With a total student body of approximately 18,500 and a faculty of more than 2,000, the University of Virginia has achieved national prominence in many disciplines and has been ranked first or second among the nation's public universities since 1984, a judgment based on faculty strength, student achievement, satisfaction of alumni, and numerous other factors.

The University is proud to be recognized as a major research institution with an uncommonly strong commitment to teaching. It also maintains a strong tradition of student self-government. Forever marked by the vision and foresight of Thomas Jefferson, the architectural heritage confers a sense of place, and Jefferson’s original buildings are still in use. In the Jeffersonian tradition, the University maintains the best traditions of the past, yet is boldly oriented to the future.
THE GROUNDS

At Virginia, your legal studies will take place in what is perhaps the most appealing physical environment found at any law school in the country. The David A. Harrison III Law Grounds reflect a recent $46 million expansion and renovation project funded entirely by private support from alumni and friends. Surrounded by inviting gardens and an elegant, tree-lined lawn, the setting reflects Jefferson’s conviction that locating an intellectual community within a beautiful environment fosters learning and personal growth.

The Law Grounds feature new classrooms, seminar rooms, and moot courtrooms, comprehensive computer facilities, an expanded library with a three-story reading room, new dining facilities, attractive offices for student organizations, and numerous student lounges. Map
THE COMMUNITY

Charlottesville is a city of contrasts. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains two hours southwest of Washington, D.C., the city is cosmopolitan and relaxed. A picturesque and thriving metropolitan area of more than 130,000, Charlottesville has kept its small-town feeling. Area restaurants are featured in publications such as Gourmet magazine and The New York Times, and an impressive array of local wineries offers award-winning vintages.

The hometown of the Dave Matthews Band, Charlottesville’s many nightclubs and music festivals create a thriving scene for live music. Free concerts are a staple of warm Friday evenings on the historic Downtown Mall; the Dogwood Blues Festival is another herald of the area’s gorgeous spring season.

Cultural opportunities abound. Theater, opera, and music are community fixtures. Jefferson’s Monticello and the nearby homes of James Madison and James Monroe feature classic architecture and rich history. Each fall the University hosts the nationally acclaimed Virginia Film Festival and in the spring gathers the nation’s literary luminaries for the Virginia Festival of the Book.

Law students seeking a community in which they can relax, find plentiful entertainment, and appreciate abundant natural beauty to balance the intense rigors of law study will find a home in Charlottesville.