JURIS DOCTOR
COLLEGE OF LAW
I am pleased to welcome you to Belmont Law – a place where you will not just learn the law, but develop knowledge, skills and techniques to become a professional. We install ethics, professionalism and integrity into all that we do both inside and outside the classroom, preparing our students for a successful and fulfilling legal career. Whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, the classroom, or the community, we equip our students with critical thinking and practical legal skills.
Our accomplished and experienced faculty demonstrate excellence in the classroom, thoughtfulness and curiosity in their scholarly fields and expertise as practitioners. Being centrally located in the capital of Tennessee allows Belmont Law students easy access to regional and national law firms, local and state government offices and vast state and federal judicial opportunities. With a top-tier education enabling students to pass the bar and bring their practice-ready skills to the legal marketplace, Belmont Law offers a unique and rich opportunity for students to pursue a satisfying and fulfilling career.
We invite you to not only read more about Belmont Law in the pages that follow, but visit our website and come see us in Nashville. We would love to show you around our beautiful facilities and help you discover what a great fit Belmont Law can be for you in the pursuit of your legal career.
Hope to see you soon,
Deborah R. Farringer
DEBORAH FARRINGER
Dean and Doyle Rogers
Distinguished Chair of Law
QUALITY LEGAL EDUCATION
in Tennessee’s capital city
Leading the Nation in EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES & EARNING POTENTIAL
One of Forbes’ FASTEST
GROWING
CITIES IN AMERICA
Nashville combines big-city charisma with small-town charm to create an enriching experience for Belmont Law students. As Tennessee’s capitol city, Nashville is a major urban, government and not-for-profit center. Nashville is music, sports and culture; quiet parks and rowdy festivals; cowboy boots and business suits. Welcome to Music City.
WHY BELMONT LAW
The mission of Belmont University College of Law is to prepare qualified students with an excellent understanding of the law that will equip them to become professional counselors, advocates and judges; researchers, teachers and philosophers of the law; entrepreneurs; and engaged citizens. Belmont University College of Law is committed to the Christian tradition. We believe that instilling the highest standards of personal and professional conduct is our ethical and communal responsibility. We seek to ensure that the knowledge and values that we transmit to our students serve the ends of justice.
INDUSTRIES IN NASHVILLE
Music and Sports Entertainment
Government
Non-Profits
Health Care Management
Corporate Operations
Advertising and Media
Tourism
Located 2 miles from
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
Practice-oriented program just STEPS FROM
MUSIC ROW
FRANK G. CLEMENT, JR.
Tennessee Court of Appeals
“I have had the pleasure to work with several Belmont College of Law students as interns and three graduates as law clerks in my chambers. I am consistently impressed with their commitment to the profession and ability to quickly learn how to accomplish the task at hand.”
SHERIE EDWARDS
Past President, Tennessee Bar Association
“I have had the pleasure of mentoring students through the Belmont Law Inn of Court. Through one-on-one mentorship and working on legal education presentations, I have been impressed with the students’ intellectual curiosity, dedication to studies, professionalism and ability to interact with attorneys, judges and fellow law students on a high level.”
RUSS MILLER Member Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
“We have had tremendous success hiring Belmont Law students through our summer associate program over the past five years. Belmont Law students have impressed our attorneys with their strong work ethic, professionalism and the quality of their work. We will continue to look to Belmont in the future for law students that have the potential to be great lawyers.”
ACADEMICS
JURIS DOCTOR PROGRAM
Belmont Law offers an innovative curriculum that integrates traditional legal analysis and practical legal skills. Each semester of the JD curriculum builds upon the prior semester. One unique aspect of Belmont Law’s curriculum is the practicum required each semester. Through practicum work, students become proficient in the practice of law. Students must also complete a rigorous writing requirement during their second or third year in order to graduate.
Our JD program creates practice-ready attorneys through practical skills such as litigation, negotiation, client interviewing, and legal research and writing. Students graduate with the skills needed for success.
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
JD + MBA PROGRAM
Complete both degrees in 3 years with the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business.
3 + 3 PROGRAMS
Earn a BA or BS along with a JD through one of Belmont’s approved 3 + 3 programs.
