Regent School of Law carries out Regent’s mission
Students, staff, and alumni of the Regent University School of Law carry out Regent’s mission of “Christian leadership to change the world.”
The number one law school in Virginia
Statistics concerning the Regent University School of Law Bar Exam scores, Feb. 2018. (Law School Twitter)
With a 100% Bar Pass Rate in 11 States and a 94% Bar Pass Rate in Virginia, Regent University’s School of Law continues to shape upstanding and talented lawyers who then go out and change the world.
“There are two parts to becoming a lawyer,” said Kathy Stull, Director of Career & Alumni Services for the School of Law. “You have to submit an application to the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners and you also have to submit something called a character and fitness questionnaire, which is essentially everything about your entire life.”
This character and fitness questionnaire determines whether or not the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners believes that the law student is right to be a lawyer.
“You could take the bar exam and pass the bar exam, and then have the bar say to you ‘Thank you very much, we’re happy that you passed the bar, but we don’t think you have the character and fitness to practice law,'” said Stull.
Law students gather at Regent University for Law Community Service Day, Mar. 2018. (Photo courtesy of Regent Law’s twitter)
Lawyers with upstanding character
Despite the many hurdles to becoming a lawyer, Regent’s School of Law continues to produce top lawyers.
“They are becoming leaders in their field,” said Stull. “So people will likely look to their scholarly articles for information on these topics.”
The law school is ranked in the Top 20 ‘Most Innovative Law Schools’ by PreLaw Magazine, according to the law school’s twitter account. The school has also received an ‘A’ Rating for Human Rights by the National Jurist.
Alumnus Kerriel Bailey, an advocate for children as a Guardian Ad Litem in Virginia Beach, is an example of Regent alumni’s accomplishments in human rights.
“I represent a large number of children in my practice as a Guardian ad Litem, which involves advocating for the best interest of children in custody and visitation cases, abuse and neglect cases, and foster care cases,” said Bailey. “This practice area is very rewarding because you truly can make a difference in the life of a child.”
Law alumnus Kerriel Bailey. (Photo courtesy of Regent Law’s twitter)
When asked what advice she would give to other Regent University alumni, Bailey said, “Do your best unto the Lord. If you do excellent work with integrity, you will succeed.”
Christian leadership to change the world
A majority of the law school’s alumni follow this advice and exemplify Regent’s standards of morality. Bryan Peeples, 43, graduates from the law school in May and shares this drive to succeed with excellence.
“Regent spends a lot more time talking about things like ethics and morality and right and wrong than most law schools do,” said Peeples. “But they also do a good job presenting the other side, they will make it clear when they say something that isn’t in the mainstream of the legal community. They don’t shut down those opposing opinions, but they do teach from a certain worldview and are very upfront about it.”
Regent’s mission statement permeates everything taught in the law school, according to Peeples.
“Particularly with law schools, most law schools around the country have a very secular, positivist worldview,” said Peeples. “Regent kind of takes a counter-cultural view, which is that there actually is right and wrong and that there actually is a divine law and there are actual true, legal principles. They really are seeking to send attorneys out into the world to do good, not just to make money. It’s not a bad thing to make money, but [it is] to make money at the cost of things that are morally questionable or unethical.”
Regent Law staff members gather in Robertson Hall to pray for the students taking the Bar Exam, Feb. 2018. (Photo courtesy of Regent Law Twitter)
Great teachers impact students, great students impact the world
The School of Law’s greatness can be partially accredited to great mentors as well.
“Regent actually has one of the top ten law faculties in the United States, and it’s consistent,” said Peeples. “We have plenty of people from Harvard, UVA, top schools in the country; I feel like we are being taught by competent and experienced people.”
As the accomplishments of the students, staff, and alumni carry out Regent’s mission, the world continues to be impacted by their Christian leadership.
“Most Regent law students are working to their best ability, and that’s why they have become leaders in their field; they are serving with excellence,” said Stull. “It’s part of our mission at the law school that law is a calling, and so a lot of them are pursuing their careers as if it’s a calling, and therefore they are working with excellence in everything they do.”
Shelly Slocum is a Staff Writer for The Daily Runner.
