The School of Law has announced that all first-generation college graduates currently pursuing their Juris Doctor degrees are receiving financial aid. The group, consisting of over 75 students, benefits from around 25 scholarship funds. Among these is the First-Start Scholars Program, initially established by Kathelen V. Amos and the Daniel P. Amos Family Foundation.
This initiative marks its fourth consecutive year of providing scholarships to every first-generation J.D. student since its inception with the 2019 entering class. As of this fall, the program has been renamed the Rutledge Family First-Start Scholars Program, offering awards ranging from one-quarter tuition to full-tuition plus scholarships.
Dean Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge highlighted the school's commitment to accessibility and affordability as part of its mission to redefine national public law education standards: "The School of Law is redefining what it means to be a great national public law school by offering a world-class, hands-on, purpose-driven educational experience with a pioneering commitment to accessibility and affordability."
Recent achievements supporting this mission include being named #1 Best Value Law School for five out of seven years by National Jurist (2018-2024), ranking in the Top-20 Law Schools for two consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report (2023/24 & 2024/25), achieving a near-perfect Ultimate Bar Passage rate (99.48% for the Class of 2021), and recording a 95% Full Credit Employment Outcome for the Class of 2023.
Additionally, participation in clinics and externships reached 91% among the Class of 2024, while half of the students did not require loans during the academic year 2023-24 due to competitive tuition fees—the lowest among Top-20 law schools ranked by U.S. News & World Report.