University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

Louisville Law

The University of Louisville School of Law is a great option for those interested in working in Kentucky. For others, the school is likely to disappoint, as career prospects are limited outside of the state. Further, Louisville's academic program is weak overall. Regardless, the school's cheap in-state tuition and Louisville location make it one of the best options for students looking to stay in Kentucky.

History

The University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law has an important place in history, established in 1846. As the oldest law school in Kentucky and the fifth oldest in America's continuous operation, it began as the Law Department of the University of Louisville. It was eventually elevated to become a school properly in 1923 when its first full-time professor was hired.

In the early 1900s, the Jefferson School of Law also existed in Louisville and competed by operating part-time. However, this method of providing legal education became increasingly outdated as national trends shifted to favor more formal legal education. In 1950, the Jefferson School of Law and the University of Louisville School of Law merged, allowing the school to become a significant player in legal education.

Justice Louis D. Brandeis began investing heavily in the school in 1925, and his vision was solidified when Harvard law dean Roscoe Pound proposed to increase enrollments at that school. Justice Brandeis objected, calling instead for smaller, better schools and writing that the time had come to "build a law school of distinction." This vision has continued as the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville continues to offer quality legal education and produce exceptional lawyers.

Admissions

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	151 - 155 - 157	153 - 156 - 159
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.35 - 3.63 - 3.88	3.3 - 3.56 - 3.77
Acceptance rate	48.7%	51.5%
Applications received	593	684
Acceptances	289	352
Matriculants	34	42

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law received 684 applications during the 2022 application cycle, and 352 applicants were offered admission. The class size for 1Ls is 129, and the yield rate among admitted students was 36.36%. This means that 128 out of the 352 applicants were offered. Admission accepted their offer and attended the school.

The median LSAT score for admitted applicants was 156. The 25th percentile LSAT was 153, and the 75th percentile LSAT was 159. Likewise, the 1L class had a median GPA of 3.56. The 25th percentile GPA was 3.3, and the 75th percentile GPA was 3.77.

Overall, the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is a highly competitive law school with competitive admissions requirements and an impressive yield rate among admitted students. The 1L class size is relatively small and admits students with excellent academic records. The above LSAT and GPA figures demonstrate that applicants to this school must have strong academic credentials to be considered for admission.

Application Process

At the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, obtaining a Juris Doctor is an incredible opportunity for aspiring legal professionals. The application process is designed to give potential students the chance to demonstrate their aptitude for law and showcase the unique qualities they possess that set them apart from other candidates. Louisville Law seeks to create a vibrant learning environment with a diverse student body from various backgrounds. Through the admissions process, candidates will have the chance to highlight their achievements and qualifications that make them an ideal fit for the program.

Application Fee and Deadline

Prospective students interested in enrolling at the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law should be aware of several important deadlines. The first-year JD program application period begins on October 1, 2022 and runs until July 15, 2023 when applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM Eastern. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the priority deadline of January 15, 2023 in order to maximize their chances for admission. Applications must be complete and ready for review by these dates in order to meet the priority and regular application deadlines.

Louisville Law does not charge an application fee, and applicants are automatically considered for all available institutional scholarship funding with no separate application required.

All prospective students of the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law must be sure to create an account with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This is a necessary step in order to submit their application and have their materials officially processed. It typically takes up to two weeks for LSAC to process the submitted materials, after which the law school will receive them.

Priority Applications

Applicants who apply to the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville by January 15th at 5:00 PM Eastern Time are considered priority applications, meaning they will be given preference in allocating institutional scholarship funds. It is highly recommended that those interested in the Human Rights Fellowship meet this deadline to maximize their chances of receiving scholarship funding.

Due to the priority application deadline being January 15th, applicants must take the LSAT by November 2022 to be eligible for priority review. All applications should be complete and finalized before submission to guarantee consideration for scholarship funds.

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville strives to provide a quality education for those interested in the Human Rights Fellowship. It encourages all applicants to take advantage of the priority application deadline.

Regular Applications

Suppose you're applying to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and want to be considered for institutional scholarship funding. Your application must be complete and ready for review by April 15 at 5:00 PM Eastern. However, if you have yet to submit your application by the priority application deadline, you can still be classified as a regular application if you can complete it by April 15.

