About the Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice & Society

Take a few minutes to investigate a unique undergraduate experience, one we believe positions students extremely well, not just for a career, but to follow the challenge of Micah 6:8 to do justice and love mercy.

KIMBERLY MCCALL

Housed in the university’s College of Leadership and Public Service, The Fred D. Gray Institute is based on the idea that legal change is one of the surest means to effect social change.

Here at the institute, we offer an undergraduate major that focuses on socio-legal issues to encourage critical thinking, good writing and a passion for justice. The program prepares you for law school, public policy or governmental work, and work with nonprofits. Alongside faculty and mentors, you will examine how law and society work together and how justice is built in the midst of that.

In addition to the academic work of our institute, we offer regional, national and international experiences which will build your perspective in unique ways. Our institute trains moot court and mock trial teams, which compete across the country against other collegiate programs. We travel to Washington, DC, and Europe as part of our academic experience. Finally, we have an annual Fred D. Gray Lecture open to the greater Nashville community in which we engage in meaningful and timely dialogue about pressing legal and political issues.

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the institute has direct ties to the state’s capital that will allow you direct access to the state’s legislative constituents. Not only will you have the benefit of meeting with state legislators and activists, but you’ll also gain deeper insight into the social issues facing the very city you’ll be residing in. If you have a passion for law, government, policy, or advocacy, then the Fred D. Gray Institute has a place for you to learn and flourish.

Best,

Kimberly McCall
Academic Director, Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice & Society

Key Things to Know About the Institute

Travel to Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, Geneva, and the Hague to learn about how other places work together to care for law, justice, and their societies
Increase your exposure by meeting with leaders of organizations such as the European Union, the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Give back to the community through service-learning classes, in which you serve in the community while learning meaningful theoretical and practical lessons
Enjoy a placement rate into law school or law-related professions at a rate approaching 100%
Interact with federal and state legislators, lobbyists, attorneys and politicians
Learn at the feet of practitioners who pair their real-world experiences with the academic classroom as professors for many of the LJS classes
Class isn’t all lecture—fully engage in the learning experience with classes that incorporate case studies, simulations, community service, film clips, and local tours to broaden the learning experience.
Includes required project surrounding a social cause of personal interest that is presented during your senior year to a panel of politicians, attorneys, and community advocates during the Law, Justice & Society Symposium held in the spring
A chance of receiving the Fred D. Gray scholarship your junior or senior year.