Thank you for your sustained dedication to your legal studies and your flexibility in continuing your education during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSL’s goal is to enable you to complete this school year on schedule with as few disruptions as possible.  While the finish line is not yet clearly in sight, we will finish the race together.

Based on current information, and in light of guidelines issued by the federal, state, and local governments, the School has developed a plan for the administration of final exams. 

Highlights:

Exams will be held at the time and date previously scheduled.

• Exams will be taken off site using ExamSoft.
• Provisions will be made for students unable to take exams off site.

Detailed information follows, but updates and specific details will be provided for each exam. Please watch your email for updated information and follow the most recent instructions you receive, as plans may change as the situation develops.

Exam Schedule

Final exams will be held as scheduled.  The current schedule is as follows:

Exam Location

Unless designated otherwise, all exams will be administered using the ExamSoft program.  Students using ExamSoft will be permitted to take the exam off site at a place of their choosing and at the same time the exam would have been administered at the School. Students will have the option to take the exam at the School at the originally scheduled time if they are unable to take the exam off site. 

If you choose to take the exam at the School, you must contact Heather Bright at least one week prior to administration of the exam to inform the School of your plans. The School will mandate appropriate social distancing measures for those students taking the exam at the School.

In addition:

• Any exam that is handwritten (not on ExamSoft) must be taken at the School.
• Any student unable to take the exam at the scheduled time will be required to take the exam at the School within one week of the administration of the exam. This option is reserved for extreme circumstances only.
• For students receiving test accommodations, the School will contact you directly regarding arrangements for your testing.

Exam Conditions and Reminders

Preparation

• Faculty members will communicate directly with their students regarding the format of their exam and expectations, particularly if there are changes to original exam plans. 

• Students will receive emails prior to each exam with detailed instructions. Students are responsible for ensuring the School has a current email address (update in SONIS) and for following all instructions provided.

• Make sure ExamSoft software on personal computers is up to date well in advance of taking any exam.

• Exams will be available for download at least 24 hours prior to the examination. Students will receive an email when an exam is ready for download and should download it at their location as soon as the exam becomes available.

Timing

• The password for each exam will be emailed to all students in the course at 6 p.m. CDT on the day of the exam.
• All final exams begin at 6:30 p.m. Standard exam time allotted for two- and three-credit courses is 210 minutes. The time allotted for a one-credit course is 100 minutes.  Professors may make adjustments to these time requirements.
• ExamSoft will be programed to enable students to keep track of the elapsed time once they begin an exam and the program will limit the amount of time allowed for taking the exam. Students will receive an alert five minutes before the allotted time expires. The ExamSoft program will automatically shut itself down and upload the exam when the allotted time has expired.
• Students must begin and end the exam within the prescribed window of 6 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (or 9 p.m. for one-credit classes).
• Once students begin the exam, they must complete it.  The elapsed time will not be suspended once the exam is opened.
• The exam window does not include time required to upload the exam, but students should upload their exams as soon as they are finished.

Confirmation

• The ExamSoft software will provide confirmation that a test has successfully uploaded.  Students may also receive email confirmation if their individual settings are properly configured.
• Students should not contact the School to verify that an exam has been uploaded.  There will be no independent confirmation from the School that a test has been received. The School will contact students directly if a completed exam has not been received.

Technical Support

• Questions may be directed to Chip Loser or email ExamSoft or call (866) 429-8889.
• The School is unable to provide technical support during exams. If your computer freezes or otherwise malfunctions, turn off your computer and restart it, which often remedies the problem. No additional time will be given for computer malfunctions. Notify Chip Loser immediately if you cannot resume your exam, and the School will arrange for you to complete the exam at the School.

All work on an exam must be a student’s own. The Honor Code is in effect for all exams, regardless of manner and location of administration.

All provisions of Section 16 of the Policies and Procedures apply to exams.

The School is not suspending the grading system or moving to a pass/fail approach as some other law schools have done. More details about the grading scale can be found in Section 17 of the Policies and Procedures.

Thank you for your cooperation as we navigate these uncertain times.  Do not hesitate to contact Heather Bright should you have any questions or if staff can be of any assistance.

Thank you for your dedication to the School and continuing your legal education during these extraordinary circumstances. The School and faculty appreciated your willingness to adapt your routine. A few updates as we learn more and plan ahead:

• The school building is closed to everyone except faculty and staff on an as-required basis.
• At this point, expect the remainder of this year’s classes to be conducted through online recordings.
• Exams will be held as scheduled, but may include alternatives for taking them.  More information will be shared soon.
• Trials for clinical and trial practice classes will be rescheduled for a later date. If you are enrolled in one of those classes, more detailed information will be sent directly to you.
• If the current situation has affected your ability to pay tuition on time, please contact the office to make alternate arrangements.

Specifically for 4L students:

• The Board of Law Examiners has updated information on their website regarding bar exam registration. At this time, the NCBE has not made any changes regarding administration of the bar exam.
• Please order your caps and gowns by the April 10 deadline.
• The School does not plan to cancel graduation. However, if the School is unable to hold graduation as scheduled, an alternate date for the graduation ceremony will be announced.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 has created uncertainty for all of us and has prompted Nashville School of Law to take important measures.  We want to keep you informed about the School’s decisions to keep our School community and the larger community safe.

We have not been informed of any confirmed cases of COVID-19 within our School community.  However, based on the recent proclamations issued by Governor Bill Lee and Mayor John Cooper, as well as the Interim Guidance for Coronavirus Disease issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 15, 2020, NSL will take the following steps:

            (1)       Beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, we are suspending in-person classes and moving to remote learning for the classes that can be appropriately adapted for remote learning.  This will continue until at least Monday, April 13, 2020. 

            (2)       Different arrangements may be made for Criminal Trial Practice, Domestic Trial Practice, Juvenile Clinic, and Wills Clinic to accommodate previously scheduled trials or other proceedings.  Trials may be limited to the students involved directly in the trial as a counsel or a witness.  You will receive more specific information from your professors.

            (3)       We will make arrangements for the professors whose classes can be delivered remotely to record and upload their lectures.  For each course provided remotely, students will be required to send an email to the School certifying that they viewed the entire class.  You will be informed when your classes are available for viewing.

            (4)       The first examination is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 16, 2020.  We are considering modifying the exam schedule and locations to improve social distancing for students in the exam.  Information regarding any revisions to the exam schedule will be provided in the near future.

            (5)       The library will remain open with regular hours.  However, if necessary, the librarians will limit the number of users to promote social distancing.

            (6)       The School’s office will continue to be open from 8:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

We are fully aware that these disruptions to the regular schedule are bound to cause frustrations, inconveniences, and sacrifices on our students and their families.  However, these steps are required to help curb this public health crisis.  We ask your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we move through this time together.  Throughout these temporary changes, we remain committed to providing our diverse and highly motivated student body with an outstanding legal education.

Please take note:  Given the evolving nature of the spread of COVID-19, changes to this newly revised schedule – while not desired – are possible.  Please remain as flexible as you can between now and the end of the school year and continue to check for updates.

The Tennessee Supreme Court has recognized the following attorneys and recent graduates for providing more than 50 hours of pro bono service. Attorneys completed the service in one year and the 2019 graduates, named “Law Students for Justice,” completed the hours during the course of their studies at Nashville School of Law.