys, authors of widely utilized casebooks and law school course materials and advisors to the U.S. Senate and government committees. Dedication Our professors’ strong background in the law and their real-world experience are the foundation for our faculty’s excellence, but Memphis Law is also full of professors who have a true passion for teaching and instruction. Our professors are often found in
discussions with students long after class has ended in order to walk through a lesson more clearly. Many of them have open office hours and encourage students to drop by whenever they feel the need to ask more questions or are looking for guidance in their studies. Not only are they engaged in making Memphis Law a better place, but many are in active leadership roles in helping make Memphis an even more remarkable city, through their extensive community work with local non-profits, activism and cause-related efforts and legal public service. Connection These are the types of professors you’ll remember long after you leave law school. Our faculty are the ones invited to the weddings of former students or swearing-in ceremonies. They are the type of mentors that former students call for opinions once they are practicing. You’ll want to drop by to visit them when you’re nearby. This is the sort of relationship our faculty fosters amongst our students, and it’s what puts your EDUCATION over the top.
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CECIL C. HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF LAW FACULTY Lynda Black Associate Professor of Law
Carrie Eaker Kerley Clinical Assistant Professor of Law
Steven Mulroy Bredesen Professor of Law
Ralph Brashier Cecil C. Humphreys Professor of Law
Daniel Kiel FedEx Professor of Law
Katy Ramsey Assistant Professor of Law | Director, MedicalLegal Partnership Clinic
Demetria Frank Associate Professor of Law | Director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion
William Kratzke Cecil C. Humphreys Professor of Law
Daniel Schaffzin Associate Professor of Law | Director of Experiential Learning
Ronnie Gipson Visiting Assistant Professor of Law
Peter Letsou Professor of Law
Katharine T. Schaffzin Dean | Professor of Law
Donna Harkness CELA, Professor of Clinical Law | Director, Elder Law Clinic
Andrew J. McClurg Professor of Law Herff Chair of Excellence in Law
Kevin Smith Thomas B. Preston Professor of Law
DeShun Harris Assistant Professor of Clinical Law | Director of Bar Preparation
Mary Morris Clinical Assistant Professor Law
Jodi Wilson Associate Dean for Academic Affairs | Associate Professor of Law
NOT PICTURED:
Alena Allen Associate Professor of Law Regina Lambert Hillman Clinical Assistant Professor of Law | Legal Methods Coordinator
16 | memphis.edu/law
D.R. Jones Associate Professor of Law Director of the Law Library Boris Mamlyuk Associate Professor of Law
Barbara Kritchevsky Cecil C. Humphreys Professor of Law | Director of Advocacy Program
David Romantz Associate Professor of Law Olin Atkins Professorship Anna Vescovo Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor of Law
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Hands-on experience is one of the keys to leaving law school ready to practice. Memphis Law’s Experiential Learning Program, consisting of our legal clinics and externship program, helps our students do more than just learn the law. It provides a unique blend of legal advocacy, hands-on training and intensive learning. From students working with the city to remove blighted properties throughout Memphis, to partnerships that allow children and families to find legal solutions to medical problems and even a policy lab designed to help students examine and influence the law itself, Memphis Law is invested in broadening our students’ educational experience in innovative new ways. These unique real-world learning opportunities are still one of our great strengths at Memphis Law, no matter what the health crisis may bring. Our innovative experiential learning program and
location have allowed us to build relationships and partnerships for years, which we could not have done anywhere else. And in times like these, our students are now on the front lines of learning how to practice in whatever situation and environments arise as a result of the impact COVID-19 has on the changing legal world. Our students are working alongside seasoned legal veterans in our legal clinics
and externship programs as they learn how to provide quality legal services to clients via a variety of new means. We could not do this without our years of strong partnerships and experience as a result of our location in Memphis and the legal community. These real-world educational opportunities prepare students for success after law school like nothing else can.
“My externships gave me an opportunity to build a positive relationship and reputation with various members of the legal community. In many regards the experience, knowledge, skills, reputation and relationships that were fostered through these externships were significant in making me a desirable applicant for my federal judicial clerkship.” – Devon Muse, (JD ‘17)
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69
CASES
500
LAWSUITS
100+
COURT APPEARANCES Student attorneys in the Neighborhood Preservation Clinic filed 69 new cases seeking to abate the nuisance condition of badly neglected, vacant and abandoned properties throughout the City of Memphis. Collectively, clinic students represented the City of Memphis in more than 500 Tennessee Neighborhood Preservation Act lawsuits and made more than 100 appearances before the Shelby County Environmental Court in 2019-20.
60+
CASES The MLP Clinic represented children and families in more than 60 cases last year in a variety of settings, such as Housing, Insurance, Education, Family Stability and more. Hundreds of clients have been helped by the MLP Clinic in the last few years alone.
22
APPEALS Students in the Housing Adjudication Clinic presided over 22 appeals in 2020.
63
SENIOR CITIZENS
102
CASES Students in the Elder Law Clinic handled 102 cases for 63 individual seniors in 2019-20.
