Auditing Law Classes In Nashville: What You Need To Know

can you audit law classes nashville

The Nashville School of Law, founded in 1911, offers a flexible and personalized approach to legal education. While the school is approved by the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners, it is not accredited by the American Bar Association. This limits graduates' ability to practice law outside of Tennessee. The school offers a part-time program with classes held in the evenings, and applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Although there is no information on auditing classes at the Nashville School of Law, generally, auditing a law class allows an individual to attend the class without receiving credit or submitting assignments. Auditors typically require permission from the instructor and are subject to review by the Deputy Dean or Dean of Students.

Characteristics Values
Law schools in Nashville Nashville School of Law, Aquinas College
Audit opportunities Aquinas College offers audit opportunities
Requirements Nashville School of Law requires LSAT; Aquinas College requires online application
Accreditation Nashville School of Law is accredited by Tennessee Supreme Court and Tennessee Board of Law Examiners; not accredited by American Bar Association
Classes Nashville School of Law offers night classes, part-time basis; Aquinas College offers classes in Biology, English, Fine Arts, History, and Theology
Grading Aquinas College does not give grades for audited classes
Credit Audited classes do not count for credit
Transcript Audited classes are recorded on transcript with "AU" at Aquinas College
Faculty Nashville School of Law's faculty includes practicing lawyers and judges from Tennessee

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Nashville School of Law

The Nashville School of Law is a private law school founded in 1911. It is located in the heart of Nashville and offers a flexible and personalized approach to legal education. The school is accredited by the Tennessee Supreme Court and its students are taught by highly skilled and trained lawyers and judges who provide practical guidance alongside theoretical instruction.

The school's faculty includes prominent legal professionals such as former Tennessee Chief Justice Adolpho Birch and former Justice William C. Koch, Jr. of the Tennessee Supreme Court, who became dean of the school in 2014. The Nashville School of Law offers a part-time program with classes held in the evenings, allowing students to balance their studies with other commitments.

To be admitted to the Nashville School of Law, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and submit the necessary documents, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Applicants are also required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and provide an explanation for any prior arrests or disciplinary actions.

While I could not find specific information about auditing law classes at the Nashville School of Law, the school's flexible approach to legal education suggests that they may allow auditing. However, it is important to contact the school directly to inquire about their policies regarding auditing classes. Generally, auditing a class allows individuals to attend lectures without receiving grades, completing assignments, or earning academic credit.

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NSL's non-ABA accreditation

The Nashville School of Law (NSL) is a law school located in Nashville, Tennessee. It is accredited by the Tennessee Supreme Court and provides a flexible and personalized approach to legal education. NSL students are taught by highly skilled and trained lawyers and judges who offer practical guidance alongside theoretical instruction. Notably, NSL is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Being non-ABA accredited means that NSL has not undergone the rigorous evaluation process conducted by the ABA, which is the primary accrediting body for law schools in the United States. ABA accreditation signifies that a law school's program meets certain standards of quality and that its graduates are well-prepared for the bar exam and legal practice.

Despite NSL's non-ABA accreditation, some graduates have shared that it did not impede their careers. They have pursued various legal careers, including as judges and members of executive committees, and gained invaluable knowledge and experience.

The implications of a law school's non-ABA accreditation are important to consider. ABA accreditation provides assurance of the school's quality and can impact a graduate's eligibility to sit for the bar exam in certain states and their career prospects. However, it is not the sole determinant of a legal education's value, as demonstrated by the success of NSL alumni.

In general, auditing a class means that you are permitted to attend the class but do not receive credit or grades. You typically do not submit assignments or participate in evaluations. While some law schools allow auditing, the specific policies and requirements vary, and instructors may deny requests for certain classes, especially those for first-year law students.

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Law class auditing process

Auditing a law class allows you to attend a class without receiving grades or academic credits. While Nashville-based law schools like the Nashville School of Law and Aquinas College do not explicitly mention auditing, the University of Chicago Law School and William & Mary Law School offer insights into the law class auditing process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Eligibility

First, determine your eligibility to audit a law class. Some institutions restrict auditing to enrolled students, while others may allow non-law students or visiting scholars to audit under specific conditions. Check the requirements and any restrictions on eligible courses. For example, at William & Mary Law School, non-law students may audit provided it is not a required course, a pass/fail course, or an experiential course, and the instructor gives permission.

