About UofL Law
The success and stature of the University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law are grounded in a commitment to excellence in preparing lawyers for productive careers. With the resources of the University of Louisville behind it, the law school is able to provide world-class faculty, strong programs and top-notch academic support.
The University of Louisville School of Law strives to promote collegiality and professionalism. Its culture is based on civility and respect for all students and faculty. The school also seeks to admit and support a diverse law school population and provides opportunities to share and discuss differing opinions.
Distinctive Programs
The study of law is an experience in discovery, discourse and discipline. At the University of Louisville School of Law, students find the excitement of new ideas, the challenge of intellectual exchange and the rigor of critical analysis. The school's rich curriculum provides a comprehensive education in legal doctrine, practical skills and professional values, as well as opportunities for interdisciplinary study. Students also have the opportunity to enhance their program of legal study through international study, clinical externships and our own legal clinic.
Requirements and Degree Information
The School of Law J.D. degree requires the completion of 90 credit hours and may be completed on a full or part-time basis. The full-time program is a three-year course of study for students who are able to devote virtually all of their time to the study of law. The part-time program is a flexible program designed to meet the needs of contemporary students. It generally results in the completion of the J.D. degree in four to five years.
The first year curriculum is standardized for all entering students and can be found at: https://www.law.louisville.edu/academics/first-year-j-d-program. Part time students will spread the first year courses over their first two years of study. In addition to the first-year curriculum, students must satisfactorily complete the following courses and other requirements:
- Constitutional Law I and II
- 24 credit hours of core courses
- Upper Division Writing Requirement
- Public Service Requirement
- At least one "Perspective" Course
- Professional Responsibility
Dual Degree Programs
The University of Louisville offers several dual degree programs designed to enhance the student's understanding, skills and career opportunities in both areas of study. Each requires application and admission to both participating schools.- Master of Business Administration/Juris Doctor (MBA/JD)
- Master of Science in Social Work/Juris Doctor (MSSW/JD)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in Humanities (JD/MAH)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Divinity (JD/M.Div.)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Political Science (JD/MA)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Urban Planning (JD/MUP)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Bioethics (JD/MS)
A Strong Tradition of Student Success
The University of Louisville School of Law has a strong track record in moot court and professional skills competitions. Students are also actively involved in writing for and publishing the University of Louisville Law Review, Journal of Law and Education, and Journal of Animal & Environmental Law.
Participation in numerous student organizations also enhances student success, providing access to a lively intellectual community. Students are active in the International Law Society, Environmental Law Society, Federalist Society, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Lambda Law Caucus, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, Women's Law Caucus, Black Law Students Association, Latin American Law Students Association, Christian Legal Society, Student Bar Association, the Foundation for Equal Justice and several legal fraternities.
Service in the Real World
As one of America's first five law schools to incorporate public service into the required curriculum, UofL Law assures that every student's education includes a chance to work outside classroom walls, dealing with real people and real problems with professional supervision and mentoring.
Every student is provided the opportunity to perform a minimum of 30 hours of law-related public service prior to graduation. Nationwide opportunities include service in legal clinics, assisting in death penalty litigation, working on domestic violence issues, serving as court advocates for children, working with victims of rape, and dealing with environmental issues. Through these experiences, students develop legal skills, professional values and an understanding of the real issues faced by the community.
Each year, UofL Law students donate more than 4,000 hours of law-related work to local, state and national organizations through this program.
Clinical Externships
Through the clinical externship program, upper-level students perform law related work and gain practical experience under the supervision of faculty and members of the bar. Students who meet the required prerequisites can choose from the following clinical experience.
- Judicial Externship - Students will be afforded an opportunity to observe the legal system from the perspective of the judge.
- Legal Aid Clinical Externship - Students will study and practice in legal skills: including interviewing, investigation, counseling, negotiation, and courtroom behavior, with the goal of developing a model of lawyer decision-making.
- Criminal Justice Externship - Students may be assigned to one of the following agencies: Public Defender, Jefferson County Attorney, or Commonwealth Attorney.
- Tax Externship - Students will work with the local office of the Internal Revenue Service and will also study an overview of tax procedure and receive instruction in computer assisted tax research.
- Domestic Violence Externship - At the Center for Women and Families, students will study statutes concerning family violence and procedures for seeking remedies and will participate in intake meetings with clients and court appearances involving protective orders, divorce, custody, visitation and dependency.
Law Clinic
The University of Louisville Law Clinic enables law students to gain practical experience by applying their legal education to real clients with real problems. The Law Clinic focuses on representing low-income clients in public housing and domestic violence cases. Under the careful supervision of the clinic director, students handle actual cases as primary attorneys.
The Law Clinic, located in the heart of downtown, epitomizes the University's commitment to preparing its graduates for instant and lasting impact in the workplace and community at large. As an innovative teaching tool, the Law Clinic enables the Law School to transform legal education into an active, hands-on enterprise of learning by doing.
Real Clients, real cases. Real problems, real solutions. This is what our clinic seeks to accomplish.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The University of Louisville participates in all federally authorized student loan programs and annually commits more than $600,000 to financial aid in the form of recruiting, academic, research, need-based and activity scholarships or awards. Many scholarships are funded by law firms, corporations, alumni and other friends of the law school. All applicants are automatically evaluated for possible scholarship or award eligibility.
A Supportive Family of Alumni
The Law School's nearly 6,000 living alumni serve the legal profession, the business community and allied professions in 49 states and six foreign countries. Local alumni also volunteer their time and expertise in a mentoring program for students and as coaches for moot court competitions.
Many nationally known figures are UofL alumni, including U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The school's alumni include current and past justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court, members of the U.S. Senate and the Kentucky legislature, and judges in a host of national and state administrative tribunals. UofL Law alumni also include past governors of Kentucky, a past president of the American Bar Association, and a past commander of the U.S. Strategic Air Command.
Our alumni have acheived great things in business, government, public interest, and the private practice of law as well, serving as general counsel for international corporations such as Yum! Brands and running large, successful organizations like Republic Bank.
An Invitation
All prospective students, alums and friends are invited to visit UofL Law and to tour its acclaimed facilities. Wilson W. Wyatt Hall is located at 2301 South 3rd Street, at the picturesque "oval" on the Belknap Campus.
The School's postal address is:
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
The School's physical address is:
2301 South Third Street
Louisville, KY 40208