CERTIFICATES
Our three certificate programs reflect top industries in Middle Tennessee. Students may earn a certificate in addition to their JD within the three-year curriculum. Completion of a certificate indicates to prospective employers that a student has specialized knowledge in their chosen field. Students obtaining a certificate will receive a notation on their transcript.
CRIMINAL LAW CERTIFICATE
HEALTH LAW CERTIFICATE
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT LAW CERTIFICATE
PROFESSOR LUCIAN DERVAN
Director of Criminal Justice Studies
DEAN DEBORAH FARRINGER
Director of Health Law Studies
PROFESSOR
LOREN MULRAINE
Director of Music & Entertainment Law Studies
BECOME PRACTICE-READY
PROFESSOR KRISTI ARTH
Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning
Arth’s vision for the Experiential Learning Program at Belmont Law is “to graduate law students with the experience and judgment necessary to be effective, ethical and fulfilled legal practitioners.”
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING PROGRAM
Our Experiential Learning Program is built on a scalable and repeatable model that affords students the opportunity to earn credit in multiple placements throughout their time at Belmont Law. Students who successfully complete all three levels of the Experiential Learning Program earn an honor cord for Distinction in Experiential Learning. Upper-level students have the opportunity to practice under the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Student Practice Rule through the Experiential Learning Program. Students utilizing their limited practice permission have argued in front of the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, handled hearings in juvenile court, conducted the examination of witnesses at trial and more.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
Belmont students have the opportunity to participate in summer externships, in-semester field placements and community clinics through Belmont Law’s Experiential Learning Program. Students have participated in experiential learning placements in more than 200 organizations world-wide. Experiential Learning students can earn credit hours working in live-client situations, under the direct supervisor of an attorney. A small sample of sites include:
• Tennessee Court of Appeals
• Disability Rights Tennessee
• Metropolitan Nashville Public Defender’s Office
• Nashville Predators
• Davidson County Department of Children’s Services
• United States Attorney’s Office—Middle District of Tennessee
• Nashville Metropolitan Council
• Tennessee Attorney General—Consumer Advocate and Protection Division
• District Attorney’s Office
• CMG Worldwide
• Concord Music
• Wellpath
• Tennessee Supreme Court
CLINICS
Belmont offers the Healthcare Justice Clinic and the Conflict Resolution Clinic, where students may engage in live-client mediations. Field clinics such as Criminal Law and Poverty Law are also offered.
The Tennessee Justice Center and Belmont College of Law have joined to create the Healthcare Justice Clinic, made possible by the Speer Foundation. The clinic focuses on pro bono work for families of children with special needs, older adults, caregivers and people with disabilities who need long-term care.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES
Belmont students have opportunities to study abroad through classes like Legal Globalization and Comparative Law. Past trips have included the study of white-collar crime in Australia and healthcare legal systems in the United Kingdom. Courses like this enhance a student’s knowledge of international law and give students the opportunity to hear about legal skills and practices from practitioners and industry professionals in other countries.
Students enjoyed sightseeing excursions while also studying in London.
Belmont Law students enjoyed Australian excursions outside of meetings with top government officials and hands-on experiences with their judicial system.
PUBLIC INTEREST
PRO BONO CLINICS
Belmont partners with community organizations to put on pro bono legal clinics in the Middle Tennessee area. Our students have had the opportunity to volunteer with several groups including, but not limited to:
• Expungement Clinics
• Estate Planning Clinics
• TN Free Legal Answers Clinics
• Pro Se Divorce Clinics
• Housing Conditions Clinics
Belmont Law students partner with various Middle Tennessee programs to offer legal aid. Volunteer attorneys, law students and Belmont staff combine forces to ensure Tennesseans have better access to meet their legal needs. Students receive skills training for wills, expungements and more!
SPECIALIZED CAREER SERVICES
The Office of Career and Professional Development offers specialized career counseling to students seeking public interest careers. Belmont Law’s public interest initiatives include services like specialized resume and cover letter review, individual career coaching and regular public interest career programming.
