CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN LAW SCHOOLS

That's what the NPR website calls the school to which Rob Vischer is migrating, and where Tom Berg is already well settled.  Click here.  Rob, Tom:  True/false?

At a Glance:

Conservative Christian Law Schools

Regent University School of Law: Founded by televangelist Pat Robertson, Regent University School of Law was established in 1986 as a full-time, three-year law program. It gained full accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1996 -- the first religiously conservative law school to do so. Today, 500 students attend the school. Students come from 44 states, over 413 colleges and universities and numerous foreign countries.

"The number one distinction in our school is teaching from a religious perspective; faith impacts what we do in the classrooms." -- Dean Jeff Brauch

Liberty University School of Law: Televangelist Jerry Falwell founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., in 1971 as a fundamentalist Baptist university. The law school welcomed its first students in the fall of 2004 and is working towards provisional accreditation from the ABA. Currently, 56 students from 22 states and one foreign country (India) attend the school.

"Liberty University School of Law is founded upon the premise that there is an integral relationship between faith and reason, and that both have their origin in the Triune God." -- Liberty's Web site

University of St. Thomas School of Law: The Catholic-affiliated University of St. Thomas Law School is based in Minneapolis, Minn. It was founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland. The Great Depression forced the law school to close in 1933, but it reopened in 1999. The School of Law is provisionally accredited by the ABA. It has presented a plan to achieve accreditation within three years.

"Our mission is inspired by Catholic social thought, the Catholic Church's historical commitment to advancing social justice, particularly helping those who are most in need of our assistance." -- St. Thomas' Web site

Ave Maria School of Law: Located in Anne Arbor, Mich., Ave Maria School of Law opened its doors in 2000. The school was founded by devout Catholic Thomas S. Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza. Students from 43 states and 125 universities enrolled for the 2004-2005 school year. On May 2, 2005, the ABA gave a recommendation of full accreditation to Ave Maria School of Law. The school will receive final word from the ABA in August 2005.

"We want to equip students with an understanding of the underpinning that supports the law, and an appreciation for the philosophy and the moral dimensions of the law." -- Associate Dean for External Affairs Michael Kenney

Web Resources

• Regent University School of Law
• Liberty University School of Law
• University of St. Thomas School of Law
• Ave Maria School of Law