AppalachianSchool of Law

Lawyers are problem solvers. To be effective, a legal education must prepare students to address clients’ needs. I believe we do that well.

Much has been written about the need to changethe traditional approach to legal education. Studies have concluded that modern legal education should emphasize “experiential” classes, in which actual practice skills are taught aside substantive law.

Since its founding, the Appalachian School of Law has required significant exposure to practical law. We have been doing for over a decade what other schools are now beginning to embrace.

ASL is unique in valuing practice experience in its faculty. Our professors have been in courtrooms, boardrooms, and negotiations, representing real clients.

Consider our emphasis on professionalism, problemsolving, skills development, and service. We look forward to helping you become a member of theprivileged profession that is the law.

Clinton W. ShinnDean, Chief Operating Officer, and Professor of Law

“Since its founding,

ASL has required

significant exposure

to practical law.

We have been doing

for over a decade

what other schools

are now beginning

to embrace.”

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ContentsA New Way of Thinking ................................6-7

A Practical Focus ...............................................8

The Externship ...................................................9

Faculty Commitment ................................10-11

Academic Support .....................................14-15

Student Life.................................................16-17

Community Service ..................................20-21

Outcomes and Careers ............................22-23

Contact Us........................................................24

The Appalachian School of Law admits students without

regard to age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation,

disability, religion, political affiliation, or national and

ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and

activities generally accorded or made available to students

at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of age,

race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion,

political affiliation, or national and ethnic origin in

administration of its educational policies, admissions

policies, scholarship and loan programs, and/or other

school administered programs. ASL is an AA/EEO

Employer.

The Appalachian School of Law is fully accredited by the

American Bar Association. The ABA may be contacted

through the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to

the Bar, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois, 60654-7598,

312-988-6739.

The Appalachian School of Law has been certified by the

State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to operate

in Virginia.

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“Students who focus on their

education will have an opportunity

to be active leaders in our school

and the community.”SANDRA McGLOTHLINAssociate Dean of Student Affairs

A new way of thinking

Studying law is a different kind of education.

It requires more reading, more studying, anda new way of thinking. Just when you thinkyou’re on to something, your professor willshow you another avenue to explore.

ASL is a different kind of law school. Weblend traditional legal education with afocus on lawyering skills. This unique focusnecessitates a different type of training

beyond traditional classroom instruction.We challenge all students to take both theoretical knowledge and practical skillsand apply them in real-life situations.

Our curriculum will give you insight intothe time-honored role of an attorney as acounselor and representative of the court,seeking a balance between the interests ofthe client and the public. This complete

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education gives you the best opportunity towalk out the door prepared to practice law.

ASL also places a high priority on service

to the community. We strive to producealumni with heart who have the drive to not only reach their goals, but help out intheir communities. Recent graduates havevolunteered nearly 25,000 hours during their three years at ASL.

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A practical focusASL provides a practical education that goes beyond theory to the actual practice of law. The curriculum is aimed at giving students the skills they will need for their future career.

First-year students take traditional courses including Torts, Property, and Contracts. Since the transition to law school can be stressful, ASL does not rank first-year students. Instead, competition is between students and their course material, not their classmates. In the summerprior to their second year, students are required to serve an externship with a judge or lawyer.

Second-year students continue with the core legal curriculum tested on most state bar exams.However, unlike most law schools, ASL offers an introductory course in Dispute Resolution, a growing area of law that has always been a focus of ASL’s curriculum. Upper-level DisputeResolution courses are also available. Interested students may train to become civil mediatorsthrough the Lawyer As Problem-Solver program. Second-year students may also choose suchelectives as Appellate Advocacy. Many students elect to continue honing their legal skillsthrough a legal internship after their second year.

In the third year, our students are able to take electives and seminars that interest them most.They may also take small practicum courses, designed to give them a solid foundation in areassuch as Family Law, Real Estate Transactions, Estate Planning, and Trial Advocacy.

Our practical commitment shows in the success of our Moot Court teams. ASL is a two-time national champion and five-time finalist or semifinalist at the Wechsler Criminal Law competi-tion in Buffalo, New York. ASL has also made strong showings at competitions like the AmericanAssociation for Justice Mock Trial contest, CSOL National Constitutional Law Competition,Gabrielli National Family Law Competition, and ABA National Family Law Competition.

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ExternshipsOur unparalleled externship programis an approach that other law schoolsare just now implementing.

For six weeks between their first and second years, ASL students earnthree hours of academic credit byspending at least 200 hours workingunder an experienced attorney. This allows them to take what they havelearned in the classroom and applyit to the real world.

Most students complete externshipsin a judge’s chambers, public law office, government agency, or public interest organization. Approved sitesare located across the nation. Studentswill prepare for the experience in an externship class at ASL during their second semester. During their externships, students may:

n Assist with trial strategyn Draft judicial opinions, pleadings

and legal memorandan Interview clientsn Observe court proceedings n Perform factual investigationsn Research legal issuesn Update law libraries

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ASL is No. 9 in the nationfor externships, according

to rankings by preLaw magazine.

