Regent University School of Law

The information on this page was provided by the law school.

Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs


Introduction: Rigorous Academics, Christian Worldview

At Regent University School of Law, eternal principles of truth and justice inform the teaching, studying, and practice of law. Regent Law offers a rigorous, comprehensive, and skills-intensive legal education founded upon a biblical worldview—recognizing that the legal profession is a calling to serve.

Providing Christ-centered academic excellence since its beginning, Regent Law trains practice-ready, purpose-driven servant leaders. “Grounded in the best of the old and the new, we lay a foundation of first principles of law, the Western Legal and Common Law traditions, and American Constitutionalism, while equipping students with the contemporary knowledge base and practical skills necessary to thrive in any law-related discipline,” explains Michael Hernandez, Regent Law dean.

Regent Law’s highly credentialed and experienced faculty includes graduates of Harvard, Duke, the University of Chicago, the University of Virginia, and Georgetown law schools. According to Dean Hernandez, “What truly sets them apart is their commitment, as Christian legal scholars, to integrate faith thoroughly in and outside the classroom and mentor the next generation of lawyers.” Distinguished faculty include former United States Attorney General John Ashcroft and American Center for Law and Justice Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow.

While affirming the faith of individual students, the school embraces a biblical worldview, encouraging students to see law as a calling, not merely a job. This worldview provides a platform for developing the highest ethical standards in its students and makes Regent a diverse and supportive academic community.

Although Regent University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, just minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and only three-and-a-half hours from Washington, DC, the university maintains a national and global focus. Regent alumni practice law in 49 states and over 20 nations, serving as distinguished lawyers, judges, professors, government leaders, and public interest advocates. Additionally, Regent’s Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law gives students the opportunity to partner with other legal initiatives around the world and gain firsthand experience working on human rights issues.

Standout Student Satisfaction Rates

Regent University School of Law’s students indicate extremely high levels of satisfaction with their educational experience, compared to many of their peers nationwide, with 95 percent of third-year law students evaluating their law school experience as either good or excellent.

Degree Programs

Juris Doctor (JD)

The JD degree, offered on campus, is academically excellent and competitive with law schools nationwide. With an internationally recognized faculty and a robust advocacy skills training program, students gain knowledge of the law in key areas while also focusing on legal analysis, writing, problem solving, and principled leadership. Regent Law students are uniquely equipped to practice law ethically and professionally, with honesty, integrity, and Christian values. Students typically complete this degree in three years; however, it may be completed at an accelerated pace for select students.

The Master of Arts in Law (Entirely Online with Select On-Campus Course Options)

The Master of Arts in Law is designed for working professionals and graduates who seek an advanced credential that focusses on the core legal principles and systems that intersect their career field. Enjoy a rigorous, versatile, online alternative to the traditional Juris Doctor degree—perfect for those who seek legal training, but not licensure to become a practicing attorney. Whether you’re interested in business, education, health care, cybersecurity, or another field, earning your MA in Law will expand your understanding of the law and prepare you for career advancement. Regent Law’s emphasis on excellence and integrity will help further establish you as a trusted professional. View the full list of concentrations at MA in Law.

LLM Programs

Regent Law’s LLM programs offer students a rigorous post-JD academic experience from a uniquely Christian perspective. Students benefit from an exceptional faculty of Christian legal scholars and flexible online program options where applicable.

  • American Legal Studies LLM (on campus or online): American law is now the common currency of business transactions worldwide, influencing law, policy, and government around the globe. The Master of Laws with a concentration in American Legal Studies is offered online, on campus, or as an online/on-campus hybrid and is designed to meet the needs of international attorneys who wish to be trained in American law. On-campus students normally complete their studies in one academic year (two semesters, full time). Regent University is a leader in online education, ensuring that online students receive the same rigorous education as their campus counterparts. Online students typically complete the program in two to three years, part time.
  • Human Rights LLM (on campus or online): The Master of Laws with a concentration in Human Rights, offered exclusively on campus, provides an advanced understanding of international, regional, and domestic human rights protection from a biblical perspective. This program is specifically designed for lawyers who desire advanced legal education regarding international, regional, and domestic human rights protection and promotion from a biblical perspective. Students normally complete their studies in one academic year (two semesters, full time).

