3L Class Gift Program

The 3L Class Gift Program provides a way for members of the graduating class to come together and give back to the law school in order to ensure that the students who follow in their footsteps are met with the same excellent educational experience and collegial environment they had. Contributing to the class gift efforts allows 3L students to show their appreciation for their legal education, the experiences they have had, and the memories they have created during their time at Vanderbilt Law School.  

Why should you give?

Excellent question! Did you know that tuition only covers 76% of the actual cost of your legal education? The remainder is made up by donations from alumni, students, and friends. Because of these gifts, the law school is able to best support the students: through funding student organizations, bringing in renowned guest speakers, providing top-notch career services to ensure professional development and job placement, maintaining the extensive library, keeping class sizes down, and continually upgrading technology. Additionally, support for scholarships, awards, and programs allows us to attract, recruit, and retain the highest caliber of students and reduce their future loan burden.   

Areas of Focus

The Class of 2024's Class Gift Committee has chosen the Access2VLS, the Public Interest Stipend Fund, the George Barrett Social Justice Program, and the Harris, Porter & Work Scholarship to spotlight. Descriptions of these funds are detailed below. We would love for you to support one of these funds with your gift, but please know you can always choose to support any fund at the law school: your favorite student organization, the journal for which you work so many hours, a scholarship that has positively influenced your life, or the general Law School Fund. All gifts to the law school will count toward Class Gift totals. 

Access2VLS

This is a groundbreaking new program to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need with scholarships—up to the cost of tuition. During the 1L admission process, we consider admitted students for Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships based on their individual applications relative to other admitted candidates, and in a separate, subsequent process, we allocate Access2VLS grants to those with demonstrated tuition-need defined as tuition costs not covered by the combination of their Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, external scholarships, external tuition benefits, and FAFSA-calculated Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Access2VLS grants are provided only during the first-year J.D. admission process, and like Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships, they are allocated evenly across three academic years (six semesters) of full-time study at Vanderbilt Law School.

Public Interest Stipend Fund 

This fund was established in 2014 to provide public interest fellowship support to Vanderbilt Law Students. Specifically, stipends are available to students participating in summer pro bono fellowship that supports traditionally underserved populations. This is a merit-based award and is to help defray the cost-of-living expenses. 

George Barrett Social Justice Program

The George Barrett Social Justice Program was established at Vanderbilt Law School in 2015 to provide support for students, graduates, faculty, and staff to advance the cause of social justice with an emphasis on the protection of civil liberties and civil rights. The law school will use the fund in a manner that honors and perpetuates the legacy of George Edward Barrett, JD’57, whose career and life were dedicated to the protection and advancement of civil rights and civil liberties.

Harris, Porter & Work Scholarship

This fund was established in FY2021 to provide financial support based on need for deserving students at Vanderbilt Law School who have a demonstrated commitment to civil rights. Preference in awarding the scholarship will be given to students who have historically been underrepresented in the legal profession. The donors make this gift in honor of Janie Greenwood Harris, LLB’64, E. Melvin Porter LLB’59, and Frederick Work, JD’59, the first African-American woman and men to graduate from Vanderbilt Law School.

Make Your Gift

Members of the Class of 2024 are encouraged to make their gift to the law school at any time, using the button below. A contribution of any amount will help the class reach the participation goal. You can set up a monthly recurring gift or make a one-time gift online.

FAQs

  • Students pay tuition, so does the law school really need our money?

    Yes! While tuition covers a majority of what it takes to run the law school, it does not cover it all. Donations from alumni and friends make up the difference. Without these gifts, the law school would not be able to fund student organizations, provide career services, keep class sizes down, bring distinguished guest lecturers to campus, employ renowned faculty members, maintain the extensive library or continually upgrade technology. In particular, scholarships and awards enable the school to recruit the most talented of students and to minimize the loan burden. 

  • Why are annual gifts so important to Vanderbilt Law School?

    By making your first gift to the law school, you become introduced to the importance of philanthropy and contribute to the legacy of giving established by the thousands of VLS alumni who have come before you. A high alumni giving participation rate shows law firms, foundations, and prospective students that alumni truly believe in Vanderbilt Law School, and that their donations are well placed. Last fiscal year, over 28% of all alumni gave back to the law school, which compares favorably with other top 20 law schools. As an upcoming member of the alumni community, you have the opportunity to continue the strong tradition of support the law school has celebrated for decades. 

  • Will our gifts really make a difference?

    Absolutely. Gifts of any amount are greatly appreciated and truly make a difference. What matters most to us, though, is your participation. Alumni participation is very compelling, but 3L giving is even more so. Your support improves the school’s ability to leverage major gifts from other alumni, individuals, and firms who pay attention to what occurs at Vanderbilt Law School. 

  • Are gifts tax-deductible?

    Yes. All donations to the Law School are deductible from federal income tax if the donor itemizes deductions when filing his or her tax return. Donors may also be eligible to claim state income tax credit.

  • To what area should I give?

    Gifts to any area of the law school are counted towards our participation goal and total dollars raised. Our goal is to encourage participation and cultivate the spirit of philanthropy so that the law school is strengthened for years to come. This starts with giving to an area of Vanderbilt Law School that is most meaningful to you – whether that’s to one of the areas of focus, a specific student organization, or another area. 

Goals and Donor List

  • Dollar Goal

    Dollar Goal: $1,500 

    Total Raised as of 6/4/2024: $2,928  

  • Participation Goal

    Participation Goal: 50%  

    Current Participation as of 6/3/2024: 10% 

  • Current Donors

    Current donors: 

    • Jared Bauman
    • Jill Boggs
    • Austin Brandenburg
    • Richard Buchanan Jr.
    • Jacob Epstein
    • Trey Ferguson
    • Kathryn Fish
    • Ashley Fox
    • Michael Krupka
    • Zachary Orr
    • Kathleen Sharkey
    • Grace Su
    • Betsy Sugar
    • Tiffany Thomas
    • Joey Vettiankal
    • Ellie Ward
    • Charlotte Yates

Class Gift Committee

Trey Ferguson, Chair
Ellie Ward, Chair
Darien Brown
Megan Chambers
Raghav Gupta
Eliza Jaen
Jacqueline Noel
Grace Su
Peyton Thomas
Joey Vettiankal
Emma White