20 Things You Didn’t Know About UNC Law School
The University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill is an institution known for its rigorous legal education program and high standards. It’s one of the top-ranked law schools in the United States, as rated by U.S. News and other notable media outlets. It’s a desirable school for students pursuing a career in law in North Carolina. If you’re considering attending UNC Law School and you’re unfamiliar with its finer points, here are twenty things you probably didn’t know about UNC Law School.
1. The University of North Carolina Law School requires students to take a set courseload
USA News reports that first-year law students must take a specific course load required by the school. After completing the first year, students can select most of their courses for the second and third years. Prepare to be told which classes you must attend for your first year at UNC.
2. UNC Law School allows students to choose courses from other schools
The Law School at UNC gives students the freedom to take classes that UNC does not offer, but only from a few other schools bearing cooperative agreements with UNC. Participating law schools include the North Carolina Central University School of Law and the Duke University Law School. The option is not for first-year students, but it does apply to second and third-year law students seeking course topics not offered at UNC.
3. UNC Law School offers dual-degree programs
Students interested in multiple disciplines may choose from among several dual degree programs the law school offers. A few examples of these include the Jurisprudence doctorate and Master of Arts in Sports Administration, which works in conjunction with the Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the school. Another is the JD and MBA dual degree offered through the UNC Law School and the Kenan Flagler Business School. UNC also offers a combination JD and Master of Public Policy degree in cooperation with Duke University’s Stanford School of Public Policy.
4. Students receive hands-on experience with clients
Law students at UNC are not required to wait until graduation to start helping clients with their legal issues. The Law School provides students with clinics such as the Community Development Law Clinic and the Juvenile Justice Clinic. The clinics allow students to participate in the preparation of cases by working with clients in real-world settings to give them a sense of what they’ll experience working in the legal system.
5. UNC Law School places students in externships
UNC Law School provides students with semester-long externships. The program places students in the community in with certified judges and lawyers, performing various duties. UNC also offers a Pro Bono Program for students wishing to work on student service projects. The school helps prepare its students for what to expect after graduation.
6. UNC Law is home to 45 student organizations
UNC Law students may choose from the 45 student organizations to help them in areas of specialization. Each of the student organizations offers additional education and experiences outside the classroom and academic setting. They also help students to meet like-minded professionals. Many lifelong friendships and partnerships develop through these student organizations. Seventy percent of UNC Law students are residents of North Carolina.
7. UNC Law School is more affordable for in-state students
Rats for attending the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Law School are cheaper for students who are residents of the state of North Carolina. The tuition rates are $24,522 for full-time attendance. Students accepted to UNC Law School who are from out of state pay $44,734 for full-time tuition. The application deadline for all students both in and out of state is May 1. A non-refundable fee of $75 is required with each application for acceptance.
8. UNC has a diverse student body
UNC reports that the student body entering the school’s JD program for 2022 is diverse. 55% of students this year are from North Carolina. The remainder comes from 26 other states, the United Kingdom, China, and Washington D.C. Fifty-four percent of the students are female with two percent non-binary and 44 percent male. 17 percent of them are 29 years or older. Most students in the JD class are from families with a history of college attendance with only 34 percent with the status of first-generation students. eight percent of students have a military background and five percent have an engineering or science background.
9. UNC Law School is the home of the North Carolina Law Review
The North Carolina Law Review is a literary journal operated by students, and open to first-year student participation. The Review publishes legal scholarship meeting the criteria as outstanding for furthering the UNC School of Law’s intellectual climate. The Review collaborates with the legal community to provide commentaries for North Carolinians and the rest of the country.
10. UNC Law School publishes the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology
The North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology is an academic journal that maintains its focus on technology and law. It’s the only Journal of its kind. The Journal was established in 1998 and discusses the many ways that the law and technology intersect. It’s an exceptional opportunity for students pursuing criminal law, health law, privacy law, cyberspace law, or intellectual property law as these are some of the most common industries where the two intersect. UNC Law is the only school to offer this type of journal as of 2022.
11. UNC publishes the North Carolina Journal of International Law
Law students from around the world with access to this journal use its peer-reviewed academic papers and projects to complete academic research. the North Carolina Journal of International Law began publishing international issues that affected the business community. It’s since evolved into a larger journal that now includes commercial law and commerce in addition to international commercial law with thoughtful publications that examine current issues. The topics range from territorial disputes and human rights to intellectual property and cyber espionage. It’s yet another resource for learning the ins and outs of publishing outstanding research topics on the law in relevant fields to the guidelines of the journal’s rules of acceptance.
