For 90 years Faulkner Law has been making an impact in the community. We have a history as leaders in diversity, and our alumni have gone on to serve their communities in many ways. As a law school with Christian values, our mission can be encapsulated with a passage from the Bible:
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17
Where we started
The Thomas Goode Jones School of Law was founded in 1928 by Montgomery County Circuit Judge Walter B. Jones. Faulkner University acquired the Jones School of Law in 1983, and a year later the college was accredited as a four-year university.
Since then, the school has continued to be a significant part of the Alabama community. Faulkner Law is a Christian law school where students study and learn civil discourse while also learning to respect others – regardless of their religious leanings or ideological differences. Faulkner Law strives to make a difference, and we encourage our students to do the same.
A history of community engagement
Since its founding, Faulkner Law has been making an impact in the community. As a Christian institution, we uphold Christian values by supporting the weakest among us. The Faulkner Jones School of Law has three award-winning legal clinics that provide legal services to those in need in Montgomery and the River Region. These clinics have been recognized by state and local governments as well as the Alabama Bar Association and Montgomery County Bar Association for their dedication to serving their communities. Additionally, Faulkner law students serve the Montgomery community throughout the year, providing thousands of hours of volunteer service.
History of diversity
Faulkner Law has a history of leading in diversity and supporting minority students so that all students of law have a path to success.
Our chapter of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is named for Ernestine S. Sapp, the first African American attorney to graduate from JSL in 1976. Sapp serves “of counsel” at Gray, Langford, Sapp, McGowan, Gray, Gray and Nathanson law firm in Tuskegee and she is a certified mediator. She works alongside senior partner, attorney and Civil Rights leader, Fred D. Gray who was one of the first black men in the Alabama Legislature since reconstruction from 1970 to 1974.
The BLSA addresses the community and political concerns surrounding minority law students. This student organization is committed to the achievement of all law students, and they developed a blueprint for success through an open academic enrichment program. Members strive to create professional alliances between BLSA, faculty, other student organizations, and members of the legal and political communities in Alabama.
The Ernestine S. Sapp Chapter of the Black Law Students Association was honored as the National BLSA Medium Chapter of the Year (2018-2019). This national recognition speaks to the success of the chapter and the Faulkner Law commitment to the support of minority students.
Our honorable alumni who serve their communities
For almost a century, our graduates have ascended to a variety of illustrious positions as justices on the Alabama Supreme Court, federal judges, accomplished attorneys, business leaders, and as members of our noble Armed Forces. Their success speaks to the way the Faulkner Law family fosters intellectual, spiritual, and physical health.
Here are a few Faulkner Law Alumni who have ascended to positions of honor in our government:
- Alisa Kelli Wise has been an Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme court since 2010, and she previously served on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
- Perry O. Hooper Jr. served in the Alabama House of Representatives in the 73rd district seat from 1984 until 2003.
- Bobby Bright served from 2009 to 2011 as the Representative from Alabama’s 2nd congressional district, and before that, he was the mayor of Montgomery, Alabama.
- Tommy Bryan is currently an Associate Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.
- Durell Peaden Jr. was a Republican member of the Florida Senate, representing the 2nd District since 2001. He left office at the end of 2010 due to term limits. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1995 through 2000.
Our graduates know the importance of service and caring for those in need. That’s why so many have sought public office where they can make the most significant difference in their communities.
After 90 years, the Faulkner Jones School of Law continues to be an award-winning and impactful institution. Our students go on to become pillars of their communities and leaders in communicating a healthy, fair, but impassioned discourse.
Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law is a small, Christian law school in Montgomery, Alabama with a mission to provide students with a unique advantage through the rigorous curriculum and hands-on experience. While providing an education anchored by not only intellect but also character and service, Faulkner’s Jones School of Law seeks students who will not only succeed academically but who also have a desire to use their legal degree to seek justice and serve their communities – wherever that may be. Contact Faulkner Law today at (334) 386-7910.