Ave Maria School of Law - School of Law

As a Catholic school with a strong commitment to its “mission” and “religious foundation,” Ave Maria “incorporates the Catholic faith into classes.” Many students choose the school for its “conservative” ideology, and some feel that “Ave Maria may be the only school in America where God and American Values are paramount.” This Catholic foundation engenders “a very strong community at our school,” and also attracts like-minded faculty, who “all come from the tops of their respective fields:” “Because the school is mission-oriented, some very high quality professors have chosen to teach here instead of a more prestigious school.” Many students love that Ave Maria has “built an environment conducive to learning how my Catholic faith informs my understanding of the law, without sacrificing the quality study of the black-letter law.” Others point out what they miss in the Catholic curriculum; one student wishes the school would directly confront discussions on “morally repugnant” issues.
Students also appreciate Ave Maria’s “small size,” which “encourages personal accountability, facilitates smooth registration, and increases access to faculty and resources.” “There are few enough students that the instructors actually care if I succeed.” With an eye on the future, the school offers “courses that prepare the students for real life lawyering,” “which focus on practical skills and focuses on students’ success on practicing law and not just on theory.” Of course, it’s “the superb professors with amazing career experience” who foster this academic environment, and students say the “unparalleled” faculty “are extremely approachable and accommodating,” “genuinely want you to succeed,” and “are interested in your development as a person and a lawyer.”
Notably, Ave Maria moved from Michigan to its present location in Naples, Florida in 2009, and students say the move has resulted in some “disarray” in promoting the school as nationally recognized: “this school needs its faculty and students to push its name on a national scale.” There are ways in which the new location works in the school’s favor, though; for one, Ave Maria is “the only law school within ninety-plus miles,” so “the opportunities for internships are definitely there.” The school “is striving to improve the bar passage rate and is making significant progress” after the relocation, partially due to a newly added “bar prep” class; some students believe that more “state specific classes” might also be helpful. Overall, students choose Ave Maria for its “unique educational philosophy that emphasizes the moral foundations of the law, presents insights from the Catholic intellectual tradition, and encourages a broader perspective of the law and its role in society.”

“The Naples, Florida area is a beautiful place to study,” students agree, and the “classroom and campus [are] beautiful” as well. Even though breaks in law school can be few and far between, students love that “the beach is always there for a nice relaxing break”. However, some students claim that Naples isn’t much more than a pretty face: “Naples is small and the law school is small so if you want a life away from law school, it’s not easy to do…there aren’t a lot of twenty-somethings.” That said, students bond together on campus: “Ave Maria School of Law is a small institution, which foster[s] a true sense of community and purpose.” The “rigorous” second semester is notoriously devoid of fun, as students go from “six classes to seven classes.” As noted above in terms of the school’s improving bar passage rates, student reviews of Ave Maria’s locational integration are mixed. Students praise its “close proximity to a federal courthouse, creating many internship opportunities.” Career Services was previously described as “in shambles” but during the 13-14 school year, the office increased recruitment activities and participation by over 50 percent. Perhaps, as one student diagnoses, “The school simply needs time to adjust to a new location,” and “the bar passage rate will improve as the faculty and students adjust.”