As we’ve seen with other rural states, Kentucky is suffering from a shortage of lawyers, so much so that many of its counties are described as “legal deserts” where there are fewer than eight practicing attorneys. The upshot of this is that there’s ample opportunity for those attending law schools in Kentucky to find work upon graduation.
Fortunately, the Bluegrass State has a number of top law programs, so you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to where to get your degree! Here they are, and what you’ll need to be a competitive applicant.
1. University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #70
Tuition: $27,301 (in-state) $51,452 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.72
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 159
Acceptance Rate: 40.8%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 83.1%
At the top of our list of law schools in Kentucky is one of the oldest public law schools in the United States, the J. David Rosenberg College of Law. Located in Lexington, this school was initially created from a law program at Transylvania University. The school was the first in the United States to institute a trial practice program.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the J. David Rosenberg College of Law comes in at:
- #23 in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships
- #57 in Legal Writing
- #80 in Tax Law
- #83 in Business/Corporate Law
- #84 in Contracts/Commercial Law
First-year classes focus on helping students become proficient in legal research and writing. Students take Introduction to Legal Research, Legal Analysis, and Legal Writing in the fall. This is followed up in the spring with Expanded Legal Research and Introduction to Advocacy.
There are a number of joint degree options available at the J. Rosenberg College of Law. Students can earn the following degree combinations:
- JD/Master of Business Administration
- JD/Master of Public Administration
- JD/Master of Arts in Diplomacy and International Commerce
- JD/Master of Health Administration
Clinics at the school include:
The Civil Litigation Clinic
This provides third-year students the opportunity to represent clients who can’t afford a lawyer. Students can represent clients in negotiations with state or federal agencies, in court proceedings (including trials), and in administrative hearings.
The Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Kentucky Clinic
Attorneys in this clinic work on cold cases to redress historical civil rights violations in Kentucky. By partnering with families and communities to correct past injustices, the clinic aims to uncover an accurate history of racism in Kentucky and help those still suffering its consequences.
The Advanced Clinic
Students in this clinic keep working on cases from previous semesters, take on more complex legal issues, start up new clinic projects, and help train new students. To enroll, students must have completed either the Civil Litigation Clinic or the Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Kentucky Clinic.
Externships can be done at the following locations:
- Children’s Law Center
- Commonwealth Attorney’s Office of Fayette County
- Department of Public Advocacy in Lexington
- Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority
- Kentucky Innocence Project
- Legal Aid of the Bluegrass
Student-run law journals include the Kentucky Law Journal (the tenth oldest law review published in the United States), and the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture and Natural Resources Law, a multi-disciplinary journal of law, science and policy.
There are 33 active student organizations at the Rosenberg College of Law!
These include (the):
- Appalachian Law Caucus
- Business Law Society
- Equine Law Society
- Health Law Society
- Immigration Law Society
- Law Wellness Initiative
- Moot Court Board
- Parents Attending Law School (PALS)
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- Student Bar Association
Summary:
The median undergraduate GPA of program entrants is 3.72, so getting in isn’t easy. That said, the median LSAT score is a reasonable 159, and the school has a relatively high acceptance rate of 40.8%.
This school may be a viable option if you have good grades but didn’t do quite as well on the LSAT. It’s also one to keep in mind if you’re interested in landing a federal clerkship after graduation.
2. University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #124
Tuition: $28,000 (in-state) $33,000 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.67
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 157
Acceptance Rate: 63.4%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 75.6%
The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is the oldest law school in Kentucky. Named after the famed Supreme Court justice, the school’s governing philosophy is one Brandeis himself deeply believed in—that the law should serve the people. Accordingly, Brandeis students are taught the law is a public trust. And they’re expected to use it to make a difference, not just earn a living.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law comes in at:
- #22 in Legal Writing
- #75 in Health Care Law
- #94 in Dispute Resolution
- #100 in Environmental Law
- #108 in Constitutional Law
First-year students take Civil Procedure, Contracts, Torts, and Lawyering Skills I in the fall semester. In the spring, they take Constitutional Law, Property, Criminal Law, Lawyering Skills II, and Professional Identity.
Students can earn the following dual degree options:
- JD/Master of Arts in Health Care Ethics
- JD/Master of Arts in Humanities
- JD/Master of Arts in Political Science
- JD/Master of Business Administration
- JD/Master of Public Administration
- JD/Master of Science in Social Work
- JD/Master of Urban Planning
Through the Samuel L. Greenbaum Public Service Program, students are trained to be thoughtful lawyers who take an interest in serving their communities. Enrollment in the program is mandatory, which ensures every Brandeis student does some community-oriented legal work while they’re in law school.
Clinics at Brandeis include:
The Ackerson Law Clinic (Domestic Violence)
This clinic is open to third-year students that want to represent survivors of domestic violence in court.
The Mediation Clinic
In this clinic, second and third-year students help self-represented parties resolve disputes in family court.
The Immigration Law Clinic
Students enrolled in this clinic can help clients with immigration applications and representation before federal tribunals.
The Housing Clinic (Eviction Defense)
Third-year students working in this clinic help low-income tenants facing eviction in Jefferson County District Court.