Academic Programs and Centers

From clinical opportunities and externships to study-abroad programs and academic centers, Regent Law students benefit from hands-on legal work while pursuing their legal studies. The school not only has a skills-based curriculum but also offers a variety of experiential learning options outside the classroom.

The Regent Law Center for Advocacy, which includes the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, Trial Advocacy Board, and Moot Court Board, is robust and equips the next generation of legal advocates with skills in trial and appellate advocacy, legal writing, negotiation, and mediation, making their competition teams among the best in the nation. Regent Law’s Moot Court Program is nationally recognized, and Regent Law’s advocacy teams have won more than 90 international, national, and regional championships and best brief and best oralist awards—including 1st Place Team, Ukrainian Student Summit (2017); 2nd Best Brief in the Western Hemisphere (2017), Price Media, Americas Region; and Best Oralist and 1st Place Team (2016), Price Media, Americas Region.

The Center for Ethical Formation & Legal Education Reform helps develop students’ professional identities. The center’s goal is to produce lawyers who understand the nature and purpose of the legal profession and are committed to the ethical practice of law.

This unique center pairs incoming first-year students with practicing legal professionals who embody integrity and strong moral character. It also sponsors presentations and panels introducing current law students to the highest professionalism standards of the legal community.

Additionally, Regent Law faculty publish and present on professional identity formation nationwide. Regent Law is part of the Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers consortium, which is at the forefront of moral formation in the legal profession.

The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law equips students to use the law to seek justice for the oppressed and supports those already engaged in such advocacy. Select students receive funded internships and are placed with legal organizations such as the International Justice Mission and Advocates International, to combat human trafficking and other human rights abuses and to secure religious liberty. The center also sponsors human rights courses, special events, symposia, and hands-on research and brief-writing projects done in collaboration with legal organizations around the world. Since 2010, student volunteers have logged more than 40,320 hours of pro bono legal work.

Regent Law’s Honors Program provides an exclusive academic and professional experience to exceptional entering students and those who have performed near the top of their first-year law school class. Participants take select classes with other high-performing students, enjoy a higher level of in-class engagement, and meet with prominent speakers such as Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan, former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, and retired US Admiral Vern Clark. Regent Honors students have secured internships, clerkships, and jobs at the Supreme Courts of Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin; US Federal District Courts; state Courts of Appeals and trial courts; various US attorney’s offices; Judge Advocate General’s Corps; the FBI; and a host of private firms and organizations nationwide.

Academic Assistance

Regent Law is thoroughly committed to helping students perform to their highest capacity in law school and beyond. Regent Law’s Academic Success Program (ASP) is instrumental in achieving this goal and has helped students outperform their incoming LSAT scores with their bar pass results. Led by a member of the core Law School faculty, the ASP includes three components:

  1. The Summer Program is an extended academic orientation for select entering students that provides an intensive one-week class prior to the standard academic orientation and develops critical reading, analytical, study, and test-taking skills.
  2. Open to all Regent Law students, Study Skills Workshops address topics such as techniques for briefing cases, outlining courses, solving legal problems, and preparing for and taking law school examinations.
  3. ASP faculty provide individual mentoring in a series of advising meetings designed to facilitate academic success. This is available to all Regent Law students.

International Law and International Study Opportunities

For students interested in studying law in an international context, Regent Law offers opportunities in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (in partnership with Handong International Law School); Pohang, South Korea; and Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.

