The Layout
The Law School has two principal sections, Withers-Brown
Hall and Slaughter Hall. Withers-Brown has been the
home of the Law School since 1974 when it moved to North
Grounds from its former home, Clark Hall, on Central
Grounds. Slaughter is the former home of the Darden School of Business, which moved to its
new complex just west of the Law School in 1996. In
1997 the Law School completed a $35-million renovation,
financed completely with private funds, that linked
the two buildings with Clay Hall uniting the front and
Hunton & Williams
Hall bridging the rear. In 2002 the Law School completed
the Student-Faculty Center, which connects to Hunton &
Williams Hall as well. You will need Acrobat Reader 4
to view a complete map of the Grounds.
Clay Hall
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| Clay Hall entrance |
This is the building you enter when you go through the
main (south) entrance of the Law School. Its distinctive
cupola roofline has made it the basis of the Law School's
logo. Engraved over the front doors is an inscription
often remembered by alumni: "That those alone may
be servants of the law who labor with learning, courage,
and devotion to preserve liberty and promote justice."
This phrase was from a law professor, Leslie Buckler,
who wrote it in 1932 to be emblazoned above the doors
of Clark Hall. When Clay Hall was built, his words were
carved again.
The reception desk is directly in front of you. Visitor
parking permits may be obtained from the receptionist.
Directly behind the reception desk is Caplin Pavilion,
the law school's main ceremonial room, which is used for
speeches, receptions, dinners and other special events.
The large landscape painting of the Blue Ridge on the
rear wall is a scene in northwestern Albemarle County. A
baby grand piano is available for use by anyone in the
Law School community whenever the Pavilion is open and
unoccupied.
Withers-Brown Hall
This building to the right of the main entrance houses
the Arthur
J. Morris Law Library on the first through
third floors.
Lower Level: If you take a right in front of the
Library entrance and then the next left, you can go down
a corridor that leads to Caplin Auditorium on the lower
level. This is where large Law School gatherings are held,
including guest lectures and the dean's orientation address
to first-year students. Because it seats about 350 people,
other University organizations occasionally use it. The
annual Libel Show, a student tradition that lampoons Law
School life, is performed here for three nights in March.
First Floor: The main public entrance to the Library
is on the first floor, just at the end of Clay Hall. This
floor also houses classrooms, faculty offices, student
lounges, lockers, and vending machines.
Second Floor: The Library takes up the entire
second floor of Withers-Brown. There is no public access
on the second floor.
Third Floor: If you take a right at the Library
entrance and take the elevator or stairs to your right
to the third floor, you will find faculty offices to your
left off the elevator; and to the right, the Dean's Office,
the Business Office, Law Information Technology (computer
and web services), the mail room with staff and faculty
mailboxes, the faculty lounge, and a few faculty offices.
An important office for students is Building Services
with David Holsapple in Room 328, across from the
faculty mailroom. Here you can reserve Law
School rooms for special events and pick up or drop off
your locker keys. You can also reserve rooms online through LawWeb,
the Law School intranet for students, staff, and faculty.
Slaughter Hall
The building to the left of the Clay Hall main entrance
houses mostly classrooms, administrative offices, and
offices for student organizations.
First Floor: As you walk down the corridor from
Clay Hall, you will find Student Affairs, Student Records,
the Purcell Reading Room (also called The Fishbowl), the
student computer lab, Courts
and Commerce bookstore, and
the Copy Center. Bulletin boards for student organizations
line the corridor. If you turn left down the broad corridor
(which to the right opens onto Spies Garden, the Law School's
outdoor room) after the Purcell Reading Room and take
the narrow corridor to your right (just before the exit)
you will find offices of student journals and organizations.
To the left of the exit are the Virginia Law Review
offices.
Second Floor: Admissions, Career Services, Financial
Aid, and the Mortimer Caplin Public Service Center are
here, as well as diverse sizes of classrooms. You will
also find all the facilities for career-launching—the
interview rooms and the student changing rooms. This
floor also houses the moot courtrooms where students
hone their trial techniques.
Third Floor: This floor primarily houses the Alumni
Association and the Law School Foundation, the fund-raising
organization that brought in nearly $8 million in private
funds for the Law School in 2001-02. Private support accounted
for 35 percent of the Law School's operating budget that
year. If you go right three times off the elevator to
the rear corridor, you will find the National Security
Law Center and the Oceans Law & Policy Center, nationally
known Law School centers. Some retired faculty members
also have offices here.
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| Scott Commons |
Hunton & Williams Hall forms the back of the
Law School quad and connects to the Student-Faculty
Center. The Hall maintains activity tables for student
organizations. There are also bulletin boards with Law
School and community announcements here, as well as lockers.
August 2002 saw the opening of the Student-Faculty Center,
also referred to as Scott Commons, which, more precisely,
is the name of its glass-roofed central lounge. The SFC
also houses a lunch cafeteria, a Greenberry's coffee bar,
staff/faculty dining rooms, student mailboxes, and more
study and lounge space.
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