The Entrepreneurship Clinic
In this clinic, law students advise start-ups and businesses when it comes to contracts, intellectual property, and business formation.
Externships can be done in:
Public Service and Government
Locations include the Indiana Department of Child Services, the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, and the Energy and Environment Cabinet.
Criminal Justice
Partners include the Kentucky Innocence Project, local prosecutors, and public defenders.
Judicial Externships
Students can work directly with trial judges, appellate judges, and their staff.
Corporate and In-House Counsel
Brandeis students can work in various University of Louisville legal departments and with major local employers like Signature Healthcare.
Legal Aid and Advocacy
Organizations that have externships for Brandeis students include the Legal Aid Society, the ACLU of Kentucky, and the Kentucky Equal Justice Center.
Student journals at Brandeis include the Journal of Animal and Environmental Law and the University of Louisville Law Review.
Finally, Brandeis has plenty of student organizations you can join!
These include but aren’t limited to (the):
- Advocacy Society
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Appalachian Law Caucus
- Disability Allied Law Students Association
- Honor Council
- International Law Society
- Sports and Entertainment Law Society
- Student Bar Association
- Student Health Law Association
- Veterans Advocacy Organization
Summary:
The median GPA of program entrants is 367, so Brandeis has high admissions standards. That said, the median LSAT score of program entrants is only slightly higher than the national median. Additionally, it’s important to remember the school has a very high acceptance rate of 63.4%.
The bottom line: Brandeis is one of the top law schools in Kentucky. It could be a great choice if you’re interested in legal writing or public service, have strong grades, and LSAT scores somewhat close to or above the national median score.
3. Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law
U.S. News Top Law School Ranking: #131
Tuition: $25,392 (in-state) $39,458 (out-of-state)
Median Undergrad GPA of Program Entrants: 3.41
Median LSAT Score of Program Entrants: 154
Acceptance Rate: 58.7%
First-Time Bar Passage Rate: 73.9%
Rounding off our list of law schools in Kentucky is the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, which opened its doors in 1893. Named after the famous Cincinnati lawyer Abraham Lincoln appointed to the Supreme Court in 1864, the school had one of the first night law programs in the United States. It now offers full-time day classes, part-time day classes, and evening programs.
According to U.S. News and World Report, the Salmon P. Chase College of Law comes in at:
- #39 in Law Schools With the most Graduates in Public Interest Law
- #63 in Part-Time Law
- #100 in Criminal Law
- #120 in Legal Writing
- #125 in Health Care Law
- #132 in Tax Law
In their first year, students take classes that give them a good grounding in legal analysis, research, and basic legal doctrines. Through the Virtual Writing Center, Chase students have access to a variety of writing resources, including brief and memo samples, video tutorials, pleadings, and PowerPoints. The center also allows first-year students to connect with upperclassmen that can help them with cover letters and legal writing samples.
Interested students can earn certificate concentrations in the following:
- Child and Family Law
- Excellence in Advocacy
- Transactional Practice Law
- Labor and Employment Law
The school offers a JD/Master of Business Administration dual degree option that allows students to earn a JD from Chase while getting an MBA from the Northern Kentucky University Haile College of Business.
Clinics include:
The Children’s Law Center Clinic
Students enrolled in this clinic help prepare cases involving children and teenagers. Areas of law commonly practiced include education rights, delinquency, access to social services, and custody. Working in this clinic allows students to develop their interviewing, negotiating, investigating, and litigation skills.
The Kentucky Innocence Project
Lawyers in this clinic help Kentucky inmates erroneously convicted of a crime win their freedom. You’ll interview prisoners, eyewitnesses, have access to crime scenes, analyze evidence, and write up legal documents related to the case. It’s great legal experience, regardless of whether you’re going into civil or criminal law.
The Sixth Circuit Clinic
Students enrolled in this clinic work with clients, lawyers, and judges in the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.
The Small Business and Nonprofit Law Clinic
Here students get transactional law experience by working with small business and nonprofit clients. Students can develop important lawyer skills like interviewing, drafting, and client counseling.
Students that demonstrate excellent academic and legal writing ability can serve as staff members on the Northern Kentucky Law Review. This is an independent journal edited and published by Chase law students. The journal is published three times a year and features scholarly writings by professors, students, jurists, and practitioners. The journal is available through LexisNexis, Westlaw, and in most law libraries.
Student organizations at Chase include (the):
- Chase College of Law Student Bar Association
- Energy and Environmental Law Society
- Federal Bar Association
- Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International
Summary:
You’ll need good grades to get in, as the median undergrad GPA of program entrants is 3.41. However, the median LSAT score of first-year students is 154 (just above the national median). So keep this one in mind if you have good grades but maybe didn’t do as well on the LSAT.
This school could also be a good choice if you’re interested in going into public interest law or looking for a good part-time day or evening program.
How Do I Get Accepted to one of the Law Schools in Kentucky?
Whether you’re applying to law schools in Kentucky or another part of the country, the process is the same. The first step in the law school admissions timeline is to take the LSAT. Although there are no required LSAT scores for law school, all of them have median LSAT scores that give you a pretty good indication of how you compare to their previous incoming class. Remember, law schools want to attract the best of the best, so make sure you give yourself the ultimate shot by getting a high LSAT score.
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