Admission

Regent Law seeks to enroll men and women who demonstrate academic promise, strong motivation, and a commitment to the school’s mission as a Christ-centered institution. The admission committee recognizes that this goal means more than simply enrolling those with the highest credentials. It also includes seeking to admit men and women who take seriously the critical roles they will assume as advocates, counselors, conciliators, and followers of Christ. Committee members evaluate each candidate’s college-level academic performance, LSAT results, career accomplishments, skills relevant to the practice of law, writing skills as evidenced in the personal statement, and at least one faculty letter of recommendation. If you have been out of school for over five years, your letter of recommendation can be professional, personal, or spiritual. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, typically within two to three weeks from the time the application is completed.

The Bar and Employment

Two top concerns of students are passing the bar exam and finding a job after law school. Regent Law prepares students to leverage their intellect, drive, and skills to become purpose driven and practice ready upon graduation. Career development plays a critical role. Regent Law’s Career & Alumni Services maintains an extensive resource library containing materials for preparing professional résumés, drafting cover letters, researching job opportunities, and identifying professional networking strategies. Students are provided career-planning guides to address their needs in each year of study. Additionally, workshops and individualized counseling sessions allow students to learn about career options, identify career interests and areas of personal strength, and develop networking and interviewing skills.

Regent Law’s Bar Pass Rates

  • 100% Bar Passage Rate, Honors Class of 2017
  • 100% Bar Passage Rate in 11 States, Class of 2017
  • 95% Overall Bar Passage Rate (best among Virginia law schools), Virginia Bar Exam, July 2017
  • 86% Bar Passage Rate Nationwide, Class of 2017
  • 88% Bar Passage Rate on the Uniform Bar Exam, accepted in 26 states, Class of 2017

Financial Aid

The School of Law is committed to helping students finance their legal education by awarding more than $3.5 million annually in scholarships and grants. And, in recent years, over 95 percent of Regent Law students received financial assistance. Scholarships are awarded based on academic promise and other factors indicative of potential law school success. Students not awarded financial assistance the first year of law school may qualify for assistance in future years based on academic performance. A variety of loan options, including Stafford and Graduate PLUS, are available to meet the tuition and living expenses related to law school.

The Law Library

Regent’s Law Library occupies the entire third floor of the University Library building immediately adjacent to Robertson Hall, where law classes are held. The spacious facility offers a generous amount of comfortable seating, individual and group study spaces, and wireless network access throughout. The Law Library collection seamlessly blends technology and traditional resources. The print collection includes over 428,000 volumes and equivalents while dozens of databases and electronic resources offer the law school community access to a full range of federal, state, and international legal materials. Collection strengths are in international human rights, public policy and law, religion and law, constitutional law, international law, and legal history. Regent law librarians—all of whom hold both the Juris Doctor and the Master of Library or Information Science—are experienced and committed professionals dedicated to ensuring that our law students gain the skills needed to research effectively and efficiently.

Housing

Living on campus is a positive, safe, and engaging experience at Regent. In fact, the campus has been recognized as one of the safest in the country. Beautiful unfurnished apartments located within a mile of campus are an option for single graduate students. Additionally, there are a number of off-campus apartments and rental homes in the local area. The Village offers the convenience of living near campus and the atmosphere of a more traditional neighborhood, plus spacious floor plans and multiple outdoor recreational areas. Meticulously maintained, these spacious two- and three-bedroom apartments are unfurnished and provide a variety of floor plan configurations. A free shuttle operates between the apartment complex and the university. Rates are comparable to or less than similar apartment complexes in the vicinity.

Regent Student Housing is happy to offer married students resources for securing off-campus housing according to their needs.

Campus Visitations

Please see the Regent Law Event options. The Office of Admissions encourages prospective student visits. To RSVP for campus visitation programs or to arrange a visit to the law school, please email lawschool@regent.edu or call 757.352.4584.

Admitted Applicant Profile

25-75% UGPA Range at Regent:

3.40 to 3.88

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Regent:

152 to 160

25-75% UGPA Range at Regent:

3.40 to 3.88

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Regent:

152 to 160

25-75% UGPA Range at Regent:

3.40 to 3.88

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Regent:

152 to 160

Contact Information

1000 Regent University Drive, RH 239,
Virginia Beach, VA 23464,
United States