Universityof Virginia School of Law
http://www.law.virginia.edu/html/prospectives/prospectives.htm
THE MISSION
Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants. Consistently ranked among the top law schools in the nation, Virginia has educated generations of lawyers, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity, and community service. A faculty of nationally acclaimed experts in their fields and outstanding teachers lead Virginia’s 1,100 students to appreciate the power of law to shape human behavior and to influence political, social, and cultural life.
Virginiais justly famous for its collegial environment that bonds students and faculty, and student satisfaction is consistently cited as among the highest in American law schools. Intellectual challenges are met in a spirit of cooperation. Small first-year sections promote individual inquiry while providing support and friendship. Students learn together, reading each other’s work and freely sharing course outlines and other materials, confidently relying on the student-run Honor System to maintain the highest ethical standards.
Virginiahas a national reputation for producing highly skilled lawyers with a healthy combination of legal acuity and personal balance. American Lawyer magazine once identified Virginia as one of only two law schools in the country with graduates practicing in each of the nation’s top 100 law firms.
THE UNIVERSITY
With more than 20,000 students and a faculty of more than 2,100, the University of Virginia has achieved national prominence in many disciplines and has been ranked first or second among the nation's public universities since 1984, a judgment based on faculty strength, student achievement, satisfaction of alumni, and numerous other factors. The University’s diverse intellectual life is open to law students: Up to 12 credits from other departments may be counted toward the J.D. degree.
THE GROUNDS
At Virginia, your legal studies will take place in what is perhaps the most appealing physical environment found at any law school in the country. The David A. Harrison III Law Grounds reflect a recent $46 million expansion and renovation project funded entirely by private support from alumni and friends. Surrounded by inviting gardens and an elegant, tree-lined lawn, the setting reflects Jefferson’s conviction that locating an intellectual community within a beautiful environment fosters learning and personal growth.
The Law Grounds feature new classrooms, seminar rooms, and moot courtrooms, comprehensive computer facilities, an expanded library with a three-story reading room, new dining facilities, attractive offices for student organizations, and numerous student lounges. Map
THE COMMUNITY
Charlottesvilleis a city of contrasts. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains two hours southwest of Washington, D.C., the city is cosmopolitan and relaxed. A picturesque and thriving metropolitan area of more than 135,000, Charlottesville has kept its small-town feeling. Area restaurants are featured in publications such as Gourmet magazine and The New York Times, and an impressive array of local wineries offers award-winning vintages.
The hometown of the Dave Matthews Band, Charlottesville’s many nightclubs and music festivals create a thriving scene for live music. Free concerts are a staple of warm Friday evenings on the historic Downtown Mall; the Dogwood Blues Festival is another herald of the area’s gorgeous spring season.
Cultural opportunities abound. Theater, opera, and music are community fixtures. Jefferson’s Monticello and the nearby homes of James Madison and James Monroe feature classic architecture and rich history. Each fall the University hosts the nationally acclaimed Virginia Film Festival and in the spring gathers the nation’s literary luminaries for the Virginia Festival of the Book.
Law students seeking a community in which they can relax, find plentiful entertainment, and appreciate abundant natural beauty to balance the intense rigors of law study will find a home in Charlottesville.