University of Louisville School of Law explained

University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
Parent:University of Louisville
Type:Public
Parent Endowment:$720 million
Students:355
Dean:Melanie Jacobs
Ranking:99th (2023)[1]
Country:U.S.

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, commonly referred to as The University of Louisville School of Law[2] [3] or the Brandeis School of Law,[4] is the law school of the University of Louisville. Established in 1846, it is the oldest law school in Kentucky and the fifth oldest in the country in continuous operation.[5] The law school is named after Justice Louis Dembitz Brandeis, who served on the Supreme Court of the United States and was the school's patron. Following the example of Brandeis, who eventually stopped accepting payment for "public interest" cases,[6] Louis D. Brandeis School of Law was one of the first law schools in the nation to require students to complete public service before graduation.[7]

The school offers six dual-degree programs that allow students to earn an MBA, MSW, MA in humanities, M.Div. (with the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary), MA in political science, and MUP in urban planning while attaining their J.D. These classes are offered in conjunction with other University of Louisville departments.

The school's law library contains 400,000 volumes as well as the papers of Louis D. Brandeis and John Marshall Harlan, both Supreme Court Justices and native Kentuckians. It is one of only thirteen Supreme Court repositories in the nation. The law school's flagship law review is the University of Louisville Law Review.[8]

According to University of Louisville's 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 92% of the Class of 2018 was employed within ten months of graduation. This includes 76% who obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment ten months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[9]

History

19th and early 20th century history

Louis D. Brandeis School of Law began in 1846 as the Law Department of the University of Louisville. For most of the nineteenth century the Law Department remained small and focused on practical education. "As late as the 1870s the school still supported a faculty of only three professors, each of whom met classes two days per week for four hours."[10] Classes were held in the late afternoon to allow students to keep daytime jobs as law clerks. The faculty ignored the casebook method of instruction that was being developed at Harvard Law School at the time, instead encouraging students to visit local courts and offering optional mock court sessions. The "school literature even boasted that the faculty consisted of 'practical lawyers' and not professional educators."[10] As a result, prominent faculty members such as James Speed and Peter B. Muir often eschewed their part-time positions in favor of politics or private practice.

The turn of the twentieth century saw the Law Department finally begin to accept emerging national standards in legal education. In 1909, the school adopted Harvard Law's casebook method. In 1911, the school graduated its first female student, N. Almee Courtright. In 1923, the Law Department officially became the School of Law and hired a full-time professor. The following year University of Louisville President Arthur Younger Ford insisted that students must take some college courses before being admitted to the law school.[10]

The UofL School of Law and the Jefferson School of Law

Despite these efforts at reform, the students and professors of the School of Law continued to prefer part-time practical education over the national trend towards more formal legal education. This partly reflected the success of and competition from the Jefferson School of Law, which opened in 1905 and offered night classes.

Organized by several prominent local attorneys, the part-time professors at the Jefferson School of Law received tuition directly from the students and were responsible for renting classroom space. With students wishing to clerk and part-time professors continuing to practice, both schools were located within walking distance of the courthouse. As the national trend continued towards formal legal education, the Jefferson School of Law found it difficult to manage as a part-time law school. In 1950 the Jefferson School of Law merged with the University of Louisville School of Law.[10]

Louis D. Brandeis and the UofL School of Law

Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis was a great supporter of the University of Louisville. A native Louisvillian, Brandeis planned to make the university a "major center of academic research by creating specialized library and archival collections in such areas as sociology, art, music, and labor."[10] In addition to time and money, Brandeis also donated his personal papers, books, and pamphlets, numbering over 250,000 items. He was also instrumental in getting Supreme Court briefs and a collection of Justice John Marshall Harlan's papers deposited in the law school library.[11]

In honor of Brandeis, the University of Louisville School of Law changed its name to the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law in 1997.

The school's Louis D. Brandeis Society, established in 1976, awards the Brandeis Medal to individuals whose lives reflect Louis Brandeis' commitment to the ideals of individual liberty, concern for the disadvantaged and public service.

