The University of Memphis School of Law is hoping to pique interest and give out information by having an open house and admissions workshop on Nov. 13 from 4-6 p.m. in Room 248.
The annual event varies in size from year to year but typically has from 50 to 100 attendees. Reservations are requested by Nov. 10 to get a head count, but students can attend without one.
The event will feature sections on the process of applying to law school, financing the expenses, careers in law, a student panel discussion, a question and answer session and tours of the law school.
"It gives us the framework to speak to a much broader group at one time," said Sue Ann McClellan, dean of law school admissions. "Most student have similar questions and concerns about law school so it is a better use of our time and theirs. Applying to law school is more complicated than undergraduate school. Students also have the misconception that their schedule will be as flexible as before. The first year here is a pretty set curriculum."
Pat Crowell, law school admissions assistant, said the open house is for anyone who wants to enquire about law school at The U of M and in general.
"I would say that most of the people who come are seniors looking to go to law school the next fall, but that's not everybody," she said. "We get younger students and even older people in the community who may be thinking about changing their career path."
It will also give information regarding the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law. This program allows certain students who were not admitted originally to complete a summer course for admission.
"It is a five-week summer program for those underrepresented in the student population," said Yolanda Ingram, associate dean of student affairs and director of the program. "If students pass the course they are guaranteed admission to the one of the two Tennessee law schools, Memphis or Knoxville."
To be admitted to virtually any law school, students must take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. That score is evaluated along with grade point average, letters of recommendation, essays and other criteria.
The U of M admits approximately 26 percent of applicants. That does not mean, however, that 74 percent are flatly rejected since most students apply to multiple schools. Deadline to apply at the University of Memphis is March 1.
For the 144 students entering The U of M law school this fall, the median GPA is 3.36 with the 75th and 25th percentile being 3.70 and 3.06 respectively. Median LSAT score is 155.
Over 98.7 percent of 2005 graduates were employed within nine months of graduations with an average salary of approximately $55,000, according to the law school's web site.
While 98 percent of this year's entering class are classified as Tennessee residents, Crowell says that is misleading.
"There are several students who buy property and attain residency," she said. "Also, with students coming from over 60 undergraduate schools, many of our students are people who go away to college and then want to 'come home' for law school."
