For the second year in a row, the University of Tennessee College of Law welcomed its most highly credentialed class. The 143 students in the Class of 2026 boast a median GPA of 3.78 and a median LSAT of 162, the strongest numbers in school history.
The class, which is the largest since 2013, was drawn from a record number of applications, over 1500. The number was 16% higher than in the most recent application cycle. The College of Law also saw an increase in applications to its Master in Legal Studies Program, and welcomed 22 new students, bringing that program’s total enrollment to 35.
The Class of 2026 hails from 27 different states, plus the District of Columbia, and graduated from 90 different undergraduate institutions. Twenty-three percent are from underrepresented groups and 53% are women. They earned undergraduate degrees in such diverse fields as Political Science, Finance, Criminal Justice, English, Economics, History, Psychology, Biology, Social Work, Policy Studies, Government, and Accounting. Sixteen students hold graduate degrees and four have served in the U.S. military.
The new class’s three days of orientation featured a wide range of activities, including a session at the Federal Courthouse with judges and law clerks, various interactive panel discussions, a student organization fair, a barbecue, and an innovative “Amazing Race” competition.
In his opening remarks, Dean Lonnie Brown emphasized why the entering class had made the right decision in choosing the University of Tennessee College of Law. “We do an unparalleled job of preparing students to be lawyers and leaders, with a distinctive commitment to public service,” Brown said. “Your professors have significant practice experience, which is a distinct advantage for you. They won’t simply be theorizing about how the law should operate. They will teach you how to be skilled and ethical practitioners and will guide you on your journey to a successful and fulfilling legal career.”
_________________________