Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

Thomas Goode Jones School of Law has a rich tradition of educating law students. In keeping with its mission, the school seeks excellence in all things and promotes learning with integrity in a caring Christian environment that sustains and nurtures faith. The School of Law encourages and prepares students for lives of service and purpose.

The School of Law became part of Faulkner University in 1983. Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ("Faulkner Law") received provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association in 2006 and full approval in 2009. Faulkner Law continues its rise with an innovative curriculum, an energetic faculty, a diverse student body, rigorous professional education, and a rich commitment to justice and service to the bench and bar.

Montgomery and the River Region

The School of Law is located in the capital of Alabama. Montgomery is widely known as the birthplace of the Confederacy and the American Civil Rights Movement. It is home to some of the nation's most historically significant landmarks and monuments. One can visit the First White House of the Confederacy and the steps of the state capitol building where Jefferson Davis was sworn in as President of the Confederate States of America. On these same steps, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. completed the freedom march from Selma to Montgomery. Here Dr. King advocated for equality of all people, regardless of race.

Along with its rich history, Montgomery is known for its contribution to the arts. One notable contribution is the Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, which includes the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the acclaimed Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the beautiful Shakespeare Gardens.

Montgomery offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city amenities. Montgomery also boasts excellent access to the legal community as it is home to the Supreme Court of Alabama, the Alabama legislature, and more than 200 law firms or other organizations that employ lawyers within a short driving distance of campus.

Library and Physical Facilities

In 2011, the School of Law completed construction of the Allen Law Center, adding additional classrooms, a new courtroom, clinical law offices, and student space. Classrooms are outfitted for laptop computers, and wireless Internet is available throughout the building and library. Students have access to the student lounge, a new coffee shop, and conference rooms for student organization meetings.

The George H. Jones Jr. Law Library supports the School of Law's curriculum and the legal research requirements of its students and faculty. Computers on both floors of the library enable free access to the Internet, word processing packages, and legal research databases. A spacious computer lab facilitates computer-assisted legal instruction and research.

Alternative Dispute Resolution Program

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program enables law students to integrate their knowledge of conflict management principles and dispute resolution processes with professional skills. This program allows students to receive training normally available only through on-the-job experience after graduation.

Students can earn a certificate in ADR, which is not a supplemental degree but an opportunity for Juris Doctor candidates to enrich their skills training while still in law school. The certificate in ADR requires completion of the following courses: Arbitration, Dispute Resolution Processes, Interviewing/Counseling and Negotiation, Mediation Clinic, and an elective skills course. All of the certificate courses contain both an academic component and a skills component.

Advocacy Program

The School of Law's Advocacy Programs prepare students for the rigors of litigation and the practice of law through national and intraschool competitions. Student advocates travel throughout the United States to participate in numerous moot court, mock trial, negotiation, and mediation competitions. The School of Law's record of regional and national championships is a testament to its cocurricular advocacy program's emphasis on excellence in trial and appellate skills. Recent team successes, to name a few, include the 2012 August A. Rendigs National Products Liability Moot Court Competition Champion, 2012 National Trial Competition (NTC) Regional Semi-Finalist, 2012 ABA-National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC) Regional Finalist and Regional Semi-Finalist, 2011 Lone Star Classic trial competition National Finalist, 2011 Mercer Legal Ethics and Professionalism Moot Court Competition Best Brief, 2010 August A. Rendigs Moot Court Competition National Champion, 2010 Frederick Douglass Moot Court Southern Regional Champion, and 2010 National Moot Court Competition (ACTL) National Quarterfinalist. In addition to national competitions, the Faulkner Law Student Board of Advocates host three intramural competitions each year that provide all students with an opportunity to participate in moot court and mock trial competition.

Clinical Opportunities and Externships

Clinics and externships provide students with demanding, real-life experiences. The clinics immerse students in an ethical, creative practice environment designed to serve clients with excellence and to empower students to practice with independence, confidence, and integrity. In conjunction with our many community partners, students participating in our legal clinics and externships are able to serve the most vulnerable of our neighbors while preparing for sophisticated, meaningful work.

