University of Kentucky College of Law
Encyclopedia
The 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 current dean of the College of Law is David Brennen.
According to the most recent publication of US News and World Report, the Law School is ranked #55 among all public and private universities. 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.
The UK 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. The Kentucky Law Journal is one of the oldest law reviews in the United States.
A 2002 study suggested that if a new College of Law structure was to be constructed, it should relocate closer to downtown Lexington
. The suggestion from the study by Ayers Saint Gross
, an architectural firm specializing in campus planning and the design of academic buildings, proposed that a new building for the college be constructed on Scott Street near the College of Education. A parking lot currently occupies the 3.3 acres (13,354.6 m²) site, where the College of Law hopes to construct a 120000 sq ft (11,148.4 m²). structure.
Such a move would also involve relocating the University of Kentucky Legal Clinic into the new structure. The Legal Clinic is currently adjacent to the Lexington Theological Seminary
across from the Law School.
It was later decided that the new building should be constructed on Scott Street across from the Taylor Education Building and Dickey Hall . The structure, expected to cost $75 million, will be financed through $15 million in fundraising, with the remainder coming from the state. The location, currently a 3.3 acres (13,354.6 m²) parking lot, will double the size of the existing structure and add much needed student common areas. It will ultimately contain five structures and two courtyards. One of the buildings will be named "Cooper Hall" after former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice William S. Cooper (Class of 1970).
The College of Law again relocated to its current building located on South Limestone in 1965.
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.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Founded initially from a law program at Transylvania University
Transylvania University
Transylvania University is a private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Lexington, Kentucky, United States, affiliated with the Christian Church . The school was founded in 1780. It offers 38 majors, and pre-professional degrees in engineering and accounting...
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The current dean of the College of Law is David Brennen.
According to the most recent publication of US News and World Report, the Law School is ranked #55 among all public and private universities. 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.
The UK 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. The Kentucky Law Journal is one of the oldest law reviews in the United States.
Law library
The Alvin E. Evans Library is the largest law library in the Commonwealth 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.Law building
Constructed in 1965, the University of Kentucky College of Law building houses the Alvin E. Evans Library, classrooms, and faculty offices. However, because the building is widely perceived as too small for the school's needs, the College of Law will be relocating to a new structure along Scott Street.A 2002 study suggested that if a new College of Law structure was to be constructed, it should relocate closer to downtown Lexington
Cityscape of Lexington, Kentucky
The urban development patterns of Lexington, Kentucky, confined within an urban growth boundary that protects its famed horse farms, include greenbelts and expanses of land between it and the surrounding towns. This has been done to preserve the region's horse farms and the unique Bluegrass...
. The suggestion from the study by Ayers Saint Gross
Ayers Saint Gross
Ayers Saint Gross, or Ayers/Saint/Gross, is a national architectural firm specializing in academic planning and design, based in Baltimore, Maryland. The firm was known for institutional and residential projects until the 1980s when it specialized in the "design and planning for non-profit...
, an architectural firm specializing in campus planning and the design of academic buildings, proposed that a new building for the college be constructed on Scott Street near the College of Education. A parking lot currently occupies the 3.3 acres (13,354.6 m²) site, where the College of Law hopes to construct a 120000 sq ft (11,148.4 m²). structure.
Such a move would also involve relocating the University of Kentucky Legal Clinic into the new structure. The Legal Clinic is currently adjacent to the Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary
Lexington Theological Seminary is an accredited graduate theological institution located in Lexington, Kentucky. Although the seminary is related to the Christian Church , it is intentionally ecumenical with almost 50 percent of its enrollment coming from other denominations...
across from the Law School.
It was later decided that the new building should be constructed on Scott Street across from the Taylor Education Building and Dickey Hall . The structure, expected to cost $75 million, will be financed through $15 million in fundraising, with the remainder coming from the state. The location, currently a 3.3 acres (13,354.6 m²) parking lot, will double the size of the existing structure and add much needed student common areas. It will ultimately contain five structures and two courtyards. One of the buildings will be named "Cooper Hall" after former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice William S. Cooper (Class of 1970).