In addition, to meet the regular application deadline and be eligible for consideration for institutional scholarship funding, you must take the LSAT by February 2023. Taking the exam earlier may improve your chances of being considered for higher funding levels.

Late Applications

Applications for admission to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law must be completed by the regular application deadline to be considered. Unfortunately, applications received after this deadline are classified as late applications and will not be eligible for institutional scholarship funding. The application portal will close at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on July 15, 2023, and it will not be possible to submit a late application or make any changes to an already submitted but incomplete application after this time.

Applicants must take the LSAT by June of 2023 for their scores to be considered for Fall 2023 admission. All applicants must ensure they have taken the LSAT to meet the deadline. Only applications with an LSAT taken beyond this date will be accepted.

Application Components

Applying to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law for a JD program requires submitting an application, which includes more than just the standard electronic form found on LSAC.org. This application should include additional components that can assist in painting a fuller picture of the applicant, helping to make them stand out from the competition.

LSAT Score Report

To apply for the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, you must have a reportable score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) within the past five testing years. In other words, your most recent LSAT score must be five years old to be considered valid. You may submit your application before you have a reportable LSAT score. However, it will be complete once the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) releases your score report to the school. It is important to note that you must also complete at least one LSAT Writing section, which is administered separately from the primary LSAT test before your LSAT score will be released.

Transcripts

Suppose you are applying to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. In that case, you must submit official transcripts from any post-secondary institutions you have attended via the Common Application System (CAS). This means not only those schools from which you got a degree but also any other university, college, or institution from which you earned transfer credits or dual enrollment credits while still in high school. It is essential that your transcripts accurately display any degrees conferred and the dates of conferral.

Letters of Recommendation

To apply to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, applicants must submit two letters of recommendation via the Centralized Application Service (CAS). It is possible to submit a third letter of recommendation if desired. The Admissions Committee looks favorably on academic or professional letters. It strongly encourages applicants currently studying or recently completing a degree program to submit at least one letter from a faculty member who taught them in a traditional classroom setting. The Committee discourages personal letters of recommendation, such as those written by friends or family members. All letters of recommendation must be received through CAS; any other means may not be accepted.

Personal Statement

A personal statement must be included when applying to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. This essay is an open-ended opportunity for prospective students to choose whatever topic they wish and express themselves in a two to three-page double-spaced document. It should demonstrate the applicant's ability to write quality work with the standard typeface and margins. The personal statement is also a chance for the Admissions Committee to gain more insight into the student's personality and background and what they can offer to our law school community and the legal profession. By taking this opportunity, applicants have the unique privilege of introducing themselves in an individualized way that goes beyond standard application materials.

Résumé

You must include a current resume with your application. Your resume should be well structured and formatted correctly to accurately convey your educational background, career history, and any notable accomplishments you have achieved. Most applicants' resumes will fit on a single page if the information is presented carefully and concisely. If you have substantial work experience, it may be reasonable to use a second page for your resume.

Character and Fitness

For anyone looking to become a lawyer in the United States, it is necessary first to pass a bar examination to qualify for admission to the bar of any jurisdiction. However, that is not all that is required; each jurisdiction has its own set of character and fitness qualifications and other criteria that an aspiring lawyer must adhere to to be eligible to practice law.

Diversity Statement (Optional)

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is committed to providing equal education and legal opportunity for people from all backgrounds. The Admissions Committee considers diversity in their applicant evaluations an essential factor in achieving this goal. To demonstrate how an applicant might contribute to a diverse learning environment and expand the representation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession, applicants are encouraged to submit a diversity statement with their application.

Addendum (Optional)

If you would like to provide additional information about your application for consideration by the Admissions Committee, you may do so with a supplement. This should be a concise, double-spaced document that is one page at maximum (250 words), except in certain extraordinary circumstances. Through this document, you may explain any areas of your application that need further clarification. For example, you may use it to explain a gap in education or employment or provide additional information regarding academic performance in a particular course. You can also include any other relevant details that would not fit within the confines of your statement or application forms.

Employment Prospects

Louisville Law

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law graduates can look forward to a prosperous career in their chosen field. The median salary for those who pursue private sector jobs is $63,500; this figure drops to $47,750 for those who enter the public sector.

The law school has a good track record of preparing graduates for the bar exam — 87.4% pass on their first attempt.