PRO BONO PLEDGE
Students are encouraged to complete the Pro Bono Pledge by giving at least 50 hours of pro bono service over the course of their law school careers. Students who complete the pledge receive special recognition from the College of Law, which includes receiving a pro bono certificate and a cord to wear at the hooding ceremony. Each year’s graduating class votes one of their peers “The Heart of Public Service” for their pro bono efforts in the community.
MENTORSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT
ATTORNEY MENTORS
The opportunity to connect with judges and attorneys in a structured format on a monthly basis is an invaluable benefit offered to first-year students through our chapter of the American Inns of Court.
PEER MENTORS
Match with a 2L or 3L through our Peer Mentor Program to receive advice on class preparation, exams, outlining, summer internships and networking within the student body.
Class of 2020
“As the first person in my family to go to law school...I felt like I was navigating a foreign land without a compass. That all changed when I met my attorney mentor. From our first meeting until today, my mentor has been a constant source of guidance, stressrelief and friendship.”
JESSICA GAPP
YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY
FALL
1L
Meet government, small firm and public interest lawyers at the annual Employer Information Day
Apply for summer legal positions and summer externships
On-Campus Interviews (OCI’s)
FALL
2L
Network through special-interest student organizations
Apply for summer legal positions and summer externships
Grow professional identity through specialized coaching and workshops
FALL
3L
Attend Beyond the Offer workshop and other workshops designed to prepare graduating 3Ls for practice
Finalize after-grad employment
Meet your attorney mentor and meet your peer mentor
Monthly American Inn of Court meetings begin
Meet with the Office of Career & Professional Development for resume coaching, cover letter writing, interview and application workshops
Meet with law firm recruiters on campus
1L SPRING
Continue & strengthen relationship with Inn of Court attorney mentor
On-Campus Interviews (OCI’s)
Become a peer mentor or get involved with student organizations
2L
SPRING
Renew your membership in bar associations and affinity groups and attend networking events
Check our career portal bi-weekly for job postings
Meet with your career coach to make a strategy for post grad employment
3L
SPRING
CAREER SERVICES
THE OFFICE OF CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Office of Career and Professional Development prepares students for success through individualized coaching, small group workshops and employer fairs. On-campus interviews, mock interviews, internships and assistance with job placement are just some of the services provided.
Resume writing
Career advising
Personalized employer communication strategies
Job search strategies
GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT CATEGORIES
ALIX ROGERS
Assistant Dean for Career & Professional Development
“Our office partners with students from day one, providing individualized career counseling, professional development programming, networking opportunities and hands-on support to help students explore career paths, gain practical experience and successfully launch meaningful legal careers.”
ABA employment data from the most recent reported class
Employer fairs and on campus interviews are just a couple ways our students connect with others,
Belmont Law graduates are practicing all over the United States and
FACULTY
Belmont Law’s faculty is highly experienced and well-credentialed. To learn more about our fulltime faculty members, visit belmont.edu/law.
PROFESSOR ELLEN BLACK
Former New York City Liability and Commercial Litigation Attorney
PROFESSOR TRACEY CARTER
1993 Truman Scholar
Former Chief Diversity Officer, Tennessee State University
Former Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office
PROFESSOR TRAVIS BRANDON
Former Associate in the Energy & Environment group at San Fransico Law Firm, advising clients such as the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund
Yale University and Stanford University Graduate
International Association Defense Counsel Trial Academy Graduate
PROFESSOR LYNN ZEHRT
Five-time recipient of the Best Professor Award, bestowed by Belmont Law students
Former Clerk for United States District Court for Northern and Middle Alabama
PROFESSOR JEFF KINSLER
Winner of ten teaching awards, having taught at several law schools in the United States and Australia
Former Partner at Chicago Law Firm, Yale Law School Graduate
PROFESSOR CATHERINE HAMMACK-AVIRAN
An Empirical Bioethicist and Legal Scholar with Nationally Recognized Expertise in Law, Ethics and Social Issues in Biomedical Research, Health and Healthcare
EXPERIENCED TEACHERS
PROFESSOR ANDREA GEMIGNANI
Practiced Education Law as a member of the Virginia Bar
Served as Director of Advocacy for the Special Education Advocacy Center in Nashville
PROFESSOR ASHLEY GRIFFITH
Former Deputy General Counsel at Tennessee’s State Medicaid Agency, TennCare
Former Litigation Associate at Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