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NPC students in action
CLINICS
Neighborhood Preservation Clinic The University of Memphis Neighborhood Preservation Clinic represents the City of Memphis in public nuisance lawsuits seeking recourse against the owners of badly neglected, vacant and abandoned properties. Clinic students investigate property ownership and conditions; communicate with field code enforcement professionals; and research, prepare and file civil cases alleging claims arising under the Tennessee Neighborhood Preservation Act. Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic Through a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Memphis Area Legal Services, our Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic (MLP Clinic) allows Memphis Law students to represent low-income pediatric patients and their families at Le Bonheur. This gives them the unique opportunity to address the legal and social issues that impact child and family health through direct legal services, education and systemic advocacy. Housing Adjudication Clinic The University of Memphis Housing Adjudication Clinic presents students with the unique opportunity to study law and lawyering from the standpoint of the administrative law judge rather than that of direct client representative. Students are assigned to investigate, research,
hear, adjudicate and issue written opinions ruling on administrative appeals involving participants in the Memphis Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher Program, while also being exposed to federal fair housing law and procedure. Elder Law Clinic This clinic gives student attorneys the unique opportunity to represent senior citizens across a broad range of areas, including consumer protection, financial exploitation, conservatorship, realworld property issues, grandparent adoption, healthcare, social security and wills and advanced directives. Mediation Clinic Guided by one of the city’s top Rule 31 Listed Mediators and Tennessee Supreme Court Approved Rule 31 Trainer, students in the Mediation Clinic study mediation from the inside out, analyzing in detail the communicative, strategic and ethical dimensions of specific interventions that mediators make in the context of particular cases. This clinic primarily focuses on the students as the mediators, but the students also are asked to consider the issues from other points of view: as the disputant, as an attorney representing a client in mediation and in the capacity of advising an organizational client about dispute resolution options.
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Stepping outside the traditional classroom, externship students learn by doing and observing, further developing essential research and writing skills, communication abilities and problem-solving techniques under the direction of local judges and attorneys. To maximize this experiential learning opportunity, externship students simultaneously participate in a faculty-led seminar designed to introduce the essential habits of the reflective practitioner and assessment of the skills, relationships, issues and mindsets that prevail in the practice setting.
EXAMPLES OF EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS Judicial Externships: Federal Courts •U .S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit •U .S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee •U .S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee • U.S. Immigration Court Judicial Externships: Tennessee State Courts • Tennessee Supreme Court • Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals • S helby County Circuit Court Criminal Justice •U .S. Attorney’s Office • S helby County District Attorney General’s Office • S helby County Public Defender’s Office • S tate of Tennessee Office of the Attorney General •U niversity of Memphis Public Safety Institute Government •M emphis City Attorney’s Office • Litigation Unit • Transactional Unit • Shelby County Airport Authority •U .S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Chief Counsel, Memphis office • E qual Employment Opportunity Commission – Hearings Unit
Health & Medical • St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital • Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation • Medtronic Corporation • Methodist Le Bonheur Health Care • Regional One Health • Robert Wood Johnson, Neighborhood Preservation Inc./Urban Law Community Legal Services • Community Legal Center – Immigrant Justice Program • Latino Memphis • Legal Aid of Arkansas • Memphis Area Legal Services • Consumer Unit • E ducation Law/ Partnership for Educational Advocacy and Parity • Family Law Unit • Low Income Taxpayer Unit • Veteran’s Assistance In-House Externships • Ducks Unlimited • Orion Federal Credit Union • University of Memphis Office of University Counsel • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers • University of Memphis Office of Athletic Compliance
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COM UNIT 20 | memphis.edu/law
MM TY MEMPHIS IS A PLACE
WHERE HISTORY WAS MADE – AND WHERE YOU CAN STAND IN THE SAME SPOTS WHERE MUSICAL LEGENDS, CIVIL
RIGHTS LEADERS AND BUSINESS
ENTREPRENEURS
MADE THEIR MARK.
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COMMUNITY COMMUNITY IS ONE OF MEMPHIS LAW’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS. YOU’LL FIND THAT IT CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE, AND THAT IT’S ALSO RIGHT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. 22 | memphis.edu/law
Whether you’re talking about our many community partnerships that enhance your education, the incredibly affordable cost of living in Memphis, the resurgence of downtown and our core neighborhoods that are filling with residents flocking from cities like Nashville and Austin looking for more affordability and authentic vibes, the increasingly visible park and outdoor recreation scene happening in our community, or our vast alumni network throughout the country; our Memphis Law community is one of our most important assets. You’ll find that it can take you anywhere, and that it’s also right where you want to be.
throughout the city, Memphis is quickly being recognized by the rest of the country as the place to be. It’s a place where you can trace the roots of blues, soul and rock and roll – and then hear who’s making musical history here today. It’s a city where BBQ is a way of life – and innovative and awardwinning culinary trends are developed daily. Memphis is a place where history was made – and where you can stand in the same spots where musical legends, civil rights leaders and business entrepreneurs made their mark. Memphis is like nowhere else.
THE CITY
One of the best things about the city is variety. Whatever your interests or passions, you can find a way to get involved: music, food, arts, sports, outdoors, volunteering and much more.
Memphis is authentic. There’s just something about it that draws people in. It’s made up of people who are driven, creative and passionate about the Bluff City itself. Whether it’s the grit and grind nature of Memphians that our NBA Memphis Grizzlies embody or our thriving historic downtown and resurgent neighborhoods
Memphis is a very special place, with a character, texture and feel that doesn't exist in the same way in any other city.
