Law Student Well-Being
The University of Richmond strives to create a culture of well-being on campus. We aim to create a thriving, collaborative campus culture that reflects our collective commitment to community health.
The University of Richmond School of Law prioritizes the well-being of our students through a combination of education, events, materials, and direct services that focus on the six dimensions of lawyer well-being as identified in The Path to Lawyer Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change published by the Institute for Well-Being in Law – Emotional, Intellectual, Occupational, Physical, Social, and Spiritual.
Please review the menu below to explore the well-being resources available to students at Richmond Law, the University of Richmond, the Richmond community, as well as national resources.
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Emotional Well-Being
Recognizing the importance of emotions. Developing the ability to identify and manage our own emotions to support mental health, achieve goals, and inform decision-making. Seeking help for mental health when needed.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the University of Richmond offers a wide range of services to law students at the University of Richmond. CAPS takes a goal-focused and collaborative approach to mental health services. CAPS strives to provide immediate, meaningful help focused on what students’ needs are right from the very first meeting.
CAPS and the Law School have worked together to designate time and space for a CAPS counselor to meet with students within the Law School. Mary Ann Messer, a CAPS counselor, is able to provide individual therapy sessions for all law students. She is also available for consultation with faculty and staff, referrals, outreach activities, and group therapy.
Mary Ann’s dedicated law school hours are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. If you are interested in receiving services through CAPS, please complete the registration forms on the CAPS website, which are available during business hours. You will receive an email or phone call following completion prompting you to schedule a Brief Consultation appointment. During this 30-minute meeting (held either in the Well-Being Center or virtually), you and a clinician will work to decide the best next steps, which may include individual counseling at the law school with Mary Ann.
CAPS offers a variety of services in addition to individual counseling. Online self-help options, well-being seminars, group counseling, psychiatric services, and off-campus referrals may all be accessed through CAPS.
If you are concerned that a student is in immediate danger to their safety or the safety of others, call the police.
All other types of concern related to the mental and/or emotional health of a student may be reported by filling out this form. This form may be submitted anonymously. When a concern about a law student is reported using this form, it is routed to the Associate Dean of Students for the Law School, Alex Sklut. Concerns may also be reported directly to Dean Sklut.
The Virginia Judges & Lawyers Assistance Program offers tailored counseling services and support groups to law students who are suffering from mental health disorders and addiction. Their services are 100% free, confidential and non-disciplinary. Seeking help from VJLAP, whether for a current substance abuse or mental health issue or for dealing with a past legal infraction, can allow you to create a positive record of mature and responsible behavior in the face of situations that might otherwise seem to create obstacles to bar admissions.
The Mental Health Toolkit is the product of collaboration between the ABA Law Student Division and the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP). The purpose of the Toolkit is to provide caring pre-law advisors, law school administrators, counseling personnel, faculty, students, student leaders, and lawyer assistance programs with a user-friendly resource to deal with mental health and substance use within your school.
SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. SAMHSA’s “Find Treatment” website allows users to easily search for licensed behavioral health and substance abuse professionals by zip code.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI provides free, nationwide support services to those seeking help. Services include 24/7 crisis support via text, online chat, and call-in options.
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Intellectual Well-Being
Engaging in continuous learning and the pursuit of creative or intellectually challenging activities that foster ongoing development; monitoring cognitive wellness.
The Law Library provides resources and services to support the foundation of a modern legal education. Our team of research and tech experts teach, train, and advise students and faculty on tools and sources for successful scholarship and service.
Access to reference and research services, technology support, course reserves, study aids, and much more is available through the library. A good place to begin exploring Law Library resources is on the LibGuides Landing Page.
The Academic Success Program is designed to help new students succeed in their first year of law school. It provides first-year students with specialized instruction in the skills that are unique to the study of law, including case briefing, outlining and exam taking. Instruction is offered through workshops, classes, and individual meetings.
Richmond Law has three student-run journals: the University of Richmond Law Review,
the Richmond Journal of Law and Technology, and the Richmond Public Interest Law
Review. Each journal reviews, edits, and publishes articles and essays written by scholars as well as students. Journals also sponsor academic symposia on topics of interest throughout the year.
A disability is defined as a condition that significantly limits a major life activity. It includes more “visible” disabilities that are somewhat easily identifiable, but it also includes “invisible” disabilities, or conditions you may not be able to tell just by observing or interacting with someone, such as having a learning disability, attention disorder, or major depression. Disability is actually a pretty broad term that can encompass lots of conditions and diagnoses depending on how they impact that person.
Students with disabilities of any kind that affect their academic performance or cognition may be eligible for academic accommodations and may apply for them online. Students who are interested in learning more about accommodations or who have questions about their eligibility should contact the Director of Disability Services, Dr. Cort Schneider.
Refer to the National Security Education Association’s Accessibility and Digital Security Guide: A guide to cybersecurity for people with vision loss, hearing loss, or a disability.
Richmond Law recognizes the value of students participating in conferences and other programs that occur outside of the Richmond area. Participation in these events provides opportunities for not only the students who attend, but to the whole law school when these students return and share the knowledge they have gained. The School of Law has therefore created a Student Travel Fund to help support students who would like to participate in these opportunities.
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Occupational Well-Being
Cultivating personal satisfaction, growth, and enrichment at work; financial stability.
The Career Development Office provides the tools, strategies, and support students need to navigate the employment search. Through a combination of one-on-one advising, small-group interactive workshops and information sessions, mock interviews, recruitment programs, and networking events, the CDO helps students identify and secure summer internships and post-graduate opportunities that fit your interests and goals.
