University of Kentucky College of Law
The J. David Rosenberg College of Law is a college of the University of Kentucky. Founded initially from a law program at Transylvania University in 1799, the law program at UK began operations in 1908; it was one of the nation's first public law schools. In 1913, the college became the first in the nation to institute a trial practice program, and is host to the tenth-oldest student-run law review publication in the United States. The dean of the College of Law is Mary J. Davis.
Type | Public |
---|---|
Established | 1908 |
Dean | David A. Brennan |
Location | , , United States 38.03665°N 84.50719°W |
USNWR Ranking | 70[1] |
Website | law |
According to the most recent publication of US News and World Report, the Law School is ranked #70 among all public and private universities.[1] Among the three law schools in the commonwealth, the University of Kentucky College of Law ranks the highest. Among public law schools, the program is tied at #31.[2]
The Rosenberg College of Law is home to two entirely student-run publications: the Kentucky Law Journal and the Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture & Natural Resources Law.[3] The Kentucky Law Journal is one of the oldest law reviews in the United States.
According to University of Kentucky's 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 87% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners .[4]
History
The UK College of Law began operations in 1908. It was housed in a structure now known as the Gillis Building from 1927 to 1936.[5] In 1936, the college moved into the newly built Lafferty Hall. Lafferty Hall was named after William T. Lafferty, the first dean of the College of Law.[6]
The College of Law again relocated to its current building located on South Limestone in 1965.[7] That building underwent a major renovation and expansion during 2017-2019, during which the building was taken down to its structural core and completely reconfigured.[8]
In 1913, the college began publication of the Kentucky Law Journal. The KLJ is the tenth-oldest student-run law journal in continuous publication in America.
In 1925, the college was approved by the American Bar Association and was elected to the Order of the Coif in 1931.[9]
In 2019, the college was renamed the J. David Rosenberg College of Law. This occurred after Rosenberg, a 1974 alumnus, donated $20 million to the college's endowment, earning him the naming rights to the school.[10]
Law building
Constructed in 1965, the University of Kentucky College of Law Building houses the Alvin E. Evans Library, classrooms, and faculty offices. .[11]
The Alvin E. Evans Library is the largest law library in the Commonwealth[12] and contains approximately 470,000 volumes, along with a vast array of electronic materials. It also provides access to all "U.S. reported court decisions, statutes and administrative materials" along with international materials.
A 2002 study suggested that if a new College of Law structure was to be constructed, it should relocate closer to downtown Lexington.[13] The suggested site was a block or two north, on Scott Street near the College of Education. A plan for five structures and two courtyards was abandoned because of funding difficulties. Now the school will renovate and expand its current building, a $56 million project, with state bonds paying $35 million on the condition that tuition not go up as a result. The work is to be completed in 2019.[14]
Employment
According to University of Kentucky's official 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 87% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[4] University of Kentucky's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 4.6%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2018 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[15]
Costs
The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at University of Kentucky for the 2014-2015 academic year is $53,700.[16] The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $204,646.[17]
Notable alumni
- Andy Barr '01
- Steve Beshear '68
- Edward T. Ned Breathitt '50
- Stephen Bright '74
- John Y. Brown, Sr. '26
- John Y. Brown, III '92
- David L. Bunning '91
- Karen K. Caldwell '80
- Albert B. "Happy" Chandler '24
- Ben Chandler '86
- Jennifer B. Coffman '78
- Bert T. Combs '37
- Joe Craft '76
- Karl Spillman Forester '66
- Joseph Robert Goeke '75
- John G. Heyburn II '76
- Joseph Martin Hood '72
- James E. Keller '66
- Robert G. Lawson '63
- Mitch McConnell '67
- Jim Newberry '81
- Timothy N. Philpot '77
- Hal Rogers '64
- Ernesto Scorsone '76
- Janet Stumbo '80
- David Tandy '98
- Gregory Frederick Van Tatenhove '89
- Ed Whitfield '69
- Henry Rupert Wilhoit, Jr. '60
See also
- Buildings at the University of Kentucky
References
- "University of Kentucky - Best Law Schools". Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- "U.S. News Rankings Show Jump for UK Law, Nursing". University of Kentucky College of Law. Archived from the original on June 3, 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2007.
- Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture & Natural Resources Law
- "Class of 2018 Employment Statistics" (PDF).
- UK Archives and Records Program
- UK Campus Guide, "Lafferty Hall"
- UK Campus Guide, "Law Building"
- Renovation and Expansion - UK College of Law. UK College of Law https://law.uky.edu/raisingthebar. Retrieved 5 May 2020. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - College of Law: About Us
- "New Building News". University of Kentucky College of Law. Retrieved November 21, 2006.
- http://www.pursleylaw.com/main/resource.php
- Martin, Kristi. 4 April 2002. Kentucky Kernel. 19 November 2006 "Colleges ponder downtown move"
- http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article147909009.html
- "University of Kentucky Profile".
- "Tuition and Residency".
- "University of Kentucky Profile".