Frequently Asked QuestionsThe University of Memphis - Cecil C. Humphreys School of LawAdmission Office Facts and Statistics The Application Process LSAT Tuition and Financial Aid Notification and Acceptance Curriculum Campus Visits Housing Career Services Law School Admissions Facts and Statistics: What is the size of the entering class? The size of the first year class is 151. What is the enrollment at Humphreys School of Law? Enrollment for Fall 2007 in the law school is 417. The University of Memphis' total enrollment is approximately 20,000 students. What are the median LSAT scores and GPA’s of enrolled students? The median LSAT score for Fall 2007 is 156 and the median undergraduate grade point average is 3.36. For more specific LSAT and UGPA information, please review our profile information. What is the geographic makeup of the student body? A large majority of our students are Tennessee residents, but we have approximately 10 other states and three foreign countries represented. The Application Process: When is the application deadline? The application deadline for admission as a first-year student is March 1st. What are the transfer deadlines? The application deadlines for advanced standing as a transfer student is: FALL – July 15; SPRING - November 15 What components of the application are required? There are several components of the law school application. All of these components must be complete before an application is considered ready for review. - Application Fee – A $25.00 ($40.00 for international students) fee must accompany the application.
- Personal Statement - Each applicant must submit a personal statement as described on the application form.
- Admonitory Action Section. If an applicant has answered “yes” to any item(s) in the Admonitory Action section of the application, he or she must provide a full and detailed explanation of the circumstances.
- Optional Supporting Material - Applicants are encouraged to submit up to three letters of recommendations. However, a letter of recommendation is not required for a file to be considered complete and evaluated by the Admissions Committee. Recommendation letters should be from former professors, instructors, or other professionals who can provide relevant information on the applicant's intellectual ability, academic performance, and potential for success in law school. Letters from personal or family friends or social acquaintances, which provide only minimal information on an applicant’s abilities, are not considered helpful.
What are the admission requirements for transfer students? A transfer student is any student who has earned credit and is in good standing at an ABA approved law school and who wishes to transfer that credit and receive a degree from the University of Memphis School of Law. Transfer applicants may be admitted to advanced standing pending space availability at the University of Memphis School of Law. More specific transfer information is available at - http://www.law.memphis.edu/admissions/do.htm Are letters of recommendation required? Letters of recommendation are not required at the University of Memphis Law School. However, law school applicants are encouraged to submit at least one but no more than three. We prefer the letters be submitted through the LSAC letter of recommendation services that serves all member schools. This service is included in your LSDAS registration subscription. Do you grant interviews? Interviews with the Admissions Committee are not granted. The Admissions Office is staffed to answer your questions and you are invited to schedule a visit to the law school. Contact the Law School Admissions Office at 901.678.5403 or via e-mail at lawadmissions@memphis.edu. What is the application fee? Are application fee waivers granted? The application fee is $25.00 and must be submitted before the committee will review the application. An application fee waiver will be granted to students who are deemed eligible for a fee waiver by Law Services. Please refer to the Law Services website at www.LSAC.org for more information. A copy of the fee waiver letter from Law Services must accompany your application in order for the application fee to be waived. What are some factors considered by the admissions committee? The two most significant factors in the initial review of an application are the LSAT score and the undergraduate grade point average (UGPA). The LSAT score and UGPA are combined to produce an "admission index." If the LSAT is taken more than once, the highest LSAT score is used in calculating the index, but all scores will be included on the LSDAS report. The admission index is used as a guide to evaluate applicants. Other factors, such as the writing ability as evidenced by the writing sample of the LSAT and personal statement, the quality of the applicant's undergraduate in employment during and after college, extracurricular activities, educational diversity, and state of residence are considered in this process. In an attempt to attract a diverse student population, the School of Law has developed a selection process that provides a full review of qualified applicants but assures that admission is on the merits of each applicant. As a publicly funded institution of the state of Tennessee, residents of the state may be given preference in selection. However, non-resident applications are encouraged. The University of Memphis is committed to increasing the number of qualified students in its student body who come from historically under-represented minority groups. Such applicants are encouraged to submit in their personal statement any relevant information regarding the applicant's background which could assist the Admissions Committee in its evaluation of an applicant's file. How is residency determined? At the University of Memphis, residency is determined using the regulations established by the Tennessee Board of Regents. An initial determination of residency is made based on the information submitted on the law school application. Typically, in-state residency is given to students who have lived in Tennessee prior to applying to law school or whose parents are residents of the state. For more information on residency classification, please contact the Admissions Office at 901.678.5403. Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) & Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS): What is the LSAT exam and where do I get information? The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is a half-day standardized test required for admission to all ABA accredited law schools. It provides a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing applicants. The test is administered four times a year at hundreds of locations around the world. Should I prepare for the LSAT exam? There are many different ways to approach the Law School Admission Test. Since many law schools average test results, applicants are encouraged not to take the exam cold. More information on preparing for the LSAT can be found in the LSAT/LSDAS Information Book. Information on commercial preparation programs is available at http://www.law.memphis.edu/admissions/know.htm. What happens if I retake the LSAT? LSAT scores taken June 2002 or later are currently being reviewed for admission to the University of Memphis School of Law. If the applicant takes the LSAT more than once, the admissions committee will take the highest LSAT score when reviewing the application. Must I register with Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)? Almost all ABA-approved law schools, including the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and several non-ABA-approved schools require an applicant to register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The LSDAS provides a service including a five year subscription that prepares and provides a report for each law school to which you apply. The report contains information that is important in the law school admissions process. Your report will include: - An undergraduate academic summary
- Copies of all undergraduate, graduate and law school transcripts
- LSAT scores and writing sample copies
- Copies of Letters of Recommendation if processed by LSAC
Tuition facts and financial aid information: How much is tuition? The annual tuition and fee figures for Academic Year 2006 - 2007: In state - $11,412.00 Out-of-state - $30,598.00 How do I apply for financial aid and is there a deadline? More than 80% of Memphis law students receive some form of financial assistance. Students interested in financial aid need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline for financial aid is April 1st. FAFSA packets are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or by calling 1-800-4FED-AID. The priority deadline for financial aid applicants for Fall 2007 at the University of Memphis is April 1st. For more information on obtaining the FAFSA form as well as the annual financial aid budget for law students, please refer to: http://www.enrollment.memphis.edu:80/FinancialAid/. What scholarship opportunities are available and how do I apply? Merit scholarship are awarded to entering students on the basis of LSAT scores and undergraduate cumulative GPA. Award amounts vary and range from full tuition to partial tuition awards.Information from the applicant’s admissions application is used by the Honors and Awards Committee to select recipients. Notification and Acceptance: How can I check the status of my application? It is the applicant’s responsibility to check on the status of his or her application. Applicants will receive an initial letter acknowledging receipt of their application. Thereafter, the applicant can check the status of their application by calling the Admissions Office at 901.678.5403 or via e-mail to lawadmissions@memphis.edu. When are applicants notified of admission decisions? Applicants are typically notified of admission decisions between January and April. Written notification letters are mailed to the applicant’s current address. What is the deposit deadline and cost of deposits? The deposit deadline is April 1st or two weeks after notification, whichever is later. The cost of the deposit is $250.00. This is a non-refundable fee. If the student matriculates at the University of Memphis School of Law, $200 of this fee is credited to his or her fall tuition. The remaining $50.00 is an orientation fee. Can I defer my acceptance? Yes, deferrals are granted on an individual basis. You must pay the seat deposit of $250.00 and submit in writing a formal request indicating your reason for a deferral. Deferrals are granted for one academic year. Curriculum: Does Memphis offer a part-time program? The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law does provide a part-time program which enables students, with permission, to enroll in fewer hours than full-time students. Part-time students will normally graduate in four and one-half years. Graduation requirements for those enrolled in the part-time program are the same as those in the full-time program. A part-time student is required to enroll in 8 to 10 hours each semester. To examine the required courses for a part-time student's first year course of study, please see: Course of Study. Are faculty members accessible to students? The Faculty of Law at The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law consists of 26 academic lawyers dedicated to excellent classroom instruction and student professional development, meaningful scholarship, and distinguished service to the community and the legal profession. These men and women offer through their courses a rich and varied curriculum designed to educate students and prepare them for a variety of career opportunities after graduation. In addition to classroom instruction, the faculty members maintain an “open-door” policy making them available to students at almost anytime. The faculty is more than willing to aid students in their legal education and pursuit