Just a few miles outside of Washington, D.C., George Mason University is located in an ideal place to provide its students with access to legal resources, employment opportunities and guest lecturers. Founded in 1972, the law school focuses its curriculum on preparing students for practice with courses on legal writing and research as well as economic tools and methods. Over 250 students are admitted annually to the George Mason School of Law, and the two degrees available are Juris Doctor and Master of Laws. To qualify for financial aid, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be submitted before March 1 for priority consideration.
Located in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Lee University is just three hours from Washington, D.C., and 45 minutes from Roanoke, Virginia. With 35 full-time and 25 adjunct professors, students are provided with an education from instructors with a wide range of backgrounds. In addition, small class sizes and the opportunity for clinics and externships give students real-client experience and help them tailor their education to individual career goals. About 130 students are admitted per year. Degrees offered are Juris Doctor and Master of Laws in United States Law. Financial aid in the form of merit scholarships and loans is available.
Liberty University seeks to provide students with a well-rounded education grounded in Christian tradition. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, 180 miles from Washington, D.C., the university accepts about 200 students per year with a total student body of around 450. The program takes three years to complete, and courses focus on perfecting student's research, analysis, writing and speaking skills. On campus, students have access to the law library and three mock trial courtrooms, one of which mimics the courtroom of the U.S. Supreme Court. Financial aid and scholarship are available.
The University of Virginia School of Law was originally founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson. It is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and degree programs offered are Juris Doctor, Master of Laws and programs with dual degrees. Small classes with a typical ratio of 12.6 students to every faculty member allow students the chance to form bonds with their fellow classmates and professors. Typical classes include copyright law, bankruptcy, First Amendment freedoms, civil rights litigation and international criminal law. First-year law students total 350 to 360 each year. Financial aid and scholarships are available, and over 90 percent of students attending the School of Law receive some form of financial aid each year.