The Memphis music scene offers everything from outdoor festivals and energetic bar shows to huge arena tours and classical
5 MILLION
MEMPHIS
PEOPLE LIVE IN TH E MID- SOU T H
AT A GLANCE
1.3 MILLION
RESIDE IN MEMPHIS
20.8 MIN Average Commute Time
160+ Parks & Green Spaces
DEMOGRAPHICS
1 HR 48 MIN Average Flight Time to Memphis for Direct Flights
Age
DEMOGRAPHICS Race & Ethnicity
40.1%
African American | 47.4% Caucasian | 42.5% Hispanic/Latino | 5.6% Asian | 2.1% Two or More / Other | 1.8% American Indian | .3%
25-54
21.1%
20.1%
Memphis’ Cost of Living is
0-14
15% LOWER
13.5%
55-74
15-24
5.2%
than the National Average
75+ 0
15
25
55
75
Median Age: 36.5
80.3 O Summer Average
105.4
Atlanta
101.8
Nashville
50O
60 O
70 O
80 O
99.2
Charlotte Memphis
64.7 O Year-round Average
113.2
Dallas
Indianapolis
CLIMATE 48.5 O Winter Average
COST OF LIVING Denver
40+ Golf Courses
97.0
3rd LARGEST MARKET
92.8
For Millennial Home Buyers
80.6
234 Days Average Sunshine
69% Average Relative Humidity
51.3 in. Annual Average Rainfall
Source: Memphis Chamber - Greater Memphis Relocation Guide
orchestras. You can cheer on your new home team with Memphis Grizzlies NBA basketball, 901 FC Soccer, Redbirds Triple-A baseball, plus your very own University of Memphis Tigers plethora of teams. If you’re more into playing the sports yourself, you’ve got ample opportunities and beautiful spaces for running, biking, kayaking and rock
climbing, and plenty of gyms, classes and leagues for adults and kids. As for the food scene, we’ve got you covered. From award-winning fine dining to beloved local holes-in-the-wall, we’ve got cuisines for every palate and preference. Wash it all down with some craft beers from the exploding local beer scene, or a cocktail from some of
our creative bartenders across the city, and then pop into one of our unique local coffee shops for some locally roasted and wide range of coffees. From Downtown to East Memphis, and from Midtown to the suburbs, there’s something for everyone, and the best part is, it’s always close and always more affordable than you expect.
Memphis Law | 23
#1
TOP 15 U.S. CITIES WITH
WOMEN-OWNED
EMERGING DOWNTOWNS LIST
AMERICAN EXPRESS SURVEY 2017
FORBES
METRO FOR
BUSINESS GROWTH
4
TOP MARKET FOR
MILLENNIALS
WITH THE RIGHT “LIVE/ WORK/PLAY” ENVIRONMENT THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
24 | memphis.edu/law
MEMPHIS NAMED
MEMPHIS NAMED
“TOP MARKET FOR JOB SEEKERS” INDEED.COM 2018
MEMPHIS IS CONSISTENTLY NAMED AS
“THE BEST OVERALL DESTINATION”
ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE CITIES
TRIPSAVVY 2019
HUFFINGTON POST AND KIPLINGER
#1 CITY FOR
BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES BLACK TECH 2018
MOST IMPROVED
CITY FOR CYCLING
MEMPHIS NAMED
THE “NEXT HOT SOUTHERN CITY” TRAVEL & LEISURE MAGAZINE
MEMPHIS NAMED
“THE BEST FOOD TOWN IN AMERICA” ALTON BROWN, THE TRAVEL CHANNEL
TOP 5 CITIES FOR MILLENNIALS
(POPULATION GROWTH) TIME MAGAZINE
BICYCLING MAGAZINE
Memphis Law | 25
LOCATION
Located in the middle of the Memphis legal community, Memphis Law is within walking distance of state and federal courts and the majority of government offices. In an average year, we also host more than 50 conferences, professional networking receptions and continuing education seminars – not to mention additional legal fora, panels and job fairs – with our legal community, all of which are open and free to our students.
1.0 mi
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
1.0 mi
Juvenile Court
Let’s not forget the many opportunities to watch real courts in action in our historic courtroom overlooking downtown Memphis. Our students have had the opportunity to attend court proceedings for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Tennessee Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and the Tennessee Court of Appeals (civil and criminal), as well as many local court proceedings and trials. Additionally, our location in downtown Memphis and our premier facilities have allowed our students to participate in unique and informal programs with former United States attorney generals, United States Supreme Court justices, Tennessee Supreme Court justices, United Nation ambassadors, civil rights leaders, and numerous highprofile attorneys, businessmen and women, and state and federal politicians. Our location also affords us the unique ability to form partnerships that help to expand our disciplines, such as our partnerships with the City of Memphis, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, the Memphis Bar Association and many local nonprofits. This location, within the legal community and in our exciting downtown, will impact your education and experience you receive during your time in law school; in turn, that education and experience will help you succeed wherever you go in your career.