The Brandeis Law Library owns a limited edition print of Andy Warhol's portrait of Brandeis which is on display in the library's main reading room.[12]

The ashes of Brandeis and his wife Alice Goldmark Brandeis are buried underneath the law school portico. His ashes are buried approximately fifty yards away from Auguste Rodin's The Thinker.[11]

Today

True to its history, the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law has retained a strong focus on practical legal education. The school offers students a chance to gain experience at its law clinic, on moot court teams, in skills competitions, and on three student-edited law journals. As part of the Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program, the school also requires all students to complete 30 hours of law-related public service. The school has several pre-professional student-run organizations, including the Student Trial Lawyers Association, International Law Society, Student Health Law Association, Environmental Law Society, and The Brand (intellectual property).

In addition to pre-professional student organizations, there are also a number of student-run social and political organizations on campus. A partial list of these includes the Federalist Society, the American Constitution Society, Lambda Law Caucus, Black Students Association, Asian-Pacific Law Students Association, Jewish Law Students Association, Christian Legal Society, and Woman's Law Caucus.

The Law Library supports the curriculum and research needs of the school's faculty and students, and is open to the university community, practicing bar, and the general public.[13]

Deans of Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

  1. 1846–1873: Henry Pirtle
  2. 1881–1886: William Chenault
  3. 1886–1890: Rozel Weissinger
  4. 1890–1911: Willis Overton Harris
  5. 1911–1919, 1922–1925: Charles B. Seymour
  6. 1919–1921: Edward W. Hines
  7. 1925–1930: Leon P. Lewis
  8. 1930–1933: Neville Miller
  9. 1933–1934: Wendell Carnahan (interim)
  10. 1934–1936: Joseph A. McClain Jr.
  11. 1936–1946: Jack Neal Lott Jr.
  12. 1946–1957: Absalom C. Russell
  13. 1957–1958: William B. Peden
  14. 1958–1965: Marlin M. Volz
  15. 1965–1974, 1975–1976: James R. Merritt
  16. 1974–1975: Steven R. Smith (interim)
  17. 1976–1980: Harold Wren
  18. 1980–1981: Norvie L. Lay (interim)
  19. 1981–1990: Barbara B. Lewis
  20. 1990–2000: Donald L. Burnett Jr.
  21. 2000–2005: Laura Rothstein
  22. 2005–2006: David Ensign (interim)
  23. 2007–2012: Jim Chen[10]
  24. 2012–2017: Susan H. Duncan (interim)
  25. 2017–2018, 2021–2022: Lars Smith (interim)
  26. 2018–2021: Colin Crawford

Employment

According to University of Louisville's 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 92% of the Class of 2018 was employed within ten months of graduation. This includes 76% who obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment ten months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners. University of Louisville's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 6.7%, 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.[14]

Costs

The tuition at University of Louisville for the 2021–2022 academic year is $23,798 for residents and $28,798 out-of-state students.[15]

Notable alumni

See also: List of University of Louisville people.

