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Areas of Interest

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Public<br>Interest

Public
Interest

Robust experiential learning options through clinics, externships and student organizations; intensive support for launching PI careers; stipends, fellowships, and LRAP; social justice curriculum
Litigation &<br>Dispute Resolution

Litigation &
Dispute Resolution

Prepare for real-world litigation practice anywhere in the nation through an advanced legal curriculum that develops core competencies essential to succeed as a litigator.
Corporate<br>Law

Corporate
Law

A renowned corporate law faculty offers a broad curriculum covering both litigation and transactional practice; Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program; Law & Business certificate; 3-year JD/MSF; 4-year JD/MBA
V-Legal Executive<br> Online Certificate

V-Legal Executive
Online Certificate

If you regularly encounter legal issues at work, and want to better understand the complexities of the law, make a long-term investment in your career with the 100% online V-Legal Executive Certificate.
Law &<br>Innovation

Law &
Innovation

Designed to equip students to navigate and influence the rapid social, economic, and technological transformations of the legal industry and to succeed in tomorrow’s legal environment.
Criminal<br>Justice

Criminal
Justice

Distinguished criminal law faculty; broad array of courses, seminars, and clinics; upper level courses on specialized areas such as juvenile justice, international criminal law, and mental health
Social<br>Justice

Social
Justice

Explore equality, access and service in and out of class; courses and clinics address diverse topics; Social Justice Reading Group; externships, stipends, and fellowships
International<br>Legal Studies

International
Legal Studies

Prepare for practice in a global context by combining substantive classes with practical experience in the International Law Practice Lab, externships, and stipends; study abroad in Venice
Ph.D. Program<br>in Law & Economics

Ph.D. Program
in Law & Economics

Pursue a Ph.D. in law and economics and a J.D. in a fully integrated curriculum. Students are fully funded by a package of fellowship support covering tuition and stipend for both degrees.
Law &<br>Business Certificate

Law &
Business Certificate

An innovative, interdisciplinary upper-level curriculum that builds expertise in business law, corporate management, accounting and finance without extending J.D. studies beyond three years.
Judicial Clerkship Program

Judicial Clerkship Program

Based on ABA data, Vanderbilt consistently ranks among the top dozen law schools on the percentage of graduates securing federal clerkships.
Energy, Environment & Land Use

Energy, Environment & Land Use

An interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and service in environmental law; extensive curriculum and activities; fellowships & externships; Climate Change Research Network; Annual Review
Intellectual<br>Property

Intellectual
Property

Study technology, intellectual property, entertainment, and innovation law with world-class scholars and practitioners; IP journal, clinic, fellowships, and externships
Clinical Legal<br>Education

Clinical Legal
Education

Learn the theory and practice of law in context under faculty supervision. Represent clients in court or transactions, or complete legal research for government and international institutions.
Dual Degree Programs

Dual Degree Programs

Combine a VLS JD with a companion graduate degree in economics, business, medicine, divinity, or education policy.
Law &<br>Government

Law &
Government

Interdisciplinary engagement with the structures of government, allocation of powers, fundamental values of the legal order and the most vexing and interesting issues of our time
Study<br>Abroad

Study
Abroad

Each summer, Vanderbilt in Venice brings together a maximum of 45 students with four professors to study selected topics in international law in the rich cultural center of Venice, Italy.
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Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

We celebrated the Commencement of 178 members of the J.D. Class of 2022 and 55 LL.M. graduates on May 13. One graduate earned both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in Law and Economics. Three graduates earned both a J.D. and a master’s in finance, and one graduate earned a JD/MBA.

The Class of 2022 excelled during an extremely challenging time. We look forward to the contributions they will make to the legal profession and to the communities where they live and work, and the perspectives they will bring to the legal profession.

See a slide show of 2022 VLS Commencement

News & Events

Wilson “Woody” Sims dead at 97

Jul. 5, 2022
A leader in Nashville's legal and business communities for decades, Sims practiced law at Bass Berry & Sims in Nashville for more than 50 years starting in 1948. He also served as an intelligence officer in the Marine Corps in World War II and as a legal officer during the Korean Conflict.
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“Is the Establishment Clause Dead? A Message From SCOTUS” – Bloomberg Law opinion piece by Matthew Shaw

Jun. 24, 2022
Shaw argues that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that Maine cannot exclude faith-based schools from a state program that pays for private school tuition in areas of the state that lack public schools could erode the Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
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Seventy-five Vanderbilt Law students working as interns for government and nonprofit legal employers this summer

Jun. 14, 2022
VLS students are working for government and nonprofit legal employers in 15 states, Washington, D.C., and The Hague, Netherlands during summer 2022.
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Social Justice Reporter, new scholarly journal, to launch at Vanderbilt in 2022-23

Jun. 7, 2022
The Social Justice Reporter will publish cutting-edge intersectional scholarship and expert perspectives on social justice, civil rights and public-interest lawyering after it launches next year. Its name acknowledges the legacy of the historic Race Relations Reporter, which was published at VLS from 1956 to 1972.
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$17.5M bequest from W. Weldon Wilson ’86 will extend scholarship program

May. 11, 2022
Wilson and his wife Elaine have documented a $17.5 million bequest to support their existing Weldon Wilson Scholarship at VLS. The scholarship was established in 2011 in honor of Weldon’s 25th reunion. Weldon Wilson is vice chair of Resolution Life Group Holdings, a global life insurance group focusing on the acquisition and management of portfolios of life insurance policies.
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Michael Vandenbergh named 2022 Carnegie Fellow to tackle polarization and climate change

Apr. 27, 2022
Vandenbergh's award of $200,000 will support his research into overcoming political polarization to address the causes of climate change and the issues it is creating. He is one of 28 Andrew Carnegie Fellows selected for the 2022 cohort.
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Yesha Yadav’s article, “The Failed Regulation of U.S. Treasury Markets,” selected as one of the Best Corporate and Securities Articles of 2021

Apr. 26, 2022
Yadav’s article was published in the Columbia Law Review. Eleven articles were recognized by the Corporate Practice Commentator from among more than 400 articles for recognition as the best articles published in legal journals addressing topics in corporate and securities law.
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Laura Dolbow ’17 (BA’12) named Sharswood Fellow by University of Pennsylvania Law School

Apr. 6, 2022
Dolbow graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 2017. After law school, she was a law clerk for Judge Timothy B. Dyk of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and then for Judge Judith W. Rogers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. After clerking, she joined Covington & Burling as an associate in Washington, D.C.
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Jim Blumstein reflects on the enduring significance of his Supreme Court voting rights victory 50 years later

Mar. 21, 2022
Blumstein, a New York native, challenged a residency requirement imposed by the state of Tennessee after moving to Nashville to join Vanderbilt's law faculty in 1970. When his challenge prevailed, Tennessee appealed the ruling. Blumstein argued the case, Dunn v. Blumstein, before the Supreme Court. On March 21, 1972, the high court issued a 6–1 decision in Blumstein’s favor, with Justice Thurgood Marshall writing the majority opinion.
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