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1.2 mi
Memphis Housing Authority
0.6 mi
U.S. District Court
0.6 mi
IRS Offices
0.4 mi
0.6 mi
Shelby County Government Services
Memphis City Court
1.5 mi
Methodist Le Bonheur
CECIL C. HUMPHREYS SCHOOL OF LAW
0.4 mi
Memphis City Hall
100 ft
1.5 mi
Memphis Area Legal Services
Shelby County Health Department
0.3 mi
Memphis Bar Association
0.4 mi
0.4 mi
Shelby County Courthouse
Environmental Court
Memphis Law | 27
ALUMNI COMMUNITY
Our alumni network spreads throughout the country, with successful graduates working in an astonishing number of fields, business sectors, concentrations, firms and industries. This network of success is just one of the tools given to Memphis Law students and graduates. We’ve been successfully training new attorneys for over 50 years, and we’re excited to help you on your road to future legal success with the help of our alumni community along the way.
Rep. Steve Cohen (JD ’73) U.S. Congressman, Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District
The Hon. Bernice Donald (JD ’79) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
The Hon. Holly M. Kirby (JD ’82) Associate Justice, Tennessee Supreme Court
Caroline Hunter (JD ’00) Vice Chairwoman, Federal Election Commission
Terrence Reed (JD ’00) Managing Director of Employment Litigation at FedEx Corporation
Amber Floyd (JD ’10) Senior Associate, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
The Hon. Kathleen Gomes (JD ’80) Judge, Division 1, Shelby County Probate Court
Lawson Baker (JD ’10) Founder, RelayZero
28 | memphis.edu/law
Judge Diane Vescovo
ALUMNI PROFILE | JUDGE DIANE VESCOVO (JD ’80)
Chief United States Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Tennessee A person’s flesh and blood relatives may make up their closest family, but for Judge Diane Vescovo, Chief United States Federal Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Tennessee, her ties to the University of Memphis School of Law are almost as strong. Her support and dedication to the law school, as well as the greater University of Memphis, has helped the law school evolve into the jewel that it is today. She’s been involved with the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law Alumni Chapter since 2000, where she’s served as president and in many other esteemed roles such as a member of the Law School Dean Selection Committee, the ABA Accreditation Committee and the Law School Grand Opening Gala Committee (as co-chair). She’s also served as a member of the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, the Tiger Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and the National Board of Directors for the UofM Alumni Association.
“Our law school serves the entire city and as it thrives and does well, so does the city,” says Vescovo of her belief in the benefits of the University having a thriving law school. She’s often found herself in a position to help define the future of the University of Memphis School of Law, but Vescovo also has been an integral part in getting the law school to where it is today, literally. She notes that three of her proudest accomplishments have been her role in the law school moving downtown to its new home in the beautifully restored historic building at 1 North Front Street; her part in conceptualizing and implementing what is now the Pillars of Excellence Awards Dinner; and cochairing the committee that oversaw the Grand Opening Gala of the building itself, which was in most Memphians’ opinions the event of the year in 2010.
Memphis Law | 29
William Terrell
ALUMNI PROFILE | WILLIAM TERRELL (JD ’13) Senior Attorney, FedEx Trade Networks Go to law school, see the world!
That’s the not the typical sales pitch most people would use to sell someone on becoming an attorney, but maybe it’s something more students interested in Memphis Law should consider. Soon after graduating from Memphis Law, Terrell was presented with several opportunities to further his legal career on an international level, and his successful legal journey has since taken him across the world and back home again. Not long after wrapping up at Memphis Law, he went to work as an associate attorney at a local Memphis firm, but an opportunity to travel to the United Kingdom as a Pegasus Scholar with the American Inns of Court presented itself to him, and across the pond he went for a crash course in the English legal system. After his Pegasus program ended, Will came back to the U.S., but soon found himself with a new job taking him back overseas. Soon after returning from London, he heard about an opportunity with FedEx in Dubai and two short months later, Will started
30 | memphis.edu/law
working for FedEx as an international legal advisor in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where he was responsible for addressing a variety of legal challenges with the TNT/FedEx integration, as well as supporting internal FedEx Express International departments in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. He is now responsible for overseeing the day-to-day legal and regulatory compliance issues for FedEx Trade Networks Transport & Brokerage and FedEx Cross Border business units, under the FedEx Logistics, Inc. umbrella. His advice for the law student looking to work internationally: “Don’t be afraid to take risks. I would start by studying abroad, preferably U.K. law. Outside of America, most of the world adopted the British legal system. If you have a working knowledge of British law, you increase your chances of working in an international center like Dubai, Hong Kong or Singapore. I encourage all law students to have an open mindset. The experiences I had in Dubai were life-changing and I will remember them forever.”
A collection of recent law school female graduates and current female student leaders at Memphis Law
STUDENT LIFE & COMMUNITY
Two of the most valuable resources students find at Memphis Law are the people they meet and the community they build. Our students are at the center of a vibrant school and downtown community. Whether it’s attending classes, organizing numerous events, lectures, and service projects or volunteering time with our many student organizations, Memphis Law students bring their idealism and passion into every aspect of their law school lifestyle. There is a wealth of different perspectives and backgrounds that our students bring to the table that make for extremely rich conversations and experiences. The relationships and friendships forged while in law school carry over throughout the rest of students’ personal and professional lives. The value of interacting with classmates, who are in the trenches with you, is invaluable, and it makes for a collegial atmosphere that is strengthened even further by the efforts of our faculty, staff and student body. Through it all, the law school also provides a range of important services for its students – from academic success programs offered by our Student Affairs Offices to counseling services and mentor programs provided by the greater University and local Bar.