Publications

External links

38.2157°N -85.7611°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Best Law School Rankings – Law Program Rankings – US News. March 28, 2014. February 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170208063129/http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/law-rankings/page+4. dead.
  2. News: Louisville School Of Law Provides Briefing Service. Middlesboro Daily News. October 20, 1934. 3.
  3. News: Lambert to speak at local Rotary meeting. Corbin Times Tribune. August 29, 2001. 5. ...from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1974..
  4. Web site: University of Louisville, Louis D Brandeis School of Law . July 27, 2014.
  5. University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law Guidebook (2009)
  6. Klebanow, Diana, and Jonas, Franklin L. People's Lawyers: Crusaders for Justice in American History, M.E. Sharpe (2003)
  7. Business First: "Law student's public service is bedrock aspect." Friday, March 10, 2006
  8. Web site: Home — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. louisville.edu. June 19, 2018. February 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150221195030/http://www.law.louisville.edu/library/collections/brandeis/node/225. live.
  9. Web site: Louisville ABA §509 Employment Data . University of Louisville . March 5, 2020 . March 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220319195522/https://louisville.edu/law/about/accreditation/aba-required-disclosures/employment-summary-reports/2018 . live .
  10. Cox, Dwayne D., and William J. Morrison, The University of Louisville (2000)
  11. [Louis Brandeis]
  12. Web site: Home Page – Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. May 6, 2009. June 3, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100603052125/http://www.law.louisville.edu/students/thebrand/brandeis-warhol/. live.
  13. Web site: About the Law Library – Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Library. louisville.edu. September 28, 2016. September 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160902032212/http://louisville.edu/law/library/about. live.
  14. Web site: University of Louisville Report, Overview | LST Reports. LST Reports by Law School Transparency. June 13, 2021. May 31, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210531085359/https://www.lstreports.com/schools/louisville. live.
  15. Web site: Tuition & Financial Aid — Louis D. Brandeis School of Law . July 8, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708135228/https://louisville.edu/law/admissions/tuition-financial-aid . live .
  16. Web site: Jon W. Ackerson. intelius.com. February 10, 2016.
  17. Web site: The 'Basketball Bill' - 'The Right Thing to Do' . . 2018 . legislature.ky.gov . . August 18, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206051509/https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeMoments/Moments18RS/web/legislative%20moment%2046.pdf . December 6, 2022 .
  18. Web site: Composer and Lawyer Jeremy Beck | Department of Music | University of Pittsburgh. music.pitt.edu. November 13, 2022. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113233408/https://www.music.pitt.edu/blog/composer-lawyer-jeremy-beck070921. live.
  19. Web site: Barton . Ryland . State Rep. Charles Booker Files For McConnell's Senate Seat . WFPL News . January 8, 2020 . August 4, 2021 . August 4, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210804152200/https://wfpl.org/state-rep-charles-booker-files-for-mcconnells-senate-seat/ . live .
  20. Web site: William Campbell Preston Breckinridge. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 11, 2012. October 15, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121015213705/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000790. live.
  21. Web site: SOLICITOR GENERAL: WILLIAM MARSHALL BULLITT. The United States Department of Justice. October 23, 2014. Department of Justice. May 11, 2016. June 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603115514/https://www.justice.gov/osg/bio/william-marshall-bullitt. live.
  22. Web site: Attorney General Daniel Cameron – Kentucky Attorney General. ag.ky.gov. November 13, 2022. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113233434/https://www.ag.ky.gov/about/Pages/Attorney-General.aspx. live.
  23. Web site: Marlow Cook. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 11, 2012. August 4, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110804231927/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000721. live.
  24. Web site: Chris Dodd. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 11, 2012. November 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121112233515/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000388. live.
  25. Web site: Charles R. Farnsley. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 11, 2012. November 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102140419/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000023. live.
  26. Web site: Howard Fineman, Business Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau. www.kepplerspeakers.com. January 22, 2016. February 7, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160207215300/http://www.kepplerspeakers.com/speakers/?speaker=Howard%2520Fineman. live.
  27. Web site: Fuller Harding. Columbia Magazine .com. December 11, 2012. February 23, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190223030815/http://www.columbiamagazine.com/index.php?sid=34373. live.
  28. Web site: Biography of Robert L. "Bob" Heleringer. equineregulatorylaw.com. February 6, 2016. December 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122322/http://www.equineregulatorylaw.com/robert_l_heleringer_biography.php. live.
  29. Web site: Speaker of the House Michael Kerr of Indiana | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. history.house.gov. June 13, 2021. June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613153833/https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1800-1850/Speaker-of-the-House-Michael-Kerr-of-Indiana/. live.
  30. Web site: Gerald Neal. Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. January 10, 2015. November 27, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181127101206/http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legislator/S033.htm. dead.
  31. Web site: State Senator Gerald Neal Now Part Of Ky. History. December 3, 2014. December 4, 2014. February 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150203000341/http://wuky.org/post/state-senator-gerald-neal-now-part-ky-history. live.
  32. Web site: Louie B. Nunn. National Governors Association. December 11, 2012. October 1, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131001193938/http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_kentucky/col2-content/main-content-list/title_nunn_louie.html. live.
  33. Web site: Emmet O'Neal. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. December 11, 2012. October 23, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023220606/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=O000089. live.
  34. News: Overly sworn in as representative . The Bath County News-Outlook . 3 . January 16, 2008 . October 17, 2013 . May 14, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240514073112/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8LYkAAAAIBAJ&pg=938,4899817&dq=sannie+overly&hl=en . live .
  35. Web site: Greg Stumbo. Project Vote Smart. December 11, 2012. May 20, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130520164926/http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/4137/gregory-stumbo#.UMfEOYNZWBE. live.
  36. Web site: Biographical Directory of Federal Judges. Federal Judicial Center. April 29, 2020. November 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191107014608/https://www.fjc.gov/node/7324431. live.