The Journey to Vanderbilt
Hear from some of our outstanding students. Learn why they chose to attend Vanderbilt Law and how they’re enjoying their law school experience.
Through our small, carefully selected student body, top-tier faculty, and collaborative spirit, Vanderbilt Law offers unique advantages. Here, students will discover a customizable and innovative legal education, as well as highly engaged faculty, staff, and peers who will personally support their academic and professional ambitions. Our success is measured not just by exceptional student outcomes or outsized scholarly impact, but also by the strength of our community.
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No. 3
Best quality of life, Princeton Review (2023)
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No. 10
Ranking of the Top 50 law schools based on employment outcomes, cost, and student debt, Above the Law (2024)
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No. 7
Ranking of Law Faculties by Academic Influence (2023)
Academic Programs
Vanderbilt’s academic programs help students explore their intellectual interests and professional goals while enabling faculty to advance their research and drive positive change in the legal arena and beyond. Through coursework, hands-on learning experiences, and cutting-edge initiatives in fields ranging from criminal law to artificial intelligence, our academic programs prepare students for their desired area of practice.
Explore our Programs
Branstetter Litigation and Dispute Resolution Program
Criminal Justice Program
Energy, Environment, and Land Use Program
George Barrett Social Justice Program
Intellectual Property Program
International Legal Studies Program
Law & Business Certificate Program
Program in Law & Government
Program on Law & Innovation
Weaver Program in Law, Brain Sciences, and Behavior
Serving the Greater Good: Public Interest
Our Public Interest Office cultivates a culture of public service at Vanderbilt Law and facilitates student opportunities through clinics, practicums, externships, and student-led pro bono projects.
Career Preparation Through Experiential Learning
At Vanderbilt, we believe some of the most impactful learning comes by putting theory into practice. We offer dynamic legal clinics, immersive programs, externships, and student-run publications.
DEGREES
J.D. Program
The Juris Doctor (J.D.) program at Vanderbilt blends a comprehensive legal education with a strong focus on skill development and experiential learning. Law students can tailor their curriculum to their professional interests and enrich their expertise in specialty areas of legal practice. Students can also sharpen their competitive edge by earning a Law and Business Certificate or a J.D./M.S. in Finance in three years. Upon graduation, our J.D. program graduates enjoy nationwide mobility, supported by the school’s long-standing relationships with legal employers from coast-to-coast.
LL.M. Program
The one-year Master of Laws (LL.M.) program admits a select group of international attorneys to attend Vanderbilt Law School and learn the fundamentals of the American legal system and alongside J.D. students. Our customizable curriculum allows students to choose courses each semester that advance their career goals. LL.M. students can earn a Law and Business Certificate, focus on intellectual property, international, environmental or criminal law, or explore many other areas of legal practice.
Ph.D. Program
Vanderbilt’s Ph.D. in Law and Economics program provides a dual-degree pathway for graduate students to pursue a law degree and a Ph.D. in just six years. We designed the curriculum to fully integrate economic theory and methodology with robust legal education and incorporate policy-relevant research in various fields. Past graduates have obtained prestigious judicial clerkships, faculty positions in law schools and economics departments, and jobs in government, consulting, and legal practice.
Master of Legal Studies
online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program equips non-lawyers with a deeper understanding of American law and legal systems. Our top-ranked law school faculty created the MLS curriculum to build a solid foundation in legal principles and explore the areas of law that are most relevant to working professionals. Graduate students also expand their practical skill sets and cultivate lasting relationships with our world-class scholars and educators. With a flexible, self-paced format, students can earn their MLS degree in as little as two years with part-time enrollment.
Dual Degrees
Vanderbilt created five unique dual-degree pathways for ambitious students to pursue their legal education while also specializing their knowledge in another field. These intensive programs empower students with career-focused training and real-world application. In collaboration with other Vanderbilt graduate schools, we offer the J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.S. Finance, J.D./M.D., J.D./Divinity School, and J.D./Master’s in Education Policy (M.P.P.) dual degrees. Students may also pursue their own customized dual-degree program.
Learn from the Best
Vanderbilt Law’s faculty are nationally ranked educators, scholars, and researchers eager to share their expertise. They work hard to cultivate a supportive environment while challenging aspiring lawyers to reach their full potential. From offering mentorship to collaborating with students on groundbreaking research projects, our professors invest in our students’ success.
Meet the Vanderbilt Law Faculty
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Faculty Profile: Rebecca Haw Allensworth
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Faculty Profile: Edward K. Cheng
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Faculty Profile: Yesha Yadav
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Meet Our Students
Miles Brinkley '25
For Miles, Vanderbilt didn’t just help him secure a job offer or become a more analytical thinker; it helped him understand why lawyers think and act the way they do.
Rachel Davis '25
Vanderbilt stood out to Rachel for it's smaller class sizes which allow students to get to know their professors and create community-based relationships.
Giorgio Chioin LLM'25
Giorgio recommends the Vanderbilt LL.M. program to prospective international students due to its status as a top-ranked institution with a strong reputation.
Visit Vanderbilt
Located in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt Law School provides an unforgettable student experience in a vibrant, highly livable city. Join us on campus for a student-guided tour or class visit and explore all we offer.
