Meet Our Students
Vanderbilt Law students in the J.D., LL.M. and Ph.D. programs bring a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and aspirations to Vanderbilt. Explore their individual journeys through our Student Stories series.
About Vanderbilt Law
Located on Vanderbilt University’s campus in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt Law School is known for delivering a top-tier legal education in an engaged, highly collaborative environment.
We foster a distinctly supportive culture through our intentional focus on the student experience. The house system, 40+ student organizations, and robust social programming help build community. Our Office of Student Life facilitates student success and well-being through a wide variety of resources. Through an emphasis on culture and community, students are better prepared to thrive in law school.
Support extends beyond student connections. Our faculty excel as teachers, mentors, and scholars, consistently ranking among the most accessible, engaging, and cited professors in American law schools. With expertise spanning every area of the legal profession, they teach, conduct research, and direct labs and initiatives across our 10 academic programs.
Our distinctive approach leads to remarkable outcomes. Through our high-touch Career Services Office and a supportive alumni network, Vanderbilt Law students secure positions at top firms, government agencies, nonprofits, and sought-after clerkships across the U.S. and the world.
Why Vanderbilt Law
-
No. 3
Best Professors
(2025 Princeton Review) -
5.7:1
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
(U.S. News & World Report) -
No. 9
Best Classroom Experience
(2025 Princeton Review)
Our History
Vanderbilt's Law Department opened its doors in the fall of 1874, a full year before the main university campus began classes. What began as a department in Kirkland Hall with seven students and one faculty member has become a school with over 10,000 graduates, 50 full-time faculty, and a national reputation for excellence.
Our University
From its founding as an institution devoted to “strengthening the ties which should exist between all sections of our common country,” Vanderbilt University has forged a tradition of academic excellence infused with a unique spirit of collaboration and collegiality.
Our Location
Vanderbilt’s closely connected park-like campus is set in the heart of the rapidly growing city of Nashville, Tennessee. They still call it “Music City,” but Nashville has earned a few other distinctions. It’s perennially on the list of America’s friendliest cities and has been named the nation’s No. 1 smartest place to live.
Dean Chris Guthrie
Dean Guthrie, University Distinguished Professor and John Wade-Kent Syverud Professor of Law, is a leading expert on behavioral law and economics, dispute resolution, negotiation, and judicial decision-making. Under his leadership, Vanderbilt Law has introduced several new academic programs, clinics, and cutting-edge initiatives designed to keep the Law School on the forefront of American legal education.
Vanderbilt Law Faculty
Vanderbilt Law professors are nationally recognized scholars and practitioners whose expertise spans every area - and perspective - of law. Their work has influenced academics, practitioners, and policymakers at every level of government. Their labs and initiatives connect students to the field while producing groundbreaking scholarship. Through mentorship and collaboration, our professors invest in our students’ success.
The Office of Student Life
Office of Student Life provides services and resources in the areas of Student Affairs, Academic Operations, and Academic Advising & Skills, reflecting the variety of needs and issues that students encounter in law school. Its vision is to send the happiest, healthiest, and most professional law students out into the world to lead and transform the legal profession.
The Career Services Office
Vanderbilt Law School’s Career Services Team provides students with the resources and support they need to achieve their career goals. Career counselors meet individually with students on a regular basis to learn how to develop resumes, emphasize strengths, and identify opportunities that fit their aptitudes and aspirations. The team also connects employers to students through a variety of events.
Living in Nashville
Vanderbilt Law students enjoy the live music, food, and culture that makes Nashville one of the top travel destinations in the U.S., but the benefits of life in "Music City" don't end there. Multiple neighborhoods within walking distance of campus offer a variety of affordable housing options. Museums, cultural centers, and an extensive park system provide ample opportunities to decompress and explore.
As a major hub for entertainment, healthcare, and technology, Nashville attracts talented people from around the world, drawn by opportunity and the city's unique creative energy.
Building Location & Hours
131 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Vanderbilt Law School is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Evening and weekend access is limited to law faculty, students and staff with a valid VU ID.
Located a mile and a half southwest of downtown Nashville, the Vanderbilt campus is home to more than 300 tree and shrub varieties and was designated a national arboretum in 1988. Buildings on the original campus date to its founding in 1873, and the Peabody section of campus has been a registered National Historic Landmark since 1966. The 233 buildings on Vanderbilt's campus are connected by a network of sidewalks that accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.
Vanderbilt Law School is located on the north edge of the campus, directly adjacent to the Owen Graduate School of Management, near the Vanderbilt Divinity School, and a short walk from the Vanderbilt Medical Center.