Birmingham School of Law

Coordinates: 33°30′57″N 86°48′23″W / 33.51597°N 86.80641°W / 33.51597; -86.80641
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birmingham School of Law
Established1915
School typePrivate
DeanS. Scott Garrett [1][2]
LocationBirmingham, Alabama, U.S.
33°30′57″N 86°48′23″W / 33.51597°N 86.80641°W / 33.51597; -86.80641
Enrollment400
USNWR rankingUnranked
Bar pass rate
  • 12.5% (first-time takers)
  • 8.5% (repeat takers)
  • (July 2023)[3]
Websitewww.bsol.com

The Birmingham School of Law is a state-accredited law school located in Birmingham, Alabama.[4] Founded in 1915 by Judge Hugh A. Locke, a judge of the Chancery Court and president of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Birmingham School of Law offers a part-time program of study in which graduates receive the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree after four years of study.

The law school is not accredited by the American Bar Association.

Admissions[edit]

The law school requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree before beginning classes but does not require an LSAT test score as part of its application process unless the applicant’s degree is from a foreign country. The school reviews an applicants’ academic records and employment history in determining acceptance.[5]

Accreditation and bar examination performance[edit]

Graduates are eligible to take the Alabama Bar Examination pursuant to the authority granted by the Alabama Legislature and the Alabama Supreme Court.[6] The Birmingham School of Law is not accredited by the American Bar Association, nor is the school seeking accreditation. As a result, graduates are generally not allowed to take the bar exam and practice in other states.[7][8]

The Birmingham School of Law ranks significantly below Alabama's three ABA-accredited law schools in bar examination performance. The school had a 12.5% pass rate for first-time takers on the July 2022 examination compared to 82.20% for ABA schools. The school had a 8.57% pass rate for repeat takers on the July 2022 examination.[3]

Facilities[edit]

The school is located in downtown Birmingham, in a renovated a historical building. The school consists of an auditorium, mock courtroom, law library, computer lab, and multimedia classrooms. In the past, classes were held at Birmingham-Southern College, the Birmingham YMCA, the historic Frank Nelson Building in downtown Birmingham, and the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Associations[edit]

Notable alumni[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Birmingham School of Law - Student Handbook" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
  2. ^ "Faculty & Staff". bsol.com. Birmingham School of Law. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Alabama State Bar - July 2023 Bar Exam Results". admissions.alabar.org/. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  4. ^ "Home". alabar.org.
  5. ^ "Admissions - Application Requirements". bsol.com. Birmingham Law Scool. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Section 34-3-2.1". Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  7. ^ "Home". abanet.org. Archived from the original on 2007-11-16. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
  8. ^ "Home". bsol.com.
  9. ^ "Clarence W. Allgood". Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  10. ^ "James D. Martin". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Mike D. Rogers". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Alabama State Bar Exam Statistics".

External links[edit]