The School of Law operates three clinical programs: the Mediation Clinic, the Family Violence Clinic, and the Elder Law Clinic. Each clinic includes rigorous doctrinal learning and skills training.

In the Mediation Clinic, students mediate cases for litigants in area small claims courts. The Mediation Clinic is an integral component of the School of Law's certificate program in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and students receive recognition from the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution upon completing their work in that clinic.

In the Family Violence Clinic, students represent victims of domestic violence and child abuse in area courts to receive protective orders and provide services to vulnerable clients in need. The School of Law and Legal Services of Alabama are the recipients of the Family Sunshine Center's President's Special Service Award in recognition of outstanding service and support through the Family Violence Clinic.

In the Elder Law Clinic, students provide pro bono legal advice to clients over 60. Clinic students prepare estate planning documents, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives, and they provide advice and counsel on government benefits, consumer protection, and financial exploitation. Students also present community education programs to groups of local seniors to promote self-reliance and advocacy.

The School of Law's Externship Program affords students the opportunity to supplement their classroom experience by working in a variety of legal settings. Students receive academic credit for their supervised legal work in judicial, governmental, military, public service, and public interest law offices. Students work in federal and state courts with prosecutors, defenders, policy makers, and issue advocates. Students routinely count their externship work as among their best moments in law school.

Foundations Course

Reflecting the School of Law's commitment to prepare competent and ethical lawyers for the practice of law, a centerpiece of the first-year curriculum is Foundations of Law, a course that introduces students to the foundational ideas of our legal institutions. The Foundations course emphasizes the basics of legal reasoning: the doctrine of precedent, the distinction between rules and principles, standards of decision-making, and most importantly for new law students, the rudiments of logic, including a heavy focus on syllogistic reasoning and inferences.

Public Interest Program

The School of Law's commitment to serve those who otherwise could not afford such assistance complements the legal profession's rich tradition of service.

The Public Interest Program provides opportunities for students to begin their career of service while utilizing the practical skills obtained in their legal education. This program is voluntary and provides students with opportunities to provide community service or work for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and/or private attorneys or firms conducting pro bono legal work. To be recognized as a fellow in this program, students are challenged to perform at least 50 hours of voluntary service during their law school career.

Student Organizations

The Student Bar Association (SBA) serves the student body and every student is a member. The SBA fosters relationships with members of the legal community and sponsors social functions and fundraising events. The judicial branch of the SBA is the Honor Court.

Other student organizations at the law school include the American Association for Justice, American Constitution Society, Black Law Students Association, Board of Advocates, Christian Legal Society, Law School Democrats, Federalist Society, Jones Law Republicans, Jones Public Interest Law Foundation, Phi Alpha Delta, Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Women's Legal Society. The Alabama Defense Lawyers Association and the Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association will allow law students from the School of Law to participate as student members.

The Faulkner Law Review is a scholarly legal journal published by student editors and members. Membership is considered an honor and provides students an opportunity to hone their research and writing skills.

Scholarships, Tuition, and Fees

The School of Law offers merit-based scholarships to qualified entering students. Admitted applicants are automatically considered for scholarship awards. Awards range from 10 percent tuition forgiveness to 100 percent tuition forgiveness. Scholarships are also available to upper-level students who perform well academically during their first year or two years of law school.

Please consult the law school's website for current tuition rates. Students pay a Student Activities Fee of $350, which is charged only once at the outset of a student's law school career, and an Emergency Notification Fee of $10, which is charged per semester.

Applicant Profile

Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law

LSAT Score	3.75+	3.50–3.74	3.25–3.49	3.00–3.24	2.75–2.99	2.50–2.74	2.25–2.49	2.00–2.24	Below 2.00
	GPA
LSAT score 175–180	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Unlikely
LSAT score 170–174	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Unlikely
LSAT score 165–169	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Unlikely
LSAT score 160–164	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 155–159	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 150–154	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 145–149	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Possible	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 140–144	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score Below 140	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely

Good = Good Possibility

Possible = Possible

Unlikely = Unlikely