Appalachian School of Law

Introduction

Founded in 1994, the Appalachian School of Law produces civic-minded lawyers who go on to practice both in the Appalachian region and beyond. As a small, independent law school, ASL offers an intimate environment that is rare among institutions of higher learning. Located in the town of Grundy in southwestern Virginia, ASL provides a quiet setting for the study of law.

Curriculum

While providing a full, traditional legal curriculum, ASL emphasizes practical skills in an effort to help students succeed in real-world practice. Alternative dispute resolution and professional responsibility are infused throughout the curriculum. ASL also offers an Academic Success Program to help students develop and refine the skills necessary to succeed in law school and pass the bar exam.

First-year students are introduced to basics such as civil procedure, contracts, property, and torts, as well as legal research, writing, and other essential skills. The program eases first-year students into the unique requirements of law studies, fosters collegiality and professionalism, and minimizes peer competition. Between their first and second years, students serve an externship with a judge, prosecutor, or legal services organization at sites across the nation.

Second-year students build their knowledge base in subjects such as constitutional law, evidence, secured transactions, business associations, dispute resolution, and more.

Third-year students take additional required courses, a seminar, capstone electives, and practicum courses that emphasize skill-based learning. Topics include negotiation, mediation, interviewing, law office practice, pretrial practice, and trial advocacy.

Community Service

ASL emphasizes community service in an effort to educate responsible civic leaders. Students complete 25 hours of service each semester in a project of their choosing. Although students are able to structure their service to meet their preferences and schedules, ASL assists students by scheduling one afternoon each week that they may devote to service projects. ASL-sponsored projects have included a conflict resolution program taught in public elementary schools; work with Buchanan Neighbors United, a group that provides housing repairs to improve substandard housing; a community recycling project; and a gender-bias study of the Virginia state court system.

Faculty

ASL's expanding faculty offers a depth of private and governmental practice experience as well as teaching experience. Faculty members have been former law clerks to federal and state court judges, government officials, and partners in small and large private law firms. The ASL faculty has published a variety of scholarly works in areas including constitutional law, legal ethics, and business and commercial matters. Small classes enable students to form meaningful relationships with faculty that further enrich their ASL experience.

Students and Student Organizations

ASL's active, enthusiastic student body hails from across the region and the country. The student body elects a Student Bar Association. Students may also participate in numerous student organizations, join the Appalachian Journal of Law and the Appalachian Natural Resources Law Journal, and compete on the award-winning moot court or trial advocacy teams. ASL has a family resource network for the spouses, partners, and families of law students. A speaker series brings a number of distinguished speakers to campus.

Facilities

ASL's historic classroom and office building was extensively renovated and won an award from the American Institute of Architects. The classroom building is constructed around a courtyard that serves as an informal gathering place. The renovated library provides a modern facility for research and studying. A third building houses student organizations and a coffee shop. The law school also occupies classroom and office space in the adjacent Booth Center for higher education. In 2010, ASL acquired a nearby building that will be renovated to provide classroom, clinic, and office space. Internet connections are available in most classrooms and the library. Wireless Internet access is also available.

Admission and Financial Aid

ASL accepts students who will benefit from a challenging curriculum in a caring environment. Admission decisions are not based on a single criterion; each item is considered in relation to the applicant's total qualifications. Besides undergraduate GPA and the LSAT, other considerations include an applicant's graduate work, character, work history, professional promise, personal commitment, recommendations, life experience, and other nonacademic achievements.

ASL offers a Pre-Admission Summer Opportunity (PASO) program for students who may have the potential to succeed as law students and lawyers, but whose skills and talents may not be reflected fully by their LSAT score and undergraduate performance. PASO provides participants an opportunity to experience law school coursework and allows faculty to evaluate the students' performances to assess their ability to succeed in law school. Participants who demonstrate potential to successfully complete ASL's three-year program are offered admission.

ASL offers both merit- and need-based scholarships. Merit-based scholarships are based on entering LSAT and GPA credentials; the application for admission serves as the application for a merit scholarship.

Applicant Profile

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	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 170–174	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 165–169	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 160–164	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 155–159	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Possible	Unlikely
LSAT score 150–154	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	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 135–139	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 130–134	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely
LSAT score 120–129	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely	Unlikely

Good = Good Possibility

Possible = Possible

Unlikely = Unlikely

This grid represents data for 100 percent of the applicant pool for fall 2009 admission. It does not reflect the possibility of invitation to participate in the Pre-Admission Summer Opportunity program. This chart is to be used as a general guide only. Nonnumerical factors are strongly considered for all applicants.