Greetings!
MESSAGE FROM DEAN BREWBAKER
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Alabama Law. If you are reading this viewbook, you likely have some big life decisions ahead. You are beginning a journey that will open many opportunities to make a difference in the world.
As you probably already know, there are many factors to consider when deciding where to attend law school: tuition, cost of living, scholarship opportunities, reputation, program offerings, career outcomes and connections, location, personal and family needs, and so much more. There is also the question of where you will find community and connections as a student over the next three years. It can all become overwhelming.
The truth is, no one school is a perfect fit for every student. You will want to choose the path that best matches your aspirations and life situation. That said, I’m confident that no matter what career path you want to pursue, or where you want to practice, we can help you get there. And I know that Alabama Law is a great place to be a law student.
Our students graduate with one of the lowest debt loads in the country while securing meaningful employment opportunities at a rate that is 8.7% higher than the ABA national average. We have alumni in all 50 states, and our Career Services Office will go out of their way to help you make those connections. We consistently rank in the top 10 nationally for placing students in federal clerkships and are recognized as one of the best public law schools in the U.S. We keep our overall student body small so you can have more personal interactions with our great professors. If you’re interested, you can even enroll in a dual-degree program that will allow you to customize your education by pairing your Juris Doctorate with a specialized Master’s or PhD degree.
Our admissions staff is ready to tell you about the opportunities and friendships that await you at Alabama Law. We have students from all over the country, and all sorts of backgrounds, life experiences, and points of view. At Alabama Law, we are invested in every student’s success and recognize that everyone brings something valuable to our community. Our students inherit and sustain a culture of friendship and mutual support. I look forward to sharing our Alabama Law community with you. I hope you will take the time to visit us, ask questions, and learn more. I look forward to seeing you soon.
All the best,
William S. Brewbaker III Dean and Professor of Law
The University of Alabama School of Law
WHY ALABAMA LAW? CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Ten months after graduation, 95.1% of graduates were employed in full-time, long term bar-passagerequired or JD-advantage jobs, or seeking advanced degrees1 94.5% Ultimate Bar Passage rate3 #2 Among Law Schools located outside of D.C. that have graduates working in Congress4
Federal Clerkship Placements2
1 Based on the Class of 2023
2 Based on the Class of 2022 as reported to the ABA
3 Based on the percentage of students who graduated in 2021 who passed a bar exam within two years of graduation
4 This data reflects congressional staffers working in D.C. congressional offices as of April 30, 2019. Rankings found on LegBranch.org
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THE 1L EXPERIENCE
At Alabama Law, we are a community. And our community is here for you.
1L COURSE SCHEDULE
FALL SEMESTER (CREDIT HOURS)
602 Torts (4)
603 Criminal Law (4)
608 Civil Procedure (4)
610 Legal Writing and Research (2)
713 Introduction to the Study of Law (1)
COMPREHENSIVE ADVISING PROGRAM
As a 1L student, you will be given the opportunity to be paired with (1) a faculty advisor, (2) a career advisor, (3) a peer mentor and (4) an alumni mentor.
You will be matched based on your shared interests, goals and backgrounds — ensuring you have a built-in network from the start.
SPRING SEMESTER (CREDIT HOURS)
600 Contracts (4)
601 Property (4)
609 Constitutional Law (4)
648 Research & Writing (Moot Court) (2)
742 Legislation and Regulation (2)
ACADEMIC SUCCESS FELLOWS PROGRAM
Academic Success Fellows, chosen from the 2L and 3L classes, offer academic tutoring — both in open office hours and in one-on-one tutoring sessions. They know what it is like to go through the 1L experience, and they are ready to help you along the way.
2L & 3L
No matter your
career interests,
we have a place for you.
LAW CLINICS
Alabama Law is home to seven clinics that allow you to provide legal assistance to members of the community under the supervision of Law School faculty.
These clinics include:
• Appellate Advocacy
• Children’s Rights
• Civil Law
• Criminal Defense
• Domestic Violence
• Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit
• Mediation
STUDENT-EDITED
LAW JOURNALS
The University of Alabama School of Law is home to four student-edited law journals that publish articles on important legal topics written by faculty and student authors from across the nation. These journals — Alabama Law Review, Journal of the Legal Profession, Law and Psychology Review, and Alabama Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review — can give you the opportunity to undertake thorough, scholarly research on a legal topic of your choosing while also editing and publishing articles written by prominent legal scholars.
PUBLIC INTEREST INSTITUTE
Check out our Public Interest Institute, where you can:
• Specialize by earning a certificate in Public Interest Law.
• Apply for summer grant funding to pursue internships within public interest organizations.
• Engage in pro bono projects that align with your interests.
9 Ranked by the National Jurist
MOOT COURT & TRIAL ADVOCACY
The Alabama Law Moot Court Program. Take advantage of the opportunity to participate in one of several moot court teams that travel throughout the country to compete in appellate advocacy competitions. Also, don't miss out on the 2L Moot Court Competition where you can partner up to go head-to-head against members of your class in a brief writing and oral advocacy contest before sitting judges.
