The information on these pages was provided by the law school.
FAULKNER UNIVERSITY, THOMAS GOODE JONES SCHOOL OF LAW
5345 Atlanta Highway
Montgomery, AL 36109
Phone: 334.386.7210
E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.faulkner.edu/law
Introduction
Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law has
a long and rich tradition of educating students for the
practice of law in Alabama. The school was founded in 1928
by Circuit Judge Walter B. Jones and named in honor of his
father, a former soldier, lawyer, and governor. In 1901, at the
urging of Booker T. Washington, Thomas Goode Jones was
appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to be United
States District Judge for the Northern and Middle Districts of
Alabama. He authored the Alabama Code of Ethics, a
document that was the first state code of ethics and the
model for the American Bar Association’s 1908 Canons of
Professional Ethics.
The School of Law is committed to the education of
outstanding lawyers. In keeping with its distinctive Christian
mission, the school embraces academic excellence and
emphasizes a strong commitment to integrity within a caring
Christian environment that sustains and nurtures faith. Students
are encouraged to dedicate their lives to the service of others.
The School of Law became part of Faulkner University in
1983. Since its inception, the school has produced over 2,000
alumni who have become practicing attorneys, judges, and
other contributors to the legal profession. The American Bar
Association granted provisional approval of the School of Law
in June 2006.
Montgomery and the River Region
The School of Law is located in the capital of Alabama.
Montgomery is widely known as the birthplace of the
Confederacy and the civil rights movement. It is regarded as
one of the nation’s most historically significant cities. One can
visit the First White House of the Confederacy and the steps
of the state capitol building where Jefferson Davis was sworn
in as president of the Confederate States of America. On
these same steps, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. completed the
freedom march from Selma to Montgomery. Here Dr. King
asked for equality for all people, regardless of race. Other
historic sites include the Dexter Avenue King Memorial
Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Memorial designed by Maya
Lin, and the Rosa L. Parks Library and Museum.
Along with its rich history, Montgomery is known for its
contribution to the arts. Its most notable contribution is the
Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park, which includes the
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the internationally
acclaimed Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and the beautiful
Shakespeare Gardens.
Montgomery offers a small-town atmosphere with big-city
amenities that add to the quality of life enjoyed by all who
reside in the capital city. It is also an excellent place to study
law with the Supreme Court of Alabama, the Alabama
legislature, and over 200 law firms and other organizations that
employ lawyers within a short driving distance of campus.
Library and Physical Facilities
The George H. Jones Jr. Law Library supports the School of
Law’s curriculum and the legal research requirements of its
students and faculty. It provides access to legal and academic
materials offered by the latest technology. Computers on
286 Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
both floors of the library enable free access to the Internet,
word processing packages, and legal databases. A spacious
computer lab facilitates computer-assisted legal instruction
and research. Data ports are available throughout the library,
and every study room and study carrel is electronically wired
and ready for laptop computers.
The School of Law is housed in a beautiful, neo-Federal­
style building that accommodates the George H. Jones Jr.
Law Library, the Judge Walter B. Jones Moot Court Room,
and the Institute for Dispute Resolution. It includes
state-of-the-art research and lecture facilities with seven
classrooms and two large conference rooms. All classrooms
are outfitted for laptop computers and wireless Internet is
available throughout the building and library. Students have
access to the student lounge for congregation and
conference rooms for student organization meetings.
Institute for Dispute Resolution
The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program enables
law students to integrate their knowledge of conflict
management principles and dispute resolution processes with
professional skills. This program allows students to receive
training normally available only through on-the-job
experience after graduation.
Students can earn a certificate in ADR, which is not a
supplemental degree but an opportunity for Juris Doctor
candidates to enrich their skills training while still in law
school. The certificate in ADR requires completion of the
following courses: Arbitration, Dispute Resolution Processes,
Interviewing/Counseling and Negotiation, Mediation Clinic,
and an elective skills course. All of the certificate courses
contain both an academic component and a skills component.
