Welcome to UM Law

This is the accessibility version designed specifically for users needing extra accessibility features.
Feel free to check out the original experience here.

Welcome

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Founded in 1962, the law school was originally housed on the UofM campus. In 2010, the school moved to the historic former U.S. Custom House, Courthouse and Post Office that sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis. It has since been consistently ranked the number one law school building in the nation. Our location in the heart of downtown drives your education and experience by giving you the opportunity to learn at the epicenter of the Mid-South's largest legal community, while also experiencing the cultural renaissance taking place throughout the city.

Lobby

Tour stop audio transcript

The original building was constructed in the 1880s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In January 2010, after a 42 million dollar renovation, Memphis Law began occupying the state-of-the-art, 169,000 square-foot building. Despite the renovations, the building retains much of its historic look. Evidence of the building's history remains through the original Tennessee marble spanning the lobby, bronze vestibules, elevator doors, fireplaces, vaults utilized by Customs that have been converted to private study areas, and U.S. Post Office seals throughout. Architects discovered and restored beautiful woodwork and intricate, hand-painted stencil designs. There is 24-hour on-site security, and students have 24/7 card-entry access.

Wade Auditorium

Tour stop audio transcript

As the only law school in the city, our students have unparalleled opportunities for success with a number of Memphis' corporations with headquarters here, including three Fortune 500 companies, 25 hospitals and one of the leading healthcare research facilities, and a diverse legal community with some of the nation's most prominent law firms. Every year we host more than 50 community conferences, continuing education seminars, legal forums and more, all open to our students. These learning and networking opportunities often take place in the Wade Auditorium, a larger replica of our other four classrooms, all of which feature stadium seating, individual electrical outlets at each seat and "smart classroom" technology.

Historic Courtroom

Tour stop audio transcript

On the third floor sits the Historic U.S. Courtroom, used for Moot Court competitions and for visiting courts. Here you'll have an opportunity to witness real cases being tried. You might catch one of your own professors in action, as several adjunct faculty are state or federal judges. You won't spend all of your time inside the beautiful Law building, however. Our Legal Clinic and Experiential Learning Program provide hands-on experience in the real-world. Students may work with the city to remove blighted properties or help families find legal solutions. Students examine and influence the law through our Policy Lab, and provide an average of 9,000 pro bono service hours annually.

Ball Reading Room

Tour stop audio transcript

The jewel atop the Law School is the Gordon Ball Scenic Reading Room. The sprawling glass windows along the top floor provide an unmatched panoramic view of the Mighty Mississippi River while students study. The South Wing of the school contains five floors of the Plough Law Library and the Law Review offices. The North Wing houses the Legal Clinic, student lounges, study rooms, bookstore and administration offices. The auditorium-style classrooms, Historic Courtroom and Reading Room reside in the center. The west side of the building features student terraces overlooking the river. We invite you to schedule a tour and see all that the University of Memphis School of Law has to offer.