Law School | Vanderbilt University

Areas of Interest

View All Areas of Interest

Clinics
Corporate Law
Criminal Justice
Dual Degree Programs

Energy, Environment & Land Use
Intellectual Property
International Legal Studies
Judicial Clerkship Program

Law & Business Certificate
Law & Government
Law & Innovation
Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Ph.D. Program in Law & Economics
Public Interest
Social Justice
Study Abroad

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 &
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.

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.

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.

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
Property

Study technology, intellectual property, entertainment, and innovation law with world-class scholars and practitioners; IP journal, clinic, fellowships, and externships

Judicial Clerkship Program

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

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

Dual Degree Programs

Combine a VLS JD with a companion graduate degree in economics, business, medicine, divinity, or education policy.

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

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

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A Great Investment

Approximately a third of Vanderbilt’s J.D. class each year earns a second credential through Vanderbilt’s successful Law and Business Program.

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News & Events

Chancellor Emeritus Nicholas S. Zeppos appointed University Distinguished Professor and Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair in Law

Nov. 11, 2019
Vanderbilt has also announced that one of its newest residential colleges will be named in Zeppos' honor. He will began teaching in fall 2020, after a yearlong sabbatical.
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Brian Fitzpatrick argues class actions are a potent and necessary legal enforcement mechanism in new book

Nov. 1, 2019
In "The Conservative Case for Class Actions," Fitzpatrick debunks arguments that class action lawsuits are frivolous, primarily aimed at making money for lawyers rather than representing plaintiffs, and fail to prevent wrongdoing. Fitzpatrick asserts class actions "are a powerful component of the justice system," and proposes reforms designed to make them "acceptable to everyone."
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Chris Serkin named to the Elisabeth H. and Granville S. Ridley Jr. Chair in Law

Oct. 25, 2019
Serkin is associate dean for academic affairs. His scholarship address property theory, local governments, the Taking Clause, land use regulation and eminent domain.
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First Amendment Clinic files amicus brief in Georgia v. Public Resource addressing public access to state law

Oct. 17, 2019
Supreme Court case addresses the right of citizens to freely access official statutory codes as a means of ensuring effective participation in democratic self-government.
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Amicus brief co-authored by Jessica Clarke asserts that Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender identity

Oct. 4, 2019
Clarke and her co-authors argue that the Title VII prohibition on discrimination based on sex also means employers cannot discriminate against employees based on sexual orientation or transgender identity.
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Matthew LaRue ’20 wins 2019 ABA Water Resources Student Writing Competition

Oct. 4, 2019
LaRue’s article, “The Stream of Commerce,” analyzes the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and suggests that a new interpretation of navigable waters, one that would include all commercial waters, could bring a much-needed change to the existing legal framework.
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Owen Jones named to the Glenn M. Weaver, M.D. and Mary Ellen Weaver Chair in Law, Brain, and Behavior

Sep. 25, 2019
Jones is a pioneering scholar in the field of law and neuroscience, a co-author of the first textbook in the field, and director of the MacArthur Foundation Research Network for Law and Neuroscience.
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Sean Seymore appointed to the New York Alumni Chancellor’s Chair in Law

Sep. 23, 2019
Seymore’s research focuses on how patent law should evolve in response to scientific advances. He has a secondary appointment in the Department of Chemistry
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Panelists Danny Glover, David Cole and Bruce Raynor to discuss political activism and advocacy at VLS Oct. 10

Sep. 19, 2019
The 2019 George Barrett Social Justice Lecture, “Political Activism, Legal Advocacy and Labor Organizing: A Conversation on Creating Change,” is a panel discussion featuring actor/activist Danny Glover, ACLU Legal Director David Cole and labor leader Bruce Raynor.
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