Clinical Opportunities and Externships
The School of Law operates three clinical programs: the
Mediation Clinic, the Family Violence Clinic, and the Elder Law
Clinic. The Mediation Clinic allows students to mediate cases
set for trial at Montgomery County District Court. The Family
Violence Clinic provides pro bono services for clients unable
to pay for representation and works in conjunction with the
Legal Services Corporation of Alabama and the Family
Sunshine Center. Students with limited-practice authority
cards interview clients, provide advice, prepare pleadings,
and represent clients in court proceedings. Students without
limited-practice authority cards assist in case preparation and
research. The School of Law and Legal Services Corporation
of Alabama are the recipients of the Family Sunshine
Center’s President’s Special Service Award in recognition
of outstanding service and support through the Family
Violence Clinic.
The School of Law established the Elder Law Clinic after
receiving a grant from the federal government through the
Commerce, Justice, and Science spending bill. This clinic
provides pro bono services in matters of estate planning,
Medicare, nursing home issues, Social Security, long-term
care insurance, and disability planning to name a few.
The School of Law’s Externship Program affords students
the opportunity to supplement their classroom experience by
working in a variety of legal settings. Externships include a
FAULKNER UNIVERSITY, THOMAS GOODE JONES SCHOOL OF LAW
classroom component that covers topics relating to the legal
system, judicial process, and professionalism. Students
develop their lawyering skills and gain real-world experience
in the legal community, as they work side by side with judges
and practicing attorneys, under the supervision of the
director of clinical programs and externships.
Public Interest Program
As part of a Christian university, the School of Law seeks not
only to provide legal knowledge and practical skills necessary
to produce competent and ethical members of the legal
community, but also to instill in students an attitude of
service. This commitment to serve those who otherwise could
not afford such assistance complements the legal profession’s
rich tradition of service.
The Public Interest Program provides opportunities for
students to begin their career of service while utilizing the
practical skills obtained in their legal education. This program
is voluntary and provides students with opportunities to work
for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and private
attorneys or firms conducting pro bono legal work. Students
are challenged to perform at least 50 hours of voluntary service
during their law school career. Students providing public
interest service qualify for recognition, including notation of
service on transcripts, a certificate of accomplishment, special
recognition in the graduation program, and eligibility for the
Public Interest Service Award.
functions and fundraising events. Other student organizations at
the law school include American Association for Justice,
American Constitution Society, Animal Law Society, Black Law
Students Association, Board of Advocates, Christian Legal
Society, Federalist Society, Honor Court, Jones Law
Republicans, Phi Alpha Delta, and Women Students Association.
The Faulkner Law Review is a scholarly legal journal
published by student editors and members. Members write
comments and notes on legal developments and landmark
cases. They also select and edit articles submitted for
publication by lawyers, judges, professors, and other scholars.
Membership is considered an honor and provides students an
opportunity to hone their research and writing skills.
Scholarships, Tuition, and Fees
The School of Law offers merit-based scholarships to qualified
entering students. Admitted applicants are automatically
under scholarship consideration. Awards range from 10
percent tuition forgiveness to 100 percent tuition forgiveness.
Scholarships are also available to upper-level students who
perform well academically in law school.
Please consult the law school’s website for current tuition
rates. Students pay a Student Activities Fee of $350, which is
charged only once at the outset of a student’s law school
career and an Emergency Notification Fee of $10, which is
charged per semester.
Student Organizations
The Student Bar Association (SBA) serves the student body
and every student is a member. The SBA fosters relationships
with members of the legal community and sponsors social
Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law 287
APPLICANT PROFILE GRID
Faulkner University, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
GPA
LSAT Score
175–180
3.75+
3.50–3.74
3.25–3.49
3.00–3.24
2.75–2.99
2.50–2.74
2.25–2.49
2.00–2.24
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Unlikely
Below 2.00
Unlikely
170–174
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
165–169
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Unlikely
160–164
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Possible
Unlikely
155–159
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Possible
Possible
Unlikely
150–154
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Good Possibility
Possible
Possible
Possible
Unlikely
Unlikely
145–149
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
140–144
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Below 140
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Unlikely
Good Possibility
Possible
Unlikely