Memphis Law | 31
Bethany Davis
STUDENT PROFILE | DEMARCUS AND BETHANY DAVIS
Demarcus Davis and his daughter Bethany Davis are sharing a unique experience. The father/daughter duo are both currently enrolled at Memphis Law, working toward their own respective dreams. One seeks to build upon a successful 20-year career in counseling, and the other is beginning to find her own path to success, but both agree that sharing this experience together makes the journey more memorable and slightly less daunting. "We didn't plan to attend law school together," said Demarcus. "We each made our decisions independently. It just so happens that this was the best choice for each of us. I was just excited that she chose Memphis, because it meant we could do this together." Both of them recall coming to the decision to attend law school independently from each other, but they definitely started the actual journey together. They even studied for the LSAT together and sat right next to each other while taking the test itself. Now their journey continues together at Memphis Law.
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Demarcus Davis
Maier Salameh
YOUNG ALUMNI PROFILE | MAIER SALAMEH (JD ’20) Maier Salameh is a recent Memphis Law graduate and a past president of the International Law Society. She grew up in Collierville, TN and went to Rhodes College for her undergraduate degree, but with the majority of her family still residing in Palestine, she has spent much of her life traveling to see them and absorbing the lessons that international travel has to offer. As a Palestinian-American Muslim woman, she has a unique perspective on life in the U.S., as well as what she can contribute to society as a future attorney.
She’s passionate about helping law students gain perspective on the world and what it means to work together across racial, religious and ideological platforms. Her unique viewpoint has allowed her to excel in law school, and her various internships, both with nonprofit immigration law firms in Seattle and Memphis, are helping put her on a path to practicing law internationally.
Maier has been involved in an important part of Memphis Law’s history, as women at Memphis Law are taking on a larger roll than ever before. Recent incoming classes have been majority female, many of our student organizations are led by women, and women currently hold all top-level law school leadership positions. “I was very honored just to be included with all the other strong, independent women at Memphis Law. Higher education used to be exclusively for men, so the fact that women are not only attending school here but taking leadership positions and are the ones shaping the future of Memphis Law is pretty phenomenal. It goes to show that the only restrictions that are put on people who are ‘different’ are restrictions that people in the status quo are pushing. I hope this leads to even more diversity within the school, and this diversity leads to more inclusivity.”
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RANKED AS
“ONE OF THE BEST LAW SCHOOLS FOR DIVERSITY”
IN THE COUNTRY (13th) PRELAW MAGAZINE
TOP 25 IN U.S. FOR
LAW DEGREES AWARDED TO AFRICAN AMERICANS
TOP 5
BEST REGIONAL LAW SCHOOLS FOR BLACK STUDENTS LAWYERS OF COLOR MAGAZINE
MORE THAN
50%
OF OUR FACULTY ARE
FEMALE
RANKED AS A
BEST BARGAIN LAW SCHOOL
FOR BLACK STUDENTS LAWYERS OF COLOR MAGAZINE
“MOST DIVERSE LAW SCHOOL” PRELAW MAGAZINE
34 | memphis.edu/law
DIVERSITY
Memphis Law has been nationally recognized for our diversity efforts, which is appropriate in a diverse city like Memphis. We also are proudly the MOST diverse public law school in Tennessee and one of the Top 3 most diverse public law schools in the five-state Mid-South region.* We define diversity broadly to include several aspects of human differences that contribute to the intellectual discourse
and inclusive environment at the University of Memphis School of Law. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion collaborates with a variety of law school offices and community groups to ensure a diverse and inclusive law school environment. These collaborations allow us to develop and implement initiatives that increase the access, admission, retention and graduation of diverse students.
TENNESSEE INSTITUTE FOR PRE-LAW (TIP) The Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP) is the Office of Diversity’s elite program promoting a diverse student community at Memphis Law. It is the State of Tennessee’s only “admission by performance” program and consists of five weeks of classroom instruction and assessment that simulate the first-year law school curriculum.
TIP classes are taught by Memphis Law professors, with students having peer
and faculty mentors who assist them in getting acclimated to law school, its culture and various legal environments. Our TIP students also receive various forms of support that foster success during their first year of law school. Applicants who are invited to enroll in TIP and successfully complete the program requirements over the summer are eligible for admission to Memphis Law the following fall.