Ranked among the Top 20 Moot Court programs in the U.S.10
The Alabama Law Trial Advocacy Program. Compete in trial skills competitions against some of the top future trial lawyers in the country. This program will prepare you to graduate from Alabama Law with the confidence to step into litigation at the highest level.
Alabama Law is home to 15+ Trial Advocacy and Moot Court Teams.
10 Ranked by the National Jurist
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS
Earn credit toward your JD while studying abroad. Enroll in one of our semester-long international experiences in the United Kingdom or Israel.
DUAL DEGREES AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
Explore the dual enrollment and certificate programs we offer:
• JD/Master’s in Business Administration
• JD/Master’s in Civil Engineering
• JD/Master’s in Social Work
• JD/Master’s in Public Administration
• JD/PhD in Economics
• JD/Master’s or PhD in Political Science
• Certificate Programs
• Governmental Affairs
• International and Comparative Law
• Public Interest Law
BUILDING YOUR CAREER
Ten months after graduation, 95.1% of graduates were employed in full-time, long term bar-passage-required or JD-advantage jobs, or seeking advanced degrees.11
11 Based on the Class of 2023
CAREER SERVICES OFFICE (CSO)
From day one, you will be assigned a dedicated Law School career counselor who will work with you on a one-on-one basis to provide career counseling, help you learn career planning and job search skills, and facilitate on-campus interviews with potential employers. This counselor will serve as a partner to you as you work together to secure opportunities that best fit your career interests.
Alabama Law has alumni in all 50 states — no matter where you want to go, we can help.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
EXTERNSHIPS
Gain valuable experience by participating in one of our externship programs, which provide hands-on opportunities to earn class credit.
Washington, D.C., Externship – Spend a semester working in federal agencies, with legislative committees, or in nonprofit organizations through our DC externship program, which has placed students in more than 50 different offices in the past 10 years.
• Among law schools located outside of D.C., Alabama Law has been recognized for having the
2nd
highest
number of graduates working in Congress.12
Corporate Counsel & Compliance
Externships – Experience what it is like to work in the offices of a corporate general counsel, university counsel, or university compliance.
• Want to go corporate? Apply for an externship through one of our nearly 20 corporate partners including MercedesBenz U.S. International and Shipt (owned by Target).
• Interested in sports? Ask our Career Services Office about the relationships we have with the NCAA Enforcement division and the Alabama Athletics Compliance office.
Government & Public Interest
Externships – Dive in as an extern for public interest organizations or state or federal government offices.
• Picture yourself working in the United States Attorney's Office, Alabama Attorney General’s Office, National Labor Relations Board, or Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP). Find your niche and follow your passion.
Judicial Externships – Secure opportunities to work in state and federal judicial chambers.
• Top 10
Alabama Law regularly ranks among the top law schools for postgraduate Federal Clerkship Placements.13
12 This data reflects congressional staffers working in D.C. congressional offices as of April 30, 2019. Rankings found on LegBranch.org
13 Based on ABA data
SUMMER EXPERIENCES
Take advantage of summer associate programs and internships nationwide during the summers before your 2L and 3L years. We’ll help you identify and pursue the summer employment experiences that most interest you — whether they be in a firm, corporate, nonprofit, government or judicial setting.
THE FINCH FELLOWSHIP
Spend six to eight weeks during the summer as a legal intern in a rural Alabama community. Your experience may involve working in Circuit, District, and Probate Courts, as well as in District Attorneys’ Offices, and shadowing local attorneys.
GET INVOLVED
The Law School has 25+ student organizations you can join. Whether you are a first-generation law student; a member of the military; or are interested in health, public interest, or environmental law, there is a student group for you.
STUDENT LIFE
Law School Café
The Alex W. Newton Fountain & Courtyard
Student Recreation Center
Art, Theater & Concerts
Outdoor Adventures
Downtown Tuscaloosa
Athletics
Riverwalk
Choose Your Adventure
Tuscaloosa Birmingham
Tuscaloosa Montgomery
Tuscaloosa Huntsville
Tuscaloosa Mobile
Tuscaloosa Gulf Shores
Tuscaloosa Panama City
Tuscaloosa Atlanta
Tuscaloosa Chattanooga
Tuscaloosa Nashville
Tuscaloosa New Orleans
SCHEDULE A TOUR
This catalog was published in September 2024. Reasonable care was made to present information that, at the time of preparation for printing, accurately described the course offerings, faculty information, policy regulations, and requirements of The University of Alabama School of Law. However, the Law School reserves the right to change the programs, courses, requirements, and regulations set forth in the catalog at any time without prior notice at the discretion of the administration and faculty. The University of Alabama School of Law provides equal opportunity in education and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, military status, protected veteran status or any other legally protected basis. UA makes employment decisions based only on valid job-related requirements. UA does not discriminate on the basis of a
