Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is an American Bar Association accredited law school and is the only law school in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has been associated with the University of Memphis since the law school's formation in 1962. The school was named in honor of former University president Cecil C. Humphreys.

The law school has graduated more than 4,500 students since its inception, and it currently has approximately 460 students and twenty-three full time professors. Many students participate on moot court or mock trial teams or are involved with one of the school's law journals, the University of Memphis Law Review and the Tennessee Journal of Practice and Procedure. Last year's Moot Court team placed second in the nation, behind only Duke. A member of the Memphis team was named "Best Oral Advocate."

The former customs house that is being prepared for the law school's 2009 move.

Because of inadequate, old facilities, Dean James Smoot has positioned the law school for a move from its building on the University's main campus to a former customs house on the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis currently serving as a post office. This move has been approved by the city council, the University, and the current tenants of the downtown building. Tennessee's governor, Phil Bredesen, has also lent his support and pledged financial resources for the move. The move was officially announced on January 12, 2006, and it is anticipated that the downtown facility will be ready for classes in 2009.

The following statement was released by the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law concerning the planned move:

“The faculty, staff, students and alumni of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law of the University of Memphis have dreamed for many years of a new home to enhance and showcase the extraordinary success of its academic program. That dream is now becoming a reality in the Customs House and Post Office, an iconic riverfront building with a long legal pedigree, as a result of the hard work and innovative thinking of our own law school community and of leadership of the University of Memphis, the City of Memphis, Shelby County, the Board of Regents, the Governor, our Congressional delegation and far-sighted business and professional leaders. We are grateful for their confidence in our program and eager to move it to the next level.”

James R. Smoot, Dean and Professor of Law