Birmingham School of Law
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham School of Law is a state accredited law school
located in Birmingham
, Alabama
. Founded in 1915 by Judge Hugh A. Locke, a judge of the Chancery Court and president of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Birmingham School of Law offers a part-time program of study in which graduates receive the Juris Doctor
(J.D.) degree.
, the Birmingham YMCA
, and the Jefferson County
Courthouse.
In February 2011, the Birmingham School of Law's passage rate for the Alabama Bar
Exam first time test takers was 70%. In July 2010, the Birmingham School of Law's passage rate for the Alabama State Bar first time test takers was 58.3%.
and the Alabama Supreme Court
. The Birmingham School of Law is not accredited by the American Bar Association
, nor is the school seeking accreditation.
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
located in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. Founded in 1915 by Judge Hugh A. Locke, a judge of the Chancery Court and president of the Birmingham Bar Association, the Birmingham School of Law offers a part-time program of study in which graduates receive the Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) degree.
Program of study
Law students must take a minimum of three courses each semester and be matriculated for all three semesters annually. In addition to the traditional weeknight program, the law school introduced a Saturday program in 2009 where students may earn their law degree in four years completing all required courses each Saturday. Eighty semester hours are required for graduation (of which 66 are required courses). The law school also has a mandatory bar review program and six-hour exit exam. Classes are currently held in the historic Frank Nelson Building in downtown Birmingham. In the past, classes were held at Birmingham-Southern CollegeBirmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
, the Birmingham YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, and the Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
Courthouse.
In February 2011, the Birmingham School of Law's passage rate for the Alabama Bar
Alabama State Bar
The Alabama State Bar is the integrated bar association of the U.S. state of Alabama.The Alabama State Bar was established in 1923 and is part of the 1975 Alabama Code, §§ 34-3-1 to 34-3-89....
Exam first time test takers was 70%. In July 2010, the Birmingham School of Law's passage rate for the Alabama State Bar first time test takers was 58.3%.
Associations
- American Association for Justice
- Christian Legal SocietyChristian Legal SocietyThe Christian Legal Society is a non-profit, non-denominational organization of Christian lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students whose members profess to follow the "commandment of Jesus" to "do justice with the love of God."...
- Delta Theta PhiDelta Theta PhiDelta Theta Phi is a professional law fraternity and a member of the Professional Fraternity Association. The smallest of the three internationally recognized law fraternities , Delta Theta Phi is the only one of the three major law fraternities to charter chapters in the United States at...
- National Black Law Students AssociationNational Black Law Students AssociationThe National Black Law Students Association , founded in 1968, is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of black law students and effectuates change in the legal community...
- Sigma Delta Kappa: a national legal and honorary fraternity organized for the advancement of legal scholarship and ethics. The Birmingham School of Law chapter (Alpha Phi) has been in continuous operation since May 1936.
Accreditation
Graduates are eligible to take the Alabama Bar Exam pursuant to the authority granted by the Alabama LegislatureAlabama Legislature
The Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the Alabama House of Representatives, with 105 members, and the Alabama Senate, with 35 members...
and the Alabama Supreme Court
Alabama Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Alabama is the highest court in the state of Alabama. The court consists of an elected Chief Justice and eight elected Associate Justices. Each justice is elected in partisan elections for staggered six year terms. The Governor of Alabama may fill vacancies when they occur...
. The Birmingham School of Law is not accredited by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
, nor is the school seeking accreditation.
Notable alumni
- Clarence W. AllgoodClarence W. AllgoodClarence W. Allgood was a United States federal judge.Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Allgood received a B.S. from Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1926 and an LL.B. from Birmingham School of Law in 1941. He was a Referee in Bankruptcy for the U.S...
(1902–1991), a United States federal judge - James D. MartinJames D. MartinJames Douglas Martin is a retired Republican politician from the US state of Alabama. His 1962 campaign for the United States Senate was the first serious showing by a member of his party since Reconstruction....
(b. 1918), a retired Republican politician from Alabama - Mike D. RogersMike D. RogersMichael Dennis "Mike" Rogers , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:...
(b. 1958), the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 3rd congressional district since 2003