ASL Make The Princeton Review's Best 168 Law Schools

The Princeton Review reports:

Appalachian School of Law Students Say...

The Appalachian School of Law is a young, private institution, organized in 1994 and given full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 2006. The traditional-looking campus is very beautiful and the library is “new.” Wireless Internet access is available and, in recent years, “The technology aspect of the Law School has shown a significa...The Appalachian School of Law is a young, private institution, organized in 1994 and was awarded full accreditation from the American Bar Association in 2006. The traditional-looking campus is very beautiful and the library is “new.” Wireless Internet access is available and, in recent years, “The technology aspect of the Law School has shown a significant improvement.”

Students report that “trial advocacy training,” “moot court programs,” and other “practical courses” are “first rate” at ASL. The mock trial team “has trounced big names” in national competitions. “The law school’s emphasis on practical legal skills has thoroughly prepared me for everyday situations in the general practice of law,” says a 3L. “I will graduate and know what to do in a courtroom besides espouse constitutional theory with opposing counsel at lunch.” Appalachian also “distinguishes itself from the majority of other law schools by requiring 150 hours of community service.” A summer externship is also “required of all first-year students.” “The community-service requirement promotes student involvement in law school organizations, benefits the community, and strengthens the reputations of both ASL and the legal profession in general,” explains one student. “The summer externship program provides all rising 2Ls with the opportunity to apply the knowledge they gained from first-year classes to real-life situations.” There is also a “mandatory alternative dispute resolution requirement,” though the school seems keener on this than the students.

The “knowledgeable” and “very approachable” professors here are “down-to-earth people who have a wide variety of legal experience” and “extensive practical and theoretical knowledge of the subjects they teach.” Their dedication means that “they are exceptionally concerned with bar passage” and always “available outside of the classroom.” “My experience at the Appalachian School of Law has been nothing short of exceptional,” confides one student. “The teachers love interacting with the students and are our greatest cheerleaders, mentors, and leaders.”  Students tell us that “the greatest strength” of their law school is its “concern and respect for students as individuals.” “The administration, faculty, staff, and students have created a community where you can receive an excellent legal education in the midst of the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains,” explains one student.