12. UNC publishes the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal
The North Carolina Banking Institute Journal is a resource that is commonly used by licensed and practicing policymakers, scholars, judges, and attorneys for learning about current issues in banking law. It’s a student-edited law journal that offers practical information in academic articles and features.
13. UNC Law publishes five Journals
Two more journals are published by the University of North Carolina Law School. the North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review publishes commentaries and analyses of US civil rights law in conjunction with the UNC Center for Civil Rights. The First Amendment Law Review is a journal that publishes scholarly works, essays, and symposium papers related to the First Amendment. UNC Law students are eligible to compete in the Joint Journal Competition to vie for positions in the six journals as staff members. The competition is each May after spring term exams are completed. The journals offer 130 positions for students selected by the editors in chief of each journal. Participating in these publication efforts provides students with the opportunity to gain an understanding of publishing in the academic world and to learn more about the topics covered by each journal. The competition is fierce for these positions.
14. Chapel Hill Law School of UNC has a rich and storied history
Test Max Prep confirms that Chapel Hill Law School was founded in 1895. the school’s roots run deep in the history of North Carolina. It is one of the nation’s oldest public universities. the American Bar Association gave its approval to Chapel Hill Law School in 1928. As such, it is a fully-accredited institution of higher learning with the authority to prepare students to become eligible to take the Bar Exam upon graduation. It is a school for those who wish to become lawyers, judges, or other professionals in the practice of law.
15. UNC Law School offers seven areas of study within the law
UNC’s Chapel Hill Law School is highly rated for its diverse offerings of specialties within the law. It offers specializations in intellectual property, civil rights, environmental law, bankruptcy, banking, entrepreneurial and securities law, and constitutional law. The school provides extracurricular support for students pursuing these specializations through student organizations and other opportunities. in the academic side, experiential opportunities are available through externships and clinics. The clinics allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to the real world under the supervision of experts in the field. Other areas of expertise students may choose at UNC include constitutional law, criminal law, healthcare law, legal writing, contracts, and commercial law.
16. Earnings prospects are excellent for UNC Law graduates
Graduates of UNC Law School are at an advantage when seeking work with law firms because of the reputation of the school the average salary graduates earn is between $65,000 to $155,000 per year. The career services department offers assistance to help students find employment after graduation. Most graduates of UNC Law are fully employed within ten months of graduation.
17. The University of North Carolina Law School is number one in bar exam passage
The Well confirms that UNC Law School ranked number one for the bar exam passage rates of its students compared to the six other law schools in the state. Ninety-sic percent of graduates taking the bar exam passed after graduation from the school. It’s one of the highest pass rates in the nation. It’s no wonder that students are vying to get into UNC Law School. High bar exam pass rates confirm that students receive the knowledge and preparation in matters of the law. UNC’s pass rates were higher than the overall state pass rate by a full thirteen percent.
18. Less than half of applicants are accepted at UNC Law School
UNC Law School is not as difficult to get into as some other prestigious law schools, but applying for admission comes with no guarantee of acceptance. There are a limited number of openings for admissions and the admissions board is selective to choose the students most likely to succeed. The choices are based on merit including a strong GPA, community involvement, and other factors. ILRG confirms that in 2020, just over 46 percent of applicants were accepted. Less than half of all applicants are chosen to attend the school.
19. UNC Law is one of the most affordable law schools in the nation
It is on a mission to keep the costs of law school affordable for its students. The school offers tuition that is lower than most other law schools in North Carolina and other states. It’s reasonable for North Carolina residents. This is why it attracts so many students. A diploma from this rigorous school ensures that the person holding the credentials has passed the tests and gained the knowledge and skills necessary for certification.
20. UNC Law School graduated notable alumni
Some of the most famous professionals in the world are graduates of UNC Law School. Professor of law John Manning Jr. graduated in1899. John Jack Charles Boger, Gene Nichol, Judith Welch Wegner, James Dickson Phillips Jr. Henry Brandis Jr., and Martin H. Brinkley are a few of its more notable graduates. William Horn Battle was a professor of law at the school in the mid-1800s. Many of the most successful attorneys and judges practicing in North Carolina were students at UNC Law School. The Chapel Hill Law School has a sterling reputation for graduating top-notch legal professionals.