Office of Academic Success
Alabama Law is dedicated to supporting students academically throughout their time in law school. To that end, the Office of Academic Success offers both individual counseling and working group opportunities to students.
All students are welcome to set an individual meeting with the Assistant Dean for Students, Anita Kay Head (ahead@law.ua.edu), or the Assistant Director of Law School Academic Support, Kiana Kennamore Wilson (kkennamore@law.ua.edu), to discuss strategies for improving performance.
Anita Kay Head
- Assistant Dean for Students and Associate Professor of Legal Writing
- ahead@
law.ua.edu - (205) 348-1133
Kiana Kennamore Wilson
- Assistant Director Law School Academic Support
- kkennamore@
law.ua.edu
Academic Success Fellows Program
Alabama Law is a collaborative place, where students often help each other learn. The first-year experience is unique, and 1Ls can benefit from the wisdom of upper-level students who have recently taken the same courses. So we make peer tutoring accessible—early and often—to all 1Ls.
Academic Success Fellows, chosen from the 2L and 3L classes, offer academic tutoring, both in open office hours and in requested tutoring sessions. To access the current Fellows’ bios, please click here. To schedule a tutoring session, visit law.ua.edu/success.
In addition to individual tutoring, the Fellows and the Office of Academic Success host regular workshops for 1Ls. All first-year students are invited to attend outlining workshops, exam-writing workshops, and study halls. In the spring semester, the Office of Academic Success collaborates with the Career Services Office to host a Prepare to Practice workshop series.
The Fellows are also available to assist student organizations in their academic support programming. Organizations should contact Dean Head if they would like to collaborate with the Fellows.
Comprehensive Advising Program
The law school’s best assets are its people—its students, alumni, faculty, and administrators. Our Comprehensive Advising Program (or “CAP”) aims to bring those groups together to ensure that students are connected and supported throughout their time in law school. Through the CAP, the School of Law pairs each incoming student with a faculty advisor and a Career Services advisor. Students may also elect to receive a student mentor through the Student Bar Association and an alumni mentor. These mentors are paired with students based on the students’ survey responses about their fields of interest and background.
Introduction to the Study of Law
All first-year law students at the University of Alabama enroll in Introduction to the Study of Law. The week-long class focuses on fundamental legal concepts and class preparation techniques that students will use throughout their time in law school.
Some first-year students participate in an enhanced version of Introduction to the Study of Law, which extends throughout the fall semester and offers supplemental instruction in legal writing, study skills, and exam preparation. This version of Introduction to the Study of Law is taught in small sections. Applicants who are interested in this program do not need to apply specially but should indicate their interest on their law school application. Decisions will be based on the academic need of individual applicants, expression of interest, and availability.
Required Academic Support
Any student who does not meet the academic standards outlined in the Student Handbook after the first semester of law school and any student who is placed on academic probation will receive individualized academic support from the Assistant Dean of Students and the Assistant Director of Academic Support. In addition to individual meetings, these students will attend working group sessions. If a student is placed on academic probation after the first semester of law school, then the student will take a reduced course load in the spring.
Likewise, a student who is placed on academic probation after their first year in law school will receive individualized support from the Assistant Dean of Students and the Assistant Director of Law School Academic Support.