Many JD grads choose to go into traditional legal careers, with 54.9% choosing to work in law firms and 8.0% clerking for a judge. Those with public service leanings have 9.7% of them entering public interest.

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is a great place to pursue your legal education and experience an excellent return on investment. With its impressive job placement rate, graduates can look forward to a bright future in the legal profession.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law offers an outstanding education in the field of law, which is reflected in its tuition costs. For residents of the university, tuition including all applicable University fees totals to $24,550 for the entire academic year. Non-residents who wish to attend this prestigious school of law will see an increase in tuition, with the total cost reaching a whopping $29,550. Financial aid and scholarships are available to students who qualify, allowing them to reduce their tuition costs even further. Furthermore, the school has a loan repayment assistance program that helps graduates manage their debt. With its strong commitment to providing quality education at an affordable price, the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is an excellent choice for those looking to pursue a career in the field of law.

Cost of Attendance

At Louisville Law, the cost of attendance for full-time students is based on the university's tuition and fees are set by its Board of Trustees and are subject to change. This means that incoming first-year students will be charged for fifteen credit hours per semester, while upper-level students may be required to take at least ten credit hours per semester. The figures below are based on the estimated tuition rates for 2022-2023 and should be used for planning purposes only.

	Resident	Nonresident
Tuition (includes University Fees)	$24,550	$29,550
Law School Technology Fee	$100	$100
Room & Board	$12,148	$12,148
Books & Supplies	$1,272	$1,272
Travel Expenses	$2,522	$2,522
Personal Expenses	$8,252	$8,252
Student Loan Fees	$196	$196
Total	$48,940	$53,940

Scholarships & Awards

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law provides scholarship opportunities for incoming students to ease the financial burden of attending law school. Institutional scholarships are available, and applicants are automatically considered with no separate application required. Although other considerations will be considered when allocating scholarship funds, an applicant’s LSAT score, and undergraduate GPA will play an essential role in the decision. Louisville Law does not take financial needs into account when making scholarship determinations.

Determinations are made on a rolling basis as part of the admissions process, with applications that are complete and ready for review by the priority application deadline of January 15th, given priority consideration for available institutional scholarships. Applications that are complete and ready for review by the regular application deadline of April 15th will also be considered, although funding may not be available in some cases. Applications that still need to be completed before the regular application deadline generally do not qualify for institutional scholarships.

Human Rights Fellowship

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville offers a unique fellowship program to its students dedicated to advancing human rights across the globe. The Human Rights Fellowship Program recognizes and awards student leaders willing to join and work with the Brandeis Human Rights Advocacy Program (HRAP). HRAP is actively involved with various nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders to ensure that immigrants, refugees, and noncitizens have access to health care, education, and legal and vocational services.

External Scholarships

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law provides a wealth of scholarship opportunities for its students, both those who have already completed their application process and current law students. These scholarships come from public agencies, charitable organizations, private firms, and the school itself. Prospective and existing students are encouraged to take advantage of the AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank, which contains a comprehensive catalog of available scholarships and writing competitions.

Application requirements for these external scholarships vary depending on the source. Some may be open to applicants the school has yet to accept, but in all cases, enrollment into a JD program is required before receiving the scholarship funds.

Academics and Curriculum

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is an exceptional institution providing students with the highest quality legal education. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a proud member of the Association of American Law Schools. Students enrolled at this prestigious university can pursue their J.D. full-time or part-time. The full-time program is a rigorous three-year course of study that requires nearly all of the student’s time, while the part-time program is designed to accommodate those with outside obligations and can be completed in four or five years. Students may also switch from part-time to full-time programs after completing their first semester. For those seeking a high-quality legal education and more flexibility in the program structure, the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is a great choice.

Degree Programs

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law offers a standalone Juris Doctor (J.D.) program for individuals who have completed 90 semester hours and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher. This J.D. program is available both on a full-time and part-time basis and requires students to take core courses, perspective courses, writing and skills requirements, as well as public service requirements. In addition to the J.D. program, Brandeis School of Law also offers eight unique Dual Degree Programs for those students interested in further interdisciplinary studies and specialized fields such as taxation, health law, and cybersecurity. These dual degree programs are designed to provide students with a combination of legal and non-legal knowledge, allowing them to gain an understanding of multiple disciplines and develop specialized skills that will prepare them for the ever-changing field of law.

