Richmond JD Viewbook

Learn. Engage. Connect.

THE RICHMOND LAW EXPERIENCE

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close-knit community and a

rigorous academic program. A vibrant capital city and an intimate collegiate campus. Classmates who challenge you as much as they welcome you.

Faculty with heart – and worldwide

THE RICHMOND LAW EXPERIENCE

impact. It’s all part of what we call the Richmond Law Experience.

It’s that perfect blend that makes Richmond Law not just a place where you study law – but where you become a great lawyer.

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Thanks to the small class sizes at Richmond Law, students are able to enjoy a personal and close connection with faculty and fellow students.

t Richmond Law, when we say we specialize in pairing theory with

practice, we mean it. So in Professor Corinna Lain’s Criminal Procedure course, students learn about police-citizen contacts – and then

The experience in the classroom provides real-world application to the legal theory.

— KURT LOCKWOOD, 2L

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participate in a ride-along with the Richmond City Police Department.

In Professor Carol Brown’s Housing Law Practicum, students study housing law in the classroom –

THINKING LIKE A LAWYER.

and then work with low-income residents who are experiencing housing problems. And in Professor Erin Collins’ Sentencing Law class, students explore theories in criminal punishment – and then visit the Henrico County Court and Regional Jail to reflect on what the practice of sentencing means for the different people involved.

It’s all part of a curriculum that’s carefully designed to give you not just the knowledge you need, but also the experiences that will allow you to test your understanding to the fullest.

PUTTING KNOWLEDGE INTO PRACTICE.

HERE ARE A FEW MORE WAYS OUR CURRICULUM STANDS OUT FROM THE PACK. n

A semester-long D.C. Externship Program

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Countless opportunities to work with real clients through our clinical and placement offerings, including: + Jeanette Lipman Legal Clinic for Families and Children + Children’s Defense Clinic + Institute for Actual Innocence + Intellectual Property and Transactional Law Clinic + Sixty-five Civil, Criminal, In-House, Judicial, and Litigation Placements

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Practicums and skills-based courses including Technology & the Practice of Law, Public Policy Research & Drafting, Immigration Rights, and International Business Practice

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One of the best legal writing programs in the country, staffed by a team of full-time faculty

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rom the moment our Dean of Admissions calls you personally to let you know you’ve been accepted, to your first meeting with your career advisor, to our one-on-one bar prep programming, the Richmond Law Experience is all about a commitment to individualized attention for each student.

CLOSE COMMUNITY. EXPANSIVE OPPORTUNITY.

Our close-knit community is not your typical law school environment. Here, you’ll find a community that’s collegial, friendly, and uniquely collaborative.

And we think that this supportive environment produces lawyers who are more effective in their professional interactions with clients and colleagues.

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While the University of Richmond offers an abundance of resources for students to acclimate to law school, there was nothing more helpful than the collegial nature of my fellow students.

— MATT LASHER, 2L

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It just so happens that this close-knit community opens the door to big opportunities. As the state capital, Richmond is home to eight Fortune 500 companies and more state and federal courts than almost any other city — which means that the opportunities for externships and networking are practically unlimited. And after graduation, you’ll find our alumni making their mark at Google, the Supreme Court of Virginia, or an AmLaw 200 firm. Our alums thrive in every major metropolitan area of the United States – and they provide an exceptional resource network for our students.

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Richmond Law gives its students the opportunity to join organizations, take hands-on courses, and participate in events that help us hone our skills. These opportunities mean we don’t just ‘get through’ law school—we get the most out of it!

— KIESHA SIMMONS, 2L

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A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN. “

Richmond is the perfect place for law school and for growing my career.

I was able to intern for two federal judges and work at two different large law firms, all without leaving the city limits. It has been great having so much to do outside of school—whether it’s going to the river or seeing a concert or

eating at one of the city’s award-winning restaurants.

TOP 20 “MILLENNIAL MAGNET” CITIES –USA Today

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— LIZ BURNESON, 3L

BEST RIVER TOWN

HAPPIEST METRO AREA IN THE U.S.

–Outside Magazine

–U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research

#1 CRAFT BEER TOWN –VinePair

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ocation matters. When it’s time to study, the

University of Richmond’s beautiful campus is the perfect place to learn, meet with classmates, or grab coffee with professors. Our 350 acres of rolling green hills and collegiate-Gothic buildings have earned us a spot on the Princeton Review’s top 10 “Most Beautiful College Campuses in America.” Not to mention, the beautiful campus has also been known to inspire great thinking.