Faculty commitmentASL faculty members have more than 325 yearsof experience practicing the law. They draw on that knowledge and expertise in the classroom sothat their students can thoroughly understand whatit means to practice, too. However, beyond their practical experience, ASL professors are alsonationally recruited scholars with degrees from schools including:

n Yale University

n Princeton University

n University of Virginia

n University of Tennessee

n University of Pennsylvania

n Stanford University

n Ohio State University

n Georgetown University

n University of Minnesota

n University of Missouri

They are experts on a wide range of subjects,including dispute resolution, natural resources law, and the First Amendment.

Professors at ASL are approachable and availablefor questions. They are teachers, first and foremost,who are committed to their students' success. Ourstudents do not have to wait for weeks to schedulean appointment to speak with their professors. Instead, professors make themselves available andare even willing to meet students over a cup of coffee, lunch, or dinner.

Students often spot professors around town, engaged and involved. They, too, have a passionfor making a difference.

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“Professors at ASL seem very interestedin seeing students get ahead both inthe classroom and in life. Almost all ofthe professors are available to studentsat any time.”

KENNETH L. CARROLL

Class of 2008

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“The more I’m able to use my own

experiences as a lawyer to teach

my students, the faster they learn.

You can only pick up so much from

reading a textbook.”DOUG McKECHNIEAssistant Professor of Law

Academic supportASL's Academic Success Program, also known as the Student Learning and Testing Enrichment Center (SLATE),helps students develop and realize their full potential to succeed in law school and pass the bar exam.

All incoming students are required to take Strategiesfor Legal Success, a one-semester course that helps students learn the essential skills needed to succeed inlaw school, including critical thinking, reading, listening,case briefing, note taking, outlining, and exam writing.Select students will attend Strategies for Legal Success II,which gives students additional opportunities to practicethe skills they learned during the first-semester course.

Students also take Bar Preparation Studies during thespring semester of their third year. This three-creditcourse will build on analytical, writing, and organizationalskills taught across the ASL curriculum with the goal ofenhancing the student's ability to prepare for and passthe July bar exam.

Because becoming a good lawyer also requires being agood writer, the Writing Center aims to give a strongerwriting foundation through one-on-one assistance tohelp students improve grammar, syntax, usage, style, and organization.

Even after graduation, ASL continues to work with students who are preparing to sit for the July bar exam.Students continue to receive instruction and feedback no matter where they are studying. An Alumni MentorshipProgram matches third-year law students with alumniwho recently passed the bar and are willing to share theirexperiences. Additionally, a Faculty Mentorship Program

matches faculty members with students preparing to takethe bar. Faculty mentors provide review tips, motivation,and encouragement, and travel to select states to providelunch on exam days to eliminate one additional stress.

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Workshops and SeminarsThroughout the academic year, a series of Academic Success workshops and seminars focuson practical subjects to help students succeed in law school and pass the bar exam. Past topicshave included:

n Time Management Skillsn Surviving and Thriving Your First Year of Law Schooln Using Your Personal Learning Style to Your Advantagen Writing Seminar: How Not to Write Like a Lawyern Expert Reading Techniques for Law Studentsn Creating Course Outlines and Other Study Materialsn Maintaining a Healthy Mental Approach to Law Schooln Multiple Choice Test-Taking Strategiesn Essay Writing Strategiesn Faculty Panel: Preparing for and Taking Law School Examsn Alumni Panel: Taking the Bar Exam (What I Did Right; What I Did Wrong)n Social Media Do’s and Don’ts for Law Students and Graduates

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Student lifeWant the typical, cut-throat law school environment? Look elsewhere. Just as our students connect with the surrounding community through service, they connect with each other onour tight-knit campus as peers and friends.

When they’re “off the clock,” students have easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Nearby Breaks Interstate Park is a popular spotfor recreation, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just a few hours away. Theaterbuffs can catch a show at the historic Barter Theatre in charming Abingdon, and music fans canfollow the nearby “Crooked Road” to discover Virginia’s bluegrass heritage.

Nearby cities within a half-day drive for shopping and other cultural activities include Roanoke,Va., Knoxville, Tenn., Lexington, Ky., Asheville, N.C., and Charlotte, N.C.

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n American Association of Justice/Mock Trialn American Constitution Societyn Appalachian Journal of Lawn Appalachian Natural Resources

Law Journaln Appalachian Women in Lawn ASL Basketballn ASL CARESn ASL Softballn Black Law Student Associationn Christian Legal Societyn Criminal Law Societyn Democratic Law Societyn Education Law Societyn Energy and Mineral Law Societyn Environmental Law Society

n Federalist Societyn Gay/Straight Legal Alliance (OutLaw)n Hamilton Societyn International Law Societyn Knitting Circlen Moot Courtn NC/SC Bar Associationn Phi Alpha Deltan Phi Delta Phi n Republican Law Student Associationn Second Amendment Rights Societyn Sports and Entertainment Law Societyn Student Bar Associationn Sutin Public Interest Associationn Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

Clubs and organizations

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“That’s what I loved about ASL ...