History
As noted, 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. 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.The College of Law again relocated to its current building located on South Limestone in 1965.
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
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
and was elected to the Order of the Coif
Order of the Coif
The Order of the Coif is an honor society for United States law school graduates. A student at an American law school who earns a Juris Doctor degree and graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class is eligible for membership if the student's law school has a chapter of the...
in 1931.
Noted people
- Steve BeshearSteve BeshearSteven Lynn "Steve" Beshear is an American politician who is the 61st Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. A Democrat, Beshear previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1974 to 1979, was the state's Attorney General from 1980 to 1983, and was Lieutenant Governor from...
'68 - Edward T. Ned BreathittEdward T. BreathittEdward Thompson "Ned" Breathitt, Jr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. A member of one of the state's political families, he was the 51st Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1963 to 1967...
'50 - Stephen BrightStephen BrightStephen Bright is president and senior counsel for the Southern Center for Human Rights and teaches at Harvard University and Yale University Law Schools and the Georgetown University Law Center...
'74 - John Y. Brown, Sr.John Y. Brown, Sr.John Young Brown, Sr. was a state representative for nearly three decades, serving one term as speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives and as majority floor leader during the term of Gov. Edward T. Breathitt. A Democrat, he was elected to one term in the U.S...
'26 - John Y. Brown, IIIJohn Y. Brown, IIIJohn Young Brown III is a Kentucky politician. Brown served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1996 to 2004. In 2007, Brown ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky as the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Jody Richards, the Speaker of the...
'92 - Karen K. CaldwellKaren K. CaldwellKaren Kaye Caldwell is a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.-Education and prior career:...
'80 - Albert B. "Happy" ChandlerHappy ChandlerAlbert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
'24 - Ben ChandlerBen ChandlerAlbert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III is the U.S. Representative for , serving since a special election in 2004. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
'86 - Wendell Cherry '59, Co-Founder of Humana Inc.
- Bert T. CombsBert T. CombsBertram Thomas Combs was a jurist and politician from the US state of Kentucky. After serving on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, he was elected the 50th Governor of Kentucky in 1959 on his second run for the office. Following his gubernatorial term, he was appointed to the Sixth Circuit Court of...
'37 - Joe CraftJoe CraftJoe Craft, a Hazard, Kentucky native, is president and chief executive officer of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., a diversified coal producer and marketer...
'76 - James E. KellerJames E. KellerJames E. Keller is a native of Harlan, Kentucky, United States. He received his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University. In 1966, he graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law before entering into private practice from 1969 until 1976.He was elected to serve as a...
'66 - Robert G. LawsonRobert G. LawsonRobert "Bob" G. Lawson is a professor at the University of Kentucky College of Law, Kentucky, United States.-Professional career:Lawson holds the position of the principal drafter to both the Kentucky Penal Code and the Kentucky Rules of Evidence...
'63 - Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellAddison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
'67 - Hal RogersHal RogersHarold Dallas "Hal" Rogers is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1981. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and early career:...
'64 - Ed WhitfieldEd WhitfieldWayne Edward "Ed" Whitfield is the U.S. Representative of , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers much of the western part of the state, including Hopkinsville, Paducah, Henderson and Kentucky's share of Fort Campbell.-Early life, education and...
'69
See also
- Buildings at the University of KentuckyBuildings at the University of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky is home to many notable structures, including three high-rises. Major construction projects are underway or are being planned that includes a new hospital, School of Pharmacy building, and several new college structures.By floor count and height...
- Cityscape of Lexington, KentuckyCityscape of Lexington, KentuckyThe urban development patterns of Lexington, Kentucky, confined within an urban growth boundary that protects its famed horse farms, include greenbelts and expanses of land between it and the surrounding towns. This has been done to preserve the region's horse farms and the unique Bluegrass...
- University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...