Experiential Learning

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville offers a variety of ways for students to gain practical experience outside the classroom. These experiential learning opportunities include a clinic where students can represent clients in domestic violence, interpersonal protective order, divorce, and housing cases. Another clinic allows students to collaborate with MBA students from the University of Louisville College of Business to launch businesses and compete with other schools.

The school also has strong ties to the bench and bar in Louisville, giving students access to attorneys and judges through externships. These externships allow students to work with judges, represent clients, prepare cases, and try them in court. Furthermore, the school hosts a variety of lectures, workshops, and other events that draw on top legal professionals from around the world to give students access to real-world advice and experiences.

Clinics

The University of Louisville's Louis D. Brandeis School of Law offers four unique legal clinics for students to gain practical experience and apply their classroom learning. The Robert and Sue Ellen Ackerson Law Clinic, the Entrepreneurship Law Clinic, the Trager-Brandeis Elder Law Clinic, and the new Mediation Clinic are all available for students to participate in. The Mediation Clinic, which opened in the Fall of 2017, allows 2Ls and 3Ls who have completed 40 hours of mediation training to work with low-income pro se litigants referred by Jefferson County Family Court judges. These students are certified mediators to resolve divorce, paternity, child custody, and post-decree divorce problems. The Mediation Clinic is the only free mediation service in Louisville, providing invaluable legal experiences for students and much-needed assistance to those who need it most. The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law provides an excellent environment for students to learn about the law and gain practical experience that will aid them throughout their legal careers. Students can receive real-world experience and help those who need it the most with four unique clinics. From mediation to elder law, the Brandeis School of Law has something for everyone.

Externships

The University of Louisville School of Law requires students to graduate with six credit hours of experiential courses. Of these, at least two must be earned through Live Client Courses. According to American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation standards, an experiential course that counts towards the six credits must be a simulation, an externship, or a clinic course.

Live Client Courses are divided into two categories: externships and clinics. Externships involve students working in government agencies, public interest organizations, or private law firms on projects related to their field of study. Clinics involve student representation of clients with legal problems where the students work under the close supervision of a faculty member.

All Live Client Courses require 56 hours of coursework per credit hour earned. This means that to earn two, three, or four credits, students must devote 112, 168, or 224 work hours, respectively, during a 14-week semester. Students should ensure they can commit sufficient time to their clinical or fieldwork to receive full credit for their efforts.

Quality of Life

Louisville, Kentucky, is a vibrant city full of life and opportunity for students. Whether exploring the fascinating art museums, relaxing in one of the city’s many parks, or participating in the thrilling Kentucky Derby, Louisville offers limitless exploration experiences. Not only that, but Louisville also has an impressive reputation as one of the safest cities in the United States. That’s why so many students are drawn to the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, where they can pursue their dreams of becoming a lawyer while enjoying all that Louisville has to offer! With its world-class faculty and staff, the University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is ideal for law students to hone their skills and gain invaluable experience. From attending seminars to interacting with lawyers through networking opportunities, there’s something here for everyone. With its unbeatable combination of safety, opportunity, and educational excellence, Louisville is the perfect destination for any student looking to make a name for themselves in the world of law.

So if you’re looking to pursue a career in law, there’s no better place to do it than Louisville. The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law can give you the tools and resources you need to succeed in the legal profession while enjoying everything the city offers. Come to Louisville and see what makes this city a great place!

Synopsis

Louisville's cheap in-state tuition and fun location make the school an attractive option for many students. The academic program is lacking, however, and prospective students should keep this in mind as they decide. 

Contact Information

LOUIS D. BRANDEIS SCHOOL OF LAW
University of Louisville
Admissions Office
Louisville, KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6391
Email: lawadmissions@louisville.edu

https://louisville.edu/law/admissions

Summary

Established	1846
Location	Louisville, KY
Dean	Dean Melanie Jacobs
2022 US News Ranking	94th
LSAT Median Score	156
GPA Median Score	3.56
87% (2022)
Employment Rate	52% (2022)
Cost	$68,264
Average Debt	$93,486
Application Deadline	April 15, 2023

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Reference

https://louisville.edu/law
Rank #94
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