It seems like you’re tucked away

in the mountains, but you’re

pretty tight with everyone by

the time you’re done.”

JARROD CROCKETTClass of 2006

Community serviceASL educates its future lawyers to become civic servants and leaders. ASL is so passionate about

service that our students are required to complete 25 hours of service each semester. They do so willingly, as ASL attracts students who see beyond themselves and become leaders in their community, now and in the future.

While students are able to structure their service commitment to meet their schedules, ASL does allowone afternoon a week for its students and faculty to volunteer. Volunteer opportunities are varied and have included:

n tutoring children at local schools

n aiding patients at remote medical clinics

n coaching local youth sports groups

n advocating for abused children in court

n volunteering for the animal shelter

n assisting public attorneys or defenders

n helping residents complete their taxes

n mapping property for a municipal project

n cleaning up area rivers and streams

n collecting winter coats for local children

n planting trees at former strip mine sites

In the past, ASL has been recognized with the President’s HonorRoll Award for Service.This award is the highestfederal recognition thata school can achieve forits commitment to service learning and civic engagement.

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“You are not just a lawyer from 8 to 5 … you’re a lawyer at home; you’re a lawyer in the community. ASL understands that you’re a lawyer all the time and that responsibility goes along with being a lawyer.”

DAVID J. ROBINSONClass of 2007

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Outcomes and careersASL graduates do remarkable things.

That’s because they’ve benefitedfrom an innovative legal education

rooted in learning by doing. ThroughASL, they made vital connections to

experienced law professionals, manyof whom are ASL alums who want to

give back to the institution thathelped them build their careers.

Students get a head start on their career search with the help of ASL’s

Career Services office, which maintains a library of career prepmaterials; internship, scholarship,

and fellowship listings; and a frequently updated job postings

database. The office coordinates on-campus interviews, mock

interviews, career fairs, resume collections, and resume and cover

letter reviews that help students put their best foot forward.

ASL's alumni network is made up of graduates across the country.

After graduation, the Alumni Affairs

office and Alumni Association willhelp you stay connected. Our alums

make a difference in the Appalachianregion and beyond in fields including

public and private law practice, government, and higher education.

Many decide to work for themselvesand begin their own practices.

Take a look at what some of our alumni are up to and what theyhave to say about how ASL helped

launch their legal careers.

“My experience at the

Appalachian School

of Law prepared me

for not just a career in law, but

a career focused on using the

law and legal process to make

a positive change in the world

around me.”

Margaret Sagi ‘06 n Assistant District Attorney General,

23rd Judicial District, State of Tennessee

“ASL gave me practical

experience, with insight from

attorneys and professors’ own

practice. ASL also prepared me for the

rigors of the bar exam.”

Stewart Harman ‘03 n Plant, Christensen & Kanell, Salt Lake

City, Utah n Insurance Defense, Personal Injury, Products

Liability, Construction Defects, Sexual Harassment

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“ASL fully prepared me for the bar, but it also

helped in preparing me for the actual practice of

law. So often, law schools get bogged down with

the theory of law that they forget the practice of it.”

Amy S. Lawrence-Lovely ‘08 n The Lovely Law Firm, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Family Law

“ASL provided me with

career opportunities equal

to those offered by any law

school. Serving as a law clerk for a

federal judge, then as an assistant

attorney general for Virginia, afforded

me opportunities to participate in

cases before the U.S. Supreme Court

and sit first chair in jury trials around

Virginia.”

William R. “Rob” Sievers ‘02 n Taylor Walker, Richmond,

Va. n Civil Litigation, Sports and Entertainment Law

“Professors at ASL give

you the practical side of

the law, not just book law.”

Dustin R.T. Sullivan ‘06 n Sullivan & Snow Law,

Bolivia, N.C. n Criminal Defense

“ASL prepared me to be a

trial lawyer by providing a

foundation of advocacy

skills via a learn-by-doing approach.”

Travis E. Venable ‘03 n Tom Rhodes Law Firm,

San Antonio, Texas n Civil Litigation, Personal

Injury, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability

“I especially learned a lot from my Alternative Dispute

Resolution courses. They have helped me in the world

of debt collection and bankruptcy in these tough

economic times with handling debtors and creditors.”

Alexander Hamilton Ayers ‘08 n Ayers & Stolte, Richmond, Va. n Bankruptcy, Collections,

Litigation, Real Estate Transactions, Contracts, Corporate Law, Construction Law

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Appalachian School of Law1169 Edgewater Dr.

P.O. Box 2825Grundy, VA 24614

www.asl.edu

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDNORTH TAZEWELL, VA 24630

PERMIT NO. 20

Please visit our website, www.asl.edu, call us at 1-800-895-7411, or e-mail admissions@asl.edu for more details on ASL, including theapplication process and financial aid. You can find ASL on Facebookand Twitter, or speak with an admissions counselor via Skype.

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