Students can access an array of video and print resources in the Student Portal for Career Development, as well as view and apply for employment opportunities in Symplicity.
The Financial Aid Office supports students in many ways. They process loans and scholarship awards, provide helpful information about loan repayment, forgiveness, and consolidation, guidance on student budgeting, and answers to questions frequently asked by law students about financial aid.
Students may also reach out to the Financial Aid Office to request an appointment with a personal financial aid advisor to discuss their individual financial needs.
MAX by AccessLex is a free, multi-faceted personal finance program designed exclusively for law students. MAX provides quick and easy to understand lessons, in-person and online learning options, one-on-one financial coaching from Accredited Financial Counselors, and over $300,000 in scholarship incentives each year to law students nationally. MAX content covers topics from paying for law school to investing for your retirement – and every step in between.
Law students are eligible to seek on-campus employment through the student University Work Program (UWP). On-campus jobs are often ideal for law students, as they can be more understanding of the academic schedule than private employment opportunities. Current UWP openings and associated applications are updated regularly.
The Law Student Emergency Fund provides limited financial assistance to enrolled law students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an emergency. Full information regarding eligibility requirements are listed on the Law Student Emergency Fund application form.
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Physical Well-Being
Striving for regular physical activity, proper diet and nutrition, sufficient sleep, and recovery. Seeking help for physical health when needed.
The Student Health Center provides evaluation and treatment for illnesses and injuries as well as assistance in managing chronic disease. Services provided by the Student Health Center include individual appointments, pharmacy services, STI testing, tobacco cessation, flu shots, and laboratory testing.
The Student Health Center also provides students with access to an after-hours nurse advice line and provides information about off-campus providers for students in need of after hours care and/or off-campus resources.
The University requires enrolled law students to be protected with full health insurance coverage. The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) ensures that students have access to comprehensive health insurance and health care while attending the University.
University Nutrition Services offers a variety of resources to students, including nutrition counseling with professional dieticians, support for students with food allergies, and a demo kitchen, plus advice on how students can identify healthy dining choices on-campus.
University Recreation enhances the lives of students by providing quality recreational programs and resources. The Weinstein Center for Recreation, located just a short walk from the law school, contains a state-of-the-art indoor gym, basketball courts, a pool, a racquetball court, and an indoor track. Outside the center students have access to a sand volleyball court, intramural fields, a picnic area, and outdoor walking and running trails. The Weinstein Center also offers fitness classes at no charge to students. Students can view fitness center hours and learn more by downloading and using the University Recreation FusionGo App or Weinstein Center Portal.
- Social Well-Being
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Spiritual Well-Being
Developing a sense of meaningfulness and purpose in all aspects of life.
The Office of the Chaplaincy is committed to the spiritual well-being of our campus community. The Chaplaincy offers opportunities for spiritual practice, pastoral care, and support during times of joy and sadness, as well as throughout life’s everyday stresses and challenges. Chaplaincy staff are available for pastoral care, spiritual guidance, mindfulness practice, meditation, prayer and other forms of spiritual support. All members of the University of Richmond community are welcome, including those of all faith backgrounds and those with no faith or spiritual background
The Carrico Center connects the skills and talents of the Richmond Law student body with the greater Richmond community and a network of regional, national, and international programs.
Pro bono public (“for the public good”) work is an integral part of what it means to be an attorney. By cultivating such service, the Center for Pro Bono & Public Service not only provides a valuable resource for the community, it also prepares students for a life of purposeful citizenship.
The Modlin Center for the Arts presents diverse and vibrant arts experiences that inspire, engage, and enrich the community on- and off-campus. Over seventy events take place at the Modlin Center every year, often at a great discount to students.
The University of Richmond Outdoor Adventure and Recreation (OAR) program strives to create an inclusive environment that fosters personal growth, environmental stewardship, peer leadership, and multi-dimensional wellness through experiential education programming.
OAR offers equipment rental, outdoor trips, and more for the student looking to get out and experience the great outdoors.
Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-development support network while also contributing to our groups and communities.
There are over thirty-five student run organizations at Richmond Law, including the Student Bar Association (SBA), which is the student governing body at the law school. Student organizations create opportunities for students to connect with each other, grow leadership skills, and learn outside the classroom.
At the start of their first year, students are assigned a faculty advisor and a section advisor who can provide guidance on course selection, extracurriculars, and other issues. Students meet with their faculty advisor and section advisor during orientation and then periodically during their time at the law school. Many faculty members also serve as informal advisors to students who are not specifically assigned to them. You are encouraged to seek out faculty members who teach in the areas that interest you. The faculty advising program is overseen by Professor Janice Craft, and the section advising program is overseen by Dean Laura Webb.
Additionally, the Admissions Office assigns incoming first-year students a peer mentor. These mentors are upper class students who volunteer through the Student Bar Association. Peer mentors supplement the advising offered by faculty and often address social and other student issues.
The SCEI seeks to cultivate inclusive communities and empower students to be affirmed in the intersections of their identities and amplify the voices of these populations. To achieve this mission the center is dedicated to enhancing Multicultural, LGBTQ, and First-Generation student experiences on campus.
The SCEI provides social and transition support for underserved students. We celebrate and support an increasingly diverse student body and promote dialogue between individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities.
Hobbies and interests can often be solitary pursuits, but also can offer opportunities for socialization and connection. Getting off-campus and getting to know like-minded community members through a shared interest can be a great way to develop socially.