PROFESSOR
MAXIMILIANO GLUZMAN
Former Immigration Attorney representing clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Former Business Attorney in Buenos Aires, Argentina
PROFESSOR DON COCHRAN
Presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed former United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee
Former Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Alabama
PROFESSOR DAVID HUDSON
Author, co-author or co-editor of more than 40 books
First Amendment Fellow for the Freedom Forum Institute
Former resident scholar, First Amendment Center
EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD
PROFESSOR JULIE CROMER YOUNG
Represented High-Profile Clients with Litigation, Trademark and Copyright Law at Chicago Firm
Former co-chair of the Women and the Law Conference; Graduate of Harvard Law School
PROFESSOR TORRY JOHNSON
Three-term former District Attorney General of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County
Served on the American Bar Association’s Task Force on the Federalization of Criminal Law
PROFESSOR ELIZABETH USMAN
Law clerk to Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Former Associate at Ropes & Gray LLP
PROFESSOR
JOSEPH SLISKOVICH
Serves on the Advisory Board of Autism Health
Former member of the Advisory Committee to the Los Angeles County Assessor
LL.M. from New York University
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
ALUMNI SUCCESS
Belmont alumni are contributing to their communities all over the United States. They return for symposiums and other special events to connect with our students.
JESSICA BUTLER
Class of 2019, Assistant Public Defender – Appellate Division
“Belmont Law strives to make every student practice-ready with a wide offering of practical experiences, from summer internships to the Board of Advocates competition teams. Through the field placement program, I was able to gain exposure to several areas of practice, with placements at the Nashville District Attorney’s Office, the 21st Judicial District Public Defender and even a semester clerkship on the Tennessee Court of Appeals. These opportunities gave me the perfect foundation for my current work in indigent appellate defense.”
JOE STOVALL
Class of 2018, Marine Corps Judge Advocate (JAG)
“I felt a sense of comfort knowing that I was always welcome to walk into any of the faculties’ offices to discuss school, career goals or even life in general. It is truly a one-of-a-kind support staff you have at your fingertips. Furthermore, Belmont promised to have me practice-ready coming out of school, and it followed through on that promise. Thanks in large part to Belmont Law, I am confident that when my time comes, I will serve my country and my Marines in an exceptional manner.”
EMMIE KINNARD
Class of 2018, Partner at Ortale Kelley
“The individualized coaching that I received through Moot Court and my professors’ determined dedication to my legal education not only gave me the skills I needed to feel confident and prepared to seamlessly begin arguing motions and conducting bench trials, but also gave me the confidence I needed to patiently and earnestly attain my dream job.”
STUDENT LIFE
MICAH GONZALEZ
Class of 2023
“I chose Belmont Law because it is highly respected not only by the community but also future employers. In addition, Belmont Law offers practicum courses that provide real world practice and creates practice ready attorneys.”
THOMAS STEELE
Class of 2020
“Unlike the typical persona of law school, Belmont is not at all a cut-throat or ultra-competitive atmosphere. While every student strives to do well and works really hard, there is an overall atmosphere of camaraderie and kindness. My experience here is that the students and faculty want you to succeed, and most are more than happy to help you however they can.”
AGUIRRE-SANCHEZ
Class of 2026
“Through its supportive community, mentorship, and countless opportunities to connect with attorneys and peers, Belmont helped me develop the confidence to build meaningful professional relationships and truly find my place within the legal community.”
Y ATZARET
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND JOURNALS
BELMONT LAW REVIEW AND BELMONT LAW JOURNAL
The Law Review and The Law Journal each publishes an annual journal, consisting of articles written by attorneys, professors and scholars and notes written by Law Review members.
BOARD OF ADVOCATES
Students have the opportunity to practice trial advocacy, appellate advocacy and arbitration.
• Mock Trial
• Moot Court
• Transactional Team
AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
BUSINESS LAW SOCIETY
CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY
CRIMINAL LAW SOCIETY
ENTERTAINMENT LAW SOCIETY
FAMILY LAW SOCIETY
PHI ALPHA DELTA
FEDERALIST SOCIETY
HEALTH LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW SOCIETY
LATINO LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OUTLAW STUDENT BAR ASSOCIATION
WOMEN’S LEGAL SOCIETY
PROFESSOR AMY MOORE
Director of Advocacy
Leads award-winning advocacy teams to national and regional tournaments, including wins in both the National Moot Court Competition and National Appellate Advocacy Competition.