TIP Program – a unique admission by performance program for TN and border-county residents who are from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
A SUCCESSFUL HISTORY OF DIVERSITY • The Hon. Bernice B. Donald (JD ’79) – U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
• Gregory Duckett (JD ’85) – Senior Vice President & Corporate Counsel, Baptist Memorial Healthcare • Amber Floyd (JD ’10) – Senior Associate, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP • Terrence Reed (JD ’00) – Managing Director of Employment Litigation at Federal Express Corporation
DIVERSITYRELATED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
• Association of Women Attorneys (AWA) • Black Law Students Association (BLSA) • Christian Legal Society • Jewish Legal Society • Hispanic Law Student Association (HLSA) • International Law Students Association (ILSA) • OutLaw
“One of the best decisions I ever made was attending the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. My years at the law school were truly a transformational experience in my life and positively changed the trajectory of my future. The law school prepared me to be a leader in the legal community and compete with colleagues who attended Ivy League law schools, resulting in massive debt. One of the law school’s top assets is the expertise and accessibility of the professors, who passed along their wisdom to the students, while making the classes interesting and stimulating. I also made lifelong friends at the University of Memphis law school, and I value those relationships to this day. I fervently believe that the University of Memphis law school is one of the most underrated, yet premier law schools in the country, and I’m proud to be an alumnus.” – Terrence Reed (JD ’00) - Managing Director of Employment Litigation at Federal Express Corporation
Memphis Law | 35
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A TOP-NOTCH BUILDING
Simply put, Memphis Law has the best law school building and facilities in the country. That’s no empty boast either. In comprehensive rankings from preLaw Magazine and the National Jurist, Memphis Law has been named the best building and law school facility THREE TIMES, making us the only school to “three-peat” as the No. 1 award winner. These accolades come approximately nine years after the law school relocated from the main University of Memphis campus to the historic former U.S. Custom House/Courthouse/Post
Office at 1 North Front Street, which underwent at $42 million renovation and upgrade before the law school moved into the facility in 2010. The historical austerity of the building, coupled with modern charms and new technology, proved be to a winning combination. As a student here, you’ll be able to take advantage of our technological and facility upgrades and advances in learning environments. This is an inspiring place to go to law school, and it’s a place where you’ll not only feel at home for the next three years, but a part of the reason you’ll be proud to go to Memphis Law.
Memphis Law | 37
OPP UNIT 38 | memphis.edu/law
PORT TY REAL LEARNING. REAL SUCCESS. THAT’S WHAT MEMPHIS LAW OFFERS OUR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES.
Memphis Law | 39
OPPORTUNITY CAREER SERVICES OFFICE
With in-depth assistance from our Career Services Office, our students find the career that best suits them. The CSO helps students to develop their job search skills and assist with faculty and alumni relationships that can lead to real-world employment. The Memphis Law CSO offers a wide range of career development assistance and opportunities for our students, such as:
OUR STUDENTS CAN SET UP ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS WITH OUR QUALIFIED CSO STAFF. 40 | memphis.edu/law
Individual Counseling Our students can set up one-on-one counseling appointments with our qualified CSO staff to review résumés, cover letters or to just talk about specific career goals. Our experienced staff of counselors will even review your materials and return them to you, critiqued and with notes, within approximately two days. Mock Interview Training Mock interviews provide our students with the opportunity to practice their interview skills in a realistic setting and to receive feedback to improve performance. The CSO holds mock interviews before on-campus employer interviews at the beginning of each semester. Local attorneys conduct the mock interviews. Interview
sessions typically last 30 minutes and include feedback from the participating attorneys at the end of the session. The attorneys who participate in our mock interviews are often the same attorneys who conduct on-campus interviews. Seminars and Events CSO presents many events throughout the year to familiarize our students with basics such as writing résumés, and to expose students to a variety of practice areas. Panel discussions, career fairs and other CSO events bring attorneys and students together to explore career possibilities. CSO Resource Center The CSO library contains career books, interview guides, lists of Tennessee law firms broken down by city and other helpful publications. There are also a number of CSO-created templates for résumés, cover letters and more available to our students. The CSO also contains a work area with computers and a laser printer that may be used by students and alumni for the exclusive purpose of preparing résumés, cover letters and other correspondence related to their job search.
85%
2019 EMPLOYMENT HONOR ROLL MEMBER
OVERALL EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR RECENT GRADUATES
PRELAW MAGAZINE
DATA FROM CLASSES 2017-19
CLASS OF 2019 AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT
63%
LAW FIRMS
11%
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
12%
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP
5%
GOVERNMENT
4%
PUBLIC INTEREST
Job Postings Our CSO staff works tirelessly to help our students find open employment positions across the country. These positions are posted in Symplicity and shared between our counselors and students. The relationships created and nurtured by our staff
and counselors result in many unique employment opportunities for our students and graduates. Job Fairs Students at Memphis Law are annually invited, through our Career Services Office,
“
“Have a plan. Be flexible. Be willing to adapt and learn. Search out great and interesting opportunities that can help expand your vision and always keep your end goal in mind.” – Hugh Cross (JD ’18)
to a number of different job fairs throughout the year. On-Campus Recruiting The CSO coordinates numerous on-campus job interviews in both the fall and spring semesters for our students.
Memphis Law | 41
EXTENDED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
SCHOLARSHIPS
We understand that paying for school is an important factor in your decision-making process. At Memphis Law, we are committed to helping students minimize costs. Our tuition compares favorably to other public law schools; and our downtown location, within walking distance to most students’ apartments and homes with inexpensive parking nearby, makes it possible to keep living expenses reasonable in a city hailed by many national publications as being one of the most affordable in the country. A number of scholarships are available to entering students, including academic merit awards, diversity awards and awards for students with demonstrated financial need. Some scholarship awards are based on the information provided in the application, while others require additional information. If you are interested in being considered for first-year scholarships, you are encouraged to complete the optional application questions and submit any necessary information. Scholarship award letters are usually sent by April 1. Through state appropriations and the generous donations of law school alumni and friends, over $600,000 in scholarship assistance has traditionally been awarded in previous academic years. Awards range from $1,000 to full in-state tuition.