of a legal career. What clinical opportunities are available? The School of Law conducts three legal clinics to promote the development of good lawyering skills by its students. These legal clinics include a General Litigation Clinic, an Elder Law Clinic, and a Child Advocacy Clinic. The Legal Clinic courses will allow students to develop important skills by working with indigent and elderly clients through Memphis Area Legal Services. Students also work with children in delinquency and dependency proceedings. Students provide high-quality legal services to clients under the direct supervision of a director and four full-time clinic supervising attorneys. The students in the clinic, which is housed at the offices of Memphis Area Legal Services, interview clients, conduct factual and legal investigations, provide client counseling, negotiate, prepare, and try civil cases for Legal Services clients. Students may also work with clinic faculty members in addressing legal problems confronting elderly citizens and children in need of legal assistance. What joint degree programs are available? The School of Law and the Fogelman College of Business and Economics offer a coordinated degree program leading to both the J.D. and M.B.A. degrees. The purpose of this joint program is to allow the student to study both modern business management and law. Students who are contemplating a career as a lawyer specializing in business issues and who want to acquire the skills and perspective of the business manager, may find the J.D./M.B.A. degree program a highly beneficial course of study. The J.D./M.B.A. program offers the student the opportunity to complete both the J.D. and M.B.A. in considerably less time than would be required to complete each degree separately. What is the average course load? The school operates on the semester system and requires 90 semester hours for the Jurist Doctor (J.D.) degree. A full-time student is required to enroll in at least 12 hours each semester. Although full-time students are required a 12 hour minimum course load, the average course load is usually between 14 and 15 hours per semester. Students in the full-time program normally graduate in three years. Is there summer school? Summer classes are available, but they are not mandatory. They may be taken by election of the student. Some students graduate after five semesters and two summer sessions of full-time study. Does Memphis have any areas of concentration? In addition to the required courses, the elective courses cover a wide range of substantive legal knowledge and lawyering skills. The upper-level curriculum permits students to take courses in specialty areas of law, develop fundamental lawyering skills, and concentrate their legal education in particular areas of interest. Campus Visitation Information: How do I schedule a campus visit? To arrange a law school visit, please contact the Law School Admissions Office via e-mail at lawadmissions@memphis.edu or call 901.678.5403. Directions to the law school? The law school is located at 3715 Central Avenue on the University of Memphis campus. The law admissions office is located in Room 203. Detailed directions are available at http://www.memphis.edu/directions.html. Campus and Memphis Housing Is on-campus housing available for law students? On-campus housing is available for single students at the Carpenter Complex. The Carpenter Complex is located just down the street from the law school and has apartment or townhouse style accommodations. The contract for the Carpenter Complex is an extended contract, so students can have access to their unit during times when classes are not in session. Married student housing is available for full-time students who are married and living with their spouse, and single students who are the head of households and living with dependent children. For more information on housing options at The University of Memphis please view - http://www.people.memphis.edu/~reslife/sfh.html. How do I identify off campus housing options? The University of Memphis is located in a residential part of the city and many housing options are available within easy commuting distance of the campus. For more information on identifying off-campus options please view - LivingChoices.com Is there a child care facility on campus? The University of Memphis provides a child care facility on its campus. The facility’s phone number is 901.678.5059 and is located at 3875 Tiger Paw South. In order to qualify for child care services, there are several requirements: - Parent currently enrolled at the University of Memphis
- Child must be at least 2 ½ years of age upon enrollment
- Parent must sign a contract with the facility
- Child’s immunization record must be current and submitted to the facility
- $20.00 registration fee
- $2.00 per hour charge for child care service
- $2.50 “drop-in” charge
The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. How can I get more information on the city of Memphis? For more information on the city of Memphis, please visit - http://www.ci.memphis.tn.us http://www.memphis.citysearch.com Career Services and Employment Statistics: What percentage of students are employed within 6 to 9 months of graduation? 97.3% of Memphis 2006 graduates were employed within 9 months of graduation. What is the average & range of starting salaries for Memphis graduates? The median starting salary for Memphis 2006 graduates was approximately $53,676. The salary range was $30,000 to $100,000, depending on the firm or business, the nature of the work, and the location. Where do students practice (firms & geographically)? Memphis alumni practice in all 50 states and overseas. The greatest concentration of alumni is in the Southeastern United States, but there are significant numbers in other cities such as Dallas, Washington, DC, and Chicago. What is the bar passage rate? The most recent bar pass rate was 92% for first-time takers.
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