Belmont Law has also been named national champions of the National Health Law Transactional Competition twice now!
CURRICULUM
FIRST YEAR (FUNDAMENTAL YEAR)
SECOND YEAR (EXPERTISE YEAR)
THIRD YEAR (CAPSTONE YEAR)
PRACTICUM OPTIONS
One practicum course is required each semester. Practicum courses are typically smaller classes (20 students or less) to allow students to dive into the practical aspects of the law.
❖ Advanced Trial Advocacy
q AI and the Law
¢ ❖ Board of Advocates Competition
❖ Client Interviewing, Counseling & Communication
❖ Criminal Procedure
Estate Planning
¢ ❖ Healthcare Fraud and Abuse
❖ Immigration Law Practicum
❖ Juvenile Law
¢ Legal Globalization and Comparative Law: London
❖ Legal Technology Practicum
❖❖ Practical Issues in Criminal Law
ELECTIVE OPTIONS
q ❖ ¢ Belmont Law Journal
¢ ❖ Immigration Law
❖ International Criminal Law
❖ National Security Law
q ❖ ¢ Law Review
❖ Sentencing Law
¢ ❖ White Collar Crimes
q Copyright Law
Debtor-Creditor Law
¢ q Employment Discrimination
q Entertainment Law
q Federal Income Taxation
q First Amendment
q Intellectual Property
KEY
❖ Criminal Law Certificate
q Entertainment & Music Business Law Certificate
¢ Health Law Certificate
❖ Trial Advocacy
❖ Wrongful Convictions
¢ q Alternative Dispute Resolution
¢ q Contract Drafting
q Entertainment Law Practicum
q Film and Television Transactional Law
¢ q Negotiations
¢ q Mediation
q Music Industry Contracts
¢ Elder Law
¢ Health Law Practicum
¢ Medical Malpractice
¢ Non-Profit Organizations
Advanced Legal Research
q Law and Economics
q Law and Literature
q Mass Media Law
q Sports Law
q Trademark Law
¢ Administrative Law
¢ Biomedical Ethics
¢ Disability Law
¢ Employment Law
¢ Healthcare Business and Finance
¢ Health Law
¢ ❖ Mental Health Law
¢ Products Liability
¢ Public Health Law
Conflict of Laws
Corporate and Partnership Tax
Environmental Law
Family Law Practicum
Basic Field Placement
Advanced Field Placement
¢ Healthcare Justice Clinic
Law Office Management
Pretrial Litigation
Real Estate Transactions
Advanced Legal Writing
Practical Issues in Poverty Law
Conflict Resolution Clinic
¢ Mergers and Acquisitions
Land Use
q Franchising Law
Election Law
Estate & Gift Taxation
Family Law
Federal Courts
Law of Private Practice
Law and Religion
❖ Race and the Law
Remedies
Sales
Separation of Powers
State and Local Taxation
Basic Summer Externships
Advanced Summer Externships
Labor Law
q Global Emerging Technologies
q Patent Law
Government Relations Law
Electives and practicums rotate depending on need and interest.
SCHOLARSHIPS
• Bruin Scholars Program
• Belmont Alumni Grant
The College of Law operates a tuition remission scholarship program for entering students. All admitted applicants are automatically under scholarship consideration; there is no separate application process. The scholarship evaluation process will begin December 15, and award notifications will begin January 15.
Scholarship eligibility is determined by the admitted applicant’s LSAT profile and undergraduate academic record. Admitted applicants meeting or exceeding the College of Law’s median goals are competitive.
RANKED BEST FOR VETS
We are proud to be a Yellow Ribbon institution, providing full tuition and fees to an unlimited number of eligible VA education recipients.
GRADUATE SUCCESS
Graduates are ready for the legal community with demonstrated success throughout their education at Belmont College of Law. Attend a Preview Day to learn more about how you can become a student!