Step 2: Instructor Permission

Next, obtain permission from the instructor. All audit requests must be approved by the instructor, who may deny any request. For instance, at the University of Chicago Law School, students must obtain the instructor's approval on the auditing petition available online.

Step 3: Complete Necessary Forms

After securing instructor permission, complete the necessary forms for auditing. Each institution may have its own auditing forms and processes. For instance, at William & Mary Law School, degree-seeking students must complete the appropriate form and submit it to the Law School Registrar.

Step 4: Registration and Confirmation

Submit your completed forms to the relevant department or office for registration. Note that registration for auditors is often confirmed only after the add/drop period for each semester, contingent upon seat availability. At some schools, like William & Mary Law School, priority is given to degree-seeking students enrolling in classes for credit.

Step 5: Understand Auditor Expectations

Be aware of the expectations and limitations for auditors. Auditors are typically expected to attend classes and read the materials, and not create extra work for the professor. Auditors may not hand in assignments, take exams, or receive grades or academic credits. For example, at the University of Chicago Law School, auditors may not participate in evaluations of the instructor or class.

By following these steps and understanding the specific requirements of your chosen law school in Nashville, you can successfully navigate the process of auditing a law class.

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Aquinas College, Nashville

Aquinas College is a private Catholic college in Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1961 and named in honour of St. Thomas Aquinas. The college is operated by the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, also known as the "Nashville Dominicans", who have been a dynamic Catholic presence in Nashville for over 150 years. The college offers undergraduate degrees in education, English, history, liberal arts, and teaching, as well as graduate degrees in education.

The college has a strong sense of community among its faculty and students, who regularly participate in events, lectures, Masses, and Confession opportunities. Aquinas College welcomes students from all backgrounds and does not discriminate based on race, colour, ethnicity, or national origin. It is committed to providing a holistic, human formation in the liberal arts, as well as professional formation, to prepare its students to serve as Catholic educators.

While Aquinas College does not offer on-campus housing, it provides multiple gathering spaces in the Siena Hall Conference Center and the Aquinas Center, which can be used for conferences, workshops, or retreats. The college is also home to the Center for Catholic Education and the Center for Evangelization and Catechesis, which provide spiritual and professional formation opportunities for Catholic educators and leaders.

In terms of auditing classes, Aquinas College offers this option for personal enrichment and learning. Students auditing a course do not receive grades, and assignments are optional. Audited classes carry no academic credit but are recorded on the student's transcript. Aquinas College offered seven different courses for auditing in the 2025 spring semester, including Biology, English, Fine Arts, History, and Theology.

Although I could not find specific information on auditing law classes at Aquinas College, the option to audit classes is available for personal enrichment, and the college does offer degrees in liberal arts and education, which may include some law-related content.

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Nashville School of Law's faculty

Nashville School of Law Faculty

The Nashville School of Law is accredited by the Tennessee Supreme Court and provides a flexible and personalized approach to legal education. The school's faculty includes practicing lawyers and judges from across the state of Tennessee. The school does not publish employment data for its recent graduates, but notable alumni include:

  • Ross W. Dyer, Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court
  • Johnny Garrett, Attorney and member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
  • Albert Gore Sr., former U.S. Senator and father of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore
  • Mary Frances Rudy, founder of Rudy Title & Escrow in Nashville and member of the NSL Board of Trust

While I cannot find a comprehensive list of current faculty members, former faculty members include:

  • James Gilbert Lackey, Jr., dean of the law school and contracts professor from 1946 to 1986
  • Judge Joe C. Loser, Jr., fourth dean of the school and former judge of the Third Circuit Court of Davidson County, Tennessee
  • Justice William C. Koch, Jr., former Tennessee Supreme Court Justice, NSL faculty member, and fifth dean of NSL
  • Adolpho Birch, late former Tennessee Chief Justice

Auditing Law Classes in Nashville

While I cannot find specific information about auditing law classes at the Nashville School of Law, generally, auditing a class allows you to attend and observe without receiving grades or credit. Auditors may not hand in papers or participate in evaluations. If you are interested in auditing a class at the Nashville School of Law, you should contact the school directly to inquire about their specific policies and procedures.

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