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Alternative Spring Break Having recently celebrated it’s 10-year anniversary as the first student-led spring break program in the country to recruit from law schools across the country, this weeklong program, run by our Public Action Law Society, seeks to help low-income individuals needing legal representation while also providing law students the opportunity to gain legal experience.
Pro Bono Memphis Law is one of a select group of law schools in the country that requires students to engage in pro bono work. Students are required to complete 40 hours of supervised pro bono work in order to graduate, giving them unique opportunities throughout Memphis while strengthening their ties to the community. Law Review Our prestigious, studentrun journal of legal scholarship is published four times a year with student editors making all editorial decisions, along with a faculty advisor, and drawing submissions by prominent academics from across the country.
Legal Methods Our rigorous required first-year legal research, writing and analysis course gives students excellent preparation for the increasing complexity of practice in today’s legal environment.
Mediation Under the guidance of one of the Mid-South’s highly regarded Rule 31 Listed Mediators, students get real world experience being co-mediators in General Sessions Court, as well as actual Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator training and ongoing observations of mediations in various courts and administrative proceedings. Mock Trial Memphis Law gives students the opportunity to take their advocacy skills to the next level with both an in-school mock trial competition and a historically successful National Mock Trial Competition travel team. Moot Court Our Moot Court program excels in both appellate and trial advocacy, with many in-school and travel-team competitions under its purview.
Tax Workshops More than 100 federal tax returns were filed by students in our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program last year. Street Law Our Street Law program currently serves two local inner-city schools where student members and professors teach on a weekly or monthly basis. Their role is to engage the students around topics of law, democracy, human rights and local issues, all while bridging the gap between today’s youth and the law, and to inspire students on to professional careers. Medical-Legal Partnership The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS), the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital form the Memphis CHiLD (Children's Health Law Directive), the first medical-legal partnership of its kind in the region, encompassing all of Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. In addition to a variety of training programs and educational, bidirectional partnerships, Memphis CHiLD also consists of an on-site Legal Clinic located at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital where Memphis law students, working under the supervision of a devoted clinical professor and a MALS staff attorney, have devoted space to work on cases and referrals, meet with patients/ clients and conduct training sessions. Medical professionals and Le Bonheur residents have access to the clinic as well, and have direct involvement in the Memphis CHiLD Legal Clinic training sessions and learning opportunities available through the program.
PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS Institute for Health Law & Policy (iHeLP) The Institute for Health Law & Policy at the University of Memphis is an innovative leader in educating the next generation of health lawyers, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to advance health through law and policy.
The Institute for Health Law & Policy has a core mission designed to prepare the next generation of health lawyers for practice in today's complex and everchanging health care environment and also with the skill set and dexterity to adapt practice to the issues and needs of tomorrow.
down complex legal issues for diverse, non-law audiences and have the foresight to identify and potentially avert future legal issues. They represent a vision of preventive, relational lawyering attuned to the utmost professionalism and highest ethical standards in dealing with clients, affected parties, organizations and the community. Critically, they also recognize the role of law as a service profession, and the need for lawyers who are ready, willing and able to engage in and with the community, beyond their own clients, to advance the community's health through use of law and policy.
Our graduates provide informed legal counsel, can break Memphis Law | 43
ADVANCED CRIMINAL PROSECUTION INTERSESSION
This course is offered for one week a year and is composed of veteran criminal prosecutors from across the state, with highly coveted, and limited, spots for Memphis Law students. This experiential course gives our students interested in advanced criminal prosecution a rare opportunity to learn in a “master class” setting with experienced prosecutors from across the state of Tennessee presenting instruction on all aspects of criminal trial practice, including jury selection, pretrial motions, opening statements, direct and cross examinations, evidentiary objections and closing arguments. Students even receive direct critique from experienced veteran prosecutors, giving them learning opportunities far ahead of normal standards.
PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMS (CONTINUED) IHeLP Policy Lab To manifest the Institute’s mission and link its service and educational goals with unique possibilities for scholarship, the Institute launched the iHeLP Policy Lab to foster policy-based service work through interdisciplinary, community-focused engagement.
Policy Lab Impact Projects •D eveloped a research memorandum on legislative efforts to incorporate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) into laws/ policies at local, state and federal levels.
• Analysis of Tennessee's annual state budget from the Family Success Framework Perspective. • Research memorandum on improving medical practitioner ACEs competency and ideal model of health care delivery for ACEs intervention. • Grant writing assistance for statewide collaborative focused on increasing prenatal-to-age-3 supportive services.
• S trategic plan and policy brief for enhancing childcare provider qualifications in Tennessee.
• Research on training the judiciary about ACEs and their legal implications.
• P olicy recommendations to decrease energy insecurity of the medically vulnerable in Memphis, TN.
• Development of screening tools, intake forms and Spanish translations for Memphis CHiLD Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic.
•R esearch memorandum on Medicaid payment for postpartum 44 | memphis.edu/law
depression screenings under the child's Medicaid ID.
ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Memphis Law is dedicated to recognizing and fostering excellence in both appellate and trial advocacy. Our strong Moot Court program offers our students a way to prepare for the challenges of life in the courtroom and is nationally recognized for outstanding work in oral and written advocacy. Our students progress from fundamental legal doctrine and theory in first-year courses to increasingly more sophisticated and complex substantive and procedural issues in the second. The Advocacy program and our travel teams place students in the center of the litigation process, as they begin to assimilate the skills and strategies they will need as practicing attorneys. The various Moot Court and Mock Trial competitions that we field teams in give students additional opportunities to hone those skills, as they face off against their peers and some of the top law school teams in the country. Our travel teams have had quite a bit of success in the past several years.
National Moot Court Competition Team The 2019-20 National Moot Court team was named the Moot Court Region VII Champion, defeating the University of Tennessee in the final round, and having a 3L team member named as the Best Oral Advocate. The team was coached by Professor Barbara Kritchevsky. Wagner Moot Court Team The Memphis Law Wagner Moot Court Team finished as the National Runner-Up in the 43rd Annual Robert F. Wagner Labor and Employment Law Moot Court Competition in 2019. The Memphis team argued in six rounds over the three-day competition and reached the national championship round. The competition did not take place in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team The ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team was named Regional Champion at the 2019 Philadelphia Regional Competition. The team then competed in the National competition in Chicago, where they advanced to the Nationals top 16. In 2020, our 3L
team reached the regional finals once again and won Best Brief in their region, with one team member named a Top 10 Advocate in the region. Professor Barbara Kritchevsky coached the team. Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Team One of the University of Memphis Law School Duberstein Bankruptcy teams competed and won the United States Sixth Circuit's inaugural Shapero Cup Regional Duberstein Competition in 2019. Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Team Memphis Law’s Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial team was a top team in the 2020 Regional Competition and advanced to the National Competition Finals. BLSA Mock Trial Team Memphis Law’s Black Law Students Association’s Mock Trial Team placed fourth in the Southern Regional BLSA Mock Trial Competition Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition in 2019.
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ADMI SSION PROC ESS
46 | memphis.edu/law
ADMISSION PROCESS CHECKLIST ☐ APPLICATION (REQUIRED)
The application may be accessed through LSAC. Be sure to complete all questions accurately. Include your name and LSAC account number on any addenda. The priority deadline is March 15.
☐ CREDENTIAL ASSEMBLY SERVICE (CAS) (REQUIRED)
Applicants for the next entering class must have an LSAT score that is current and taken within the last 64 months. LSAC will not release a CAS report until they receive an original transcript from every undergraduate institution you have attended, including summer sessions and study abroad programs. It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor the status of his/her LSAC account.
☐ PERSONAL STATEMENT (REQUIRED)
Each applicant is required to submit a personal statement. This statement provides the opportunity to describe your background and any unique experiences, characteristics or circumstances you want the admissions committee to consider. You should explain your desire to study law, why you believe you will be a successful law student, and what you plan to do with your law degree. You are encouraged to explain your interest in attending our law school and may discuss any information not otherwise apparent from your application, including family members who are graduates of the University of Memphis School of Law. Limit your personal statement to no more than 1,000 words.
☐ ADMONITORY ACTION EXPLANATION (IF APPLICABLE) ☐ LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION/ EVALUATIONS (OPTIONAL)
Applicants are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendation addressing their potential for academic success. When possible, letters should come from professors if you are currently in college or have recently graduated. The letters should be sent to LSAC to be included with your CAS report. If a file is complete by March 15, file review will not be delayed if letters have not been received.
☐ TIP STATEMENT (REQUIRED FOR ALL TIP APPLICANTS)
If eligible, apply for the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP), an “admission by performance” program for Tennessee and border county residents from diverse backgrounds who are not admitted through the regular admissions process, but who show potential for success in the study of law. To find out more about TIP, visit memphis.edu/law/about/tip.php.
DECISION TIMELINE (SEPTEMBER–APRIL) Our online application is available through LSAC. Applicants to the University of Memphis School of Law will receive an email with a link to our website and a code to establish an account to check the status of their application. From that point on, the applicant can check their application status online. Applicants also will receive an email once the application is complete. Once a decision has been rendered, the online status will read: decision rendered. Final decisions are mailed to the applicant’s current address. Most decisions are made between January and April. After being admitted, a seat deposit of $250 is due by mid-April or two weeks after notice of admission, whichever is the later date.
Memphis Law | 47
FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP CHECKLIST ☐ APPLY FOR AN FSA ID at https://fsaid.ed.gov.
☐ COMPLETE THE FAFSA
at https://fafsa.ed.gov, available October 1 for the next academic year.
☐ USE PRIOR YEAR’S INCOME TAX
For example, the 2020-21 FAFSA will require 2019 income tax information.
☐ USE UofM’S FEDERAL SCHOOL CODE
List the University of Memphis’ 6-digit federal school code: 003509
CONTACT
University of Memphis School of Law 1 North Front Street Memphis, TN 38103 901.678.5403 901.678.0741 (fax) Lawadmissions@memphis.edu memphis.edu/law Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) 215.968.1001 lsac.org
48 | memphis.edu/law
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