BU’s Trip To Appalachian School of Law
Photo provided by Dr. Kimberly Farmer
Recently, Dr. Kimberly Farmer, Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and a criminal justice professor, took a group of her criminal justice majors to Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, VA.
I always joke that I have taken more “field trips” in college than in high school, but this trip stood out as different, even among the other trips I have taken in my college career. This trip dealt with perhaps the most pressing yet dreaded topic in a college student’s mind: What will I do after I graduate?
The trip started out how most things that start at 8:00 a.m. tend to – with tired participants and more than a few wondering why on earth they signed up for this. After a chilly wait behind Shott Hall, we loaded up on the vans and off we went to Grundy, an hour and a half drive from Bluefield University.
The road to the Appalachian School of Law was rural, and once we reached Grundy, not much of the scenery had changed. With nothing in the town to boast about other than an odd two-story Walmart, it was eerily quiet and still, as if the kudzu had simply swallowed the town.
The school itself was very interesting, along with its professors, staff, and classes. Visible as soon as we walked in was a sign boasting partnerships, with the Bluefield University Ram logo proudly displayed.
Dr. Farmer had remarked on how similar Appalachian School of Law is to Bluefield University, and once I had sat in on a class, I could agree with Dr. Farmer about the similarities of the small class sizes, devoted professors, and personal relationships evident among faculty and students.
The class, similar in size to those at BU, not only discussed book material, but the students also participated in a mock scenario that involved an attorney and her client, who was distressed about a thief who had assaulted her being able to walk free. During the duration of this scenario, the professor stepped in to make corrections to show how to best treat the client, respect her wishes, and use the power of the law to protect her and her rights.
Photo provided by John Embrescia
From there, we were then escorted from the class to speak with the Dean of Students, William S. Thompson, to talk about his personal career and what Appalachian School of Law offers its students. Thompson was not only a former practicing attorney in West Virginia but also previously held the positions of a circuit court judge and United States Attorney. Due to this experience, Thompson had many interesting stories to tell demonstrating the many places a law degree could take you.
The president of the school, David J. Western, also stopped by to speak to us, drawing from his personal career in law to speak about the different careers available to law students post graduation. He also discussed the changing climate of law, bringing new careers and higher demand for lawyers.
Two of Dr. Farmer’s former students stopped by as well, to give us an insight into not only a law student’s life and schooling, but also the unique perspective of pursuing a judicial doctorate after graduating from Bluefield University.
Photo provided by John Embrescia
We then boarded the buses again after saying our goodbyes to Appalachian School of Law.
Ultimately, the trip was not only enjoyable but informative as well. It is always interesting to explore where a degree from Bluefield can take you.