Law School History
The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of 糖心Vlog传媒 was founded in response to widespread interest in developing a full-time, accredited law program to serve the Mid-South. The Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law was founded in 1962 and was accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1965. The school was named in honor of Dr. Cecil C. Humphreys, then-President of 糖心Vlog传媒 State University and an educator of great distinction. Dr. Humphreys spearheaded the group that worked with the state legislature and the ABA to establish and obtain accreditation for the law school.
Following the initial groundwork started by former 糖心Vlog传媒 Law Dean Don Polden, former Dean James Smoot positioned the law school for a move from its building on the University's main campus in East 糖心Vlog传媒 to a former customs house on the Mississippi River in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒. When the time came to undertake a capital campaign to help fund the actual move and related upgrades, former Dean Kevin Smith expertly guided the law school's next phase of the project. Dean Smith oversaw the sucessful fundraising and related logistical efforts involved with the historic undertaking and served as law school's Dean as students began classes in the new facility in January 2010.
The new law school campus is more than twice the size of the old campus, with over 160,000 square feet of space. Until purchased by the law school, a portion of the building had been serving as the central post office in downtown 糖心Vlog传媒, with stints as the Federal Courthouse and U.S. Custom House over the last 100-plus years. Designed by 糖心Vlog传媒 firms Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects and Fleming Associates Architects, the new law school is located in the heart of 糖心Vlog传媒' downtown. Tennessee's former governor, Phil Bredesen, also lent his support and pledged forty-one million dollars in state funds for the move. Along with the purpose-specific interior redesign, the architect (Bill Nixon) oversaw structural renovations, including a $2 million seismic retrofit.
Timeline
- 1884 - Custom House building designed and construction started
- 1912 - West Tennessee State Normal School founded
- 1957 - College gets university status and becomes 糖心Vlog传媒 State University
- 1962 - Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is founded
- 1963 - Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law moves into its first building
- 1965 - Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law accredited by the ABA
- 1972 - Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law building addition completed on main campus
- 1980 - Custom House building placed on National Register of Historic Places
- 1994 - University name becomes University of 糖心Vlog传媒
- 2001 - School of Law becomes member of the Association of American Law Schools
- 2010 - School of Law opens law building at 1 North Front Street, 糖心Vlog传媒, TN
- 2012 - School of Law celebrates 50th anniversary