Overview

Applicants
658
Acceptance Rate
54%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.36
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
132

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
148 - 155

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
March 15

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$0

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors

Academic

LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Letters of Recommendation
Essay / Personal Statement

Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Student/Faculty
8:1
Total Faculty
58

38
Female
12
Underrepresented Minorities


Students Say

While it may not have Ivy League name recognition, the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law’s “reputation far exceeds [its] rank.” As “the only law school in Memphis,” the University of Memphis’s students over and over again call it “a gem” and “a diamond in the rough.” “I came to this school despite options to go to tier 1 schools in the U.S. News and World Report Rankings. The academic life is as rigorous as any intellectual could want, and the social atmosphere of the school as is team-oriented as it gets.” The U of M’s professors, who are “down to earth, speak for their chosen fields eloquently, and very respectful”, “combine Ivy League educations with real-world experience to create classroom experiences that are both challenging and relevant.” “I was surprised at how approachable and genuinely interested the administration and professors were in students' opinions and their overall well-being.” While approachable, the faculty is “entrenched in the Socratic method” and rigorous. One student notes the presence of those old-school “‘I will haze you by employing the Socratic Method’ type profs.” Some students say they wish the law program was “more practical,” or had more “curriculum diversity:” the “abundance of opportunities to work in criminal law, family law, elder, and housing in Memphis” may make it harder to practice an “area of the law that is not so much in need here (business, intellectual property).”
Also among the U of M’s prime features are shining facilities: the school recently “opened in a new, restored historic courthouse and customs building, and all of the facilities, library, and classrooms were (and still are) top notch.” Classrooms boast “great wireless internet, acoustics, and seating arrangement,” and students take pride in their “beautiful” surroundings, asserting that “since the move into the renovated building downtown, there's no way we can't compete with any school in the country on facilities.”
What students arguably love the most, though, is how the University of Memphis competes in “bang for your buck.” “The price...is very low compared to the national average, and in my book that meant getting a huge value for my legal education.” This value doesn’t sacrifice job readiness: students report that the university is “dedicated to ensuring our graduates hit the ground running.” Extracurricular and internship opportunities include the “Law Review, Mock Trial (both inter and intra school competitions), clinics, and the school's dynamic Memphis Association of Law and Business,” as well as “opportunities to volunteer for first year students, such as the Saturday Legal Clinic and the weekday divorce clinics,” and “networking opportunities with local professionals and the Memphis Bar Association.”

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
82%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
25

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Major area and regional law firms, Tennessee Attorney General, Public Defenders office, TN Supreme Court & Court of Appeals, major area corporate legal depts., City & County Government.

Graduates Employed by Area

53%
Private Practice
10%
Judicial Clerkships
9%
Business/Industry
5%
Government
3%
Public Interes
3%
Academic

Prominent Alumni

Honorable Bernice Donald
Judge, U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals

Steve Cohen
US Congressman, TN 9th District

Caroline Hunter
Commissioner, Federal Election Commission

Karen Clark
VP & General Counsel, Procter & Gamble Corporation, Global Health Care & Global Beauty Care

Bill Sanderson
Actor

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
May 1
Application Deadlines
Apr 1

Financial Aid Statistics


Expenses per Academic Year

In-State Tuition
$19,218
Out-Of-State Tuition
$24,008
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$10,425
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$10,425
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,969

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
347
Parent Institution Enrollement
21,000

Average Age at Entry
25

Demographics


Campus Life

Students Say

“The school's location in the heart of downtown” Memphis strikes students as “perfect:” “The proximity of the campus to downtown restaurants, national and college sports arenas, and other venues really make the school appealing.” There’s “a great connection between the school and the city” both socially and professionally; U of M students enjoy a campus situated “within blocks of all the courts and numerous attorney offices which makes for easy field trips or internships.” Apart from the job-seeking grind, popular activities and destinations include local “Grizzlies games,” and “Beale Street,” where it’s easy to run into “my boss and other lawyers” and “build relationships.” Plenty of amenities are available on campus, as well: “The law building sits right on the Mississippi river and has a great book/food store and also some recreational equipment in the lounge.” “Our small class sizes create a friendly atmosphere both inside and outside the classroom,” and students “cannot stress enough how awesome it is to live, go to school, gain outside experience, and have a fun social life all within half a mile.”

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Dr. Sue Ann McClellan
Assistant Dean for Law Admissions

Address
1 N. Front Street
Suite 252
Memphis, TN 38103-2189

Phone
901-678-5403

Email
lawadmissions@memphis.edu


Articles & Advice