The idyllic campus is tucked away in one of the most up-and-coming cities in the United States, complete with a fantastic dining scene, miles of hiking trails, world-class rapids, and some of the best food and music festivals on the East Coast.

You might just say it’s the best of both worlds.

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The variety of study areas at the law school – from private study carrels to study rooms and even group meetings in professors’ offices – all make for a collaborative atmosphere.

— SHANNON KAPADIA, 3L

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mong our faculty,

you’ll find a truly unique

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scholars, and international opinion-shapers.

You’ll be learning from some of the best legal minds in the country — including professors who have drafted constitutions for emerging democracies, testified before Congress, and argued before the Supreme Court.

and love when students stop by just to ask questions or follow-up about a concept discussed in class. They’re incredible

FACULTY PARTNERS.

scholars, and have been published in the most prestigious journals. But more importantly, they’re tremendous teachers

combination: invested teachers, world-class

Our faculty have an open-door policy

who love being in the classroom and are

FACULTY MENTORS.

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most passionate about helping us grow.

— SNAPPER TAMS, 3L

OUR FACULTY IN THE CLASSROOM …

AND IN THE WORLD n

Prof. Chiara Giorgetti offers an international law practicum in which students research pressing policy issues and present their findings at the United Nations and the World Bank – and teaches a short course on international investment law and dispute resolution for United Nations Fellows at the Peace Palace in the Hague.

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Prof. Carl Tobias teaches torts, product liability, and constitutional law – and is also an international expert on judicial appointments who is quoted almost daily by such publications as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington

Post, National Public Radio, and the U.K.’s The Guardian. n

Prof. Andy Spalding works with students on anti-corruption research in international sports – and presents those findings with his students at international conferences, most recently in South Korea during the Olympic Games.

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where students might design an app

ur legacy of innovation goes way

back. After all, we were the first law

for veterans to help them access their

school in the country to require that

benefits, or develop business plans for

our students have laptop computers,

a law practice to leverage innovative

and in 1995 we launched the world’s

technologies. We prepare our students to

first digital law journal. But since

be both innovative and entrepreneurial —

then, we certainly haven’t been

not only in solving their clients’ problems,

resting on our laurels when it comes to embracing innovation at Richmond Law.

INNOVATIVE APPROACH.

EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS.

but in approaching their own careers.

At the same time, we pair that sophisticated approach to technology and innovation

We put a strong focus on assuring

with a very human focus on interpersonal

that all students are prepared to

skills. Grit. Resilience. Adaptability. You’ll see

respond nimbly to the profound

those qualities modeled in our student-

changes occurring in the legal

faculty interactions, in our clinical law

profession. That means courses

experiences, in our service opportunities, and in our curriculum.

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o understand the Richmond Law philosophy when it comes to students,

look no further than Dean Wendy Perdue’s desk, which is home to a small sign that says a lot: “… and this would be good for our students because …?”

It’s an ever-present reminder that in all things, the wellbeing of our students comes first. It’s a core part of our culture.

A perfect complement to our focus on students is an

COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS. COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

equally strong focus on the community outside our doors. From your first day at Richmond Law, you’ll have the chance to make a difference. Through the Carrico Center for Pro Bono & Public Service, you

might draft wills for seniors, provide legal assistance to disabled veterans, or teach children about the legal system. Through our clinical programs, you might work on a wrongful conviction case, represent a minor in an immigration hearing, or provide a start-up company with guidance through the trademark process.

YOU’LL SOON FIND THAT OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND SERVICE IS CLEAR IN ALL THAT WE DO. n

Each student is guaranteed one summer of funding to intern in a government or public sector position through our Summer Public Service Fellowships.

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The faculty here at Richmond truly emphasize the importance of service in the legal profession, and remind us of our responsibility to engage in public service as lawyers.

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New grads are eligible to apply for the Bridge to

As a student who is interested

Practice Fellowship, a post-graduate launch pad

in working in the non-profit

to career success for students who are interested

world, I love that Richmond encourages us to engage

in pursuing employment in government and

in service and academics

public interest law.

simultaneously and supports involvement with the local

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Each year, our students donate over 13,000 hours

community.

of legal service to those in need through our

— CAROLINE MCCANCE, 2L

clinical and pro bono programming.

LEARN MORE: DISCOVER THE RICHMOND LAW EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELF. YOU’RE INVITED TO: n

Plan a visit

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Schedule a call with a one of our student Law School Admission Representatives

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Check out our virtual tour

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Explore our website

RICHMOND LAW 804-289-8189 law.richmond.edu/admissions lawadmissions@richmond.edu

law.richmond.edu/admissions