Clinics & Experiential Learning
At Vanderbilt Law School, we firmly believe that a comprehensive legal education extends beyond textbooks and lecture halls. Our dynamic legal clinics, enriching experiential learning programs, and open ended externships create an immersive learning environment where theory meets practice. Choose from eight legal clinics – all allow you to dive into various law fields, representing real clients and arguing actual cases under expert guidance. Combined with our experiential learning curriculum which empowers you to apply classroom knowledge in practical settings, shaping you into a critical thinker, decision-maker, and confident legal leader.
Vanderbilt Law School is committed to equipping you with tangible skills and experiences that will propel you into a dynamic and successful legal career.
Externships: Course Credit for Work Experience
Vanderbilt Law recognizes the irreplaceable value of hands-on, real-world experience in shaping future legal professionals. Our diverse and enriching externship programs offer you the unique opportunity to step beyond the bounds of traditional classroom learning and directly immerse yourself in the professional legal world. Our students work alongside accomplished legal professionals, gaining an on-the-ground understanding of law in action across a variety of sectors to prepare you for a vibrant and successful legal career.
On Campus Opportunities
The Vanderbilt Moot Court promotes the practice of effective appellate advocacy by leading all appellate advocacy activities at Vanderbilt Law School. Each year, the Board produces a unique Constitutional Law moot court problem and runs the Bass Berry & Sims Intramural Moot Court Competition, which serves as the selection process for new board members. The Moot Court Board also holds tryouts for students to compete in traveling teams that participate in various moot court competitions around the country. Finally, the Board assists the law school's Legal Writing Department in organizing and implementing the first-year oral arguments program, a required component of the Legal Writing curriculum.
Students who compete in the mock trial competition in the second year are chosen to serve on the Mock Trial Board in the third year. Board members may also be chosen as members of one of two mock trial teams that will compete in a regional, and if successful, a national competition.
Vanderbilt Law School provides students a diverse array of opportunities for engagement in pro bono service. Students may engage in community legal education through one of the student Legal Aid Society’s pro bono projects, sign the student pro bono pledge, or they may participate in legal clinics hosted by the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands.