Belmont University, located in Nashville, TN announced this morning that it will open a new law school, the first new law school in middle Tennessee in the last 100 years. Factors weighing the decision to move forward with a new law school included this gem:
A recent feasibility study indicated increasing need over the next decade for attorneys in Tennessee as well as in the region. Tennessee currently has fewer lawyers per capita (8.2 per 10,000) than nearly all of the states in which new American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law schools have opened in the past 10 years. In addition, there are hundreds of individuals interested in attending an ABA-approved law school in Tennessee who are currently unable to do so—in 2008, nearly 6,800 individuals applied for entrance to Tennessee’s three ABA-approved law schools, but only 1,773 were issued offers of admission.
What a couple of fascinating statistics! Congratulations on the announcement.
Fore a more detailed account of the announcement, visit Belmont University’s web site.
What are your thoughts? Does the country need another new law school? Does the country? Chime in with your comments below!
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Here’s a couple follow up articles on Belmont’s announcement:
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_160497.asp
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091011/COLUMNIST0101/910110365/1008/OPINION01
Kate – thanks for the thoughtful comment. I’m not in any place to pass judgment on whether the country or the state needs another law school. I will say, however, that I am amazed at the pace with which new law school have opened over the last 15 years (since I graduated from law school) and at which they will continue to do so.
You make a couple terrific points that, when combined with the statistics in the announcement, clearly indicate a need with the state/region. I am certain there are many within the legal community that might have a differing opinion, given the state of economy within the legal community, and the large law segment in particular.
I am thrilled to hear of this. TN has been limited for too long.
1. Vanderbilt is too expensive and a nationally ranked school. They aren’t training TN lawyers, they are training lawyers who will move to Memphis at best, and NY/Chicago/Dallas/Atlanta to the big firms.
2. UT is a great school, but can only admit so many students, and must therefore be selective.
3. NSL serves its purpose but is not ABA-accredited and is therefore self-limiting as to who is best served by going there.
I would have *loved* an option such as Belmont had it been available when I entered school. Best of luck to the university in establishing and maintaining a quality law school to train Tennessee lawyers.