Kentucky's oldest law school, founded 1846, emphasizing public service and practical legal education.
The Brandeis School of Law offers a Juris Doctor program fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1933. The curriculum combines rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on experiential learning through clinics, externships, moot court, and skills competitions. The school offers six dual-degree programs allowing students to earn an MBA, MSW, MA in humanities, M.Div. (with Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary), MA in political science, or MUP in urban planning alongside their J.D. The law library contains 400,000 volumes and serves as one of only thirteen Supreme Court repositories in the nation.
True to its Brandeis legacy, the school maintains a strong commitment to public interest work. All students must complete 30 hours of law-related public service through the Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program. Students gain practical experience through the law clinic, moot court teams, skills competitions, and three student-edited law journals including the University of Louisville Law Review. The school also operates the Central High School Signature Partnership and Resilience Justice Project.
The school fosters a close-knit, purpose-driven community with small classes and dedicated faculty. Pre-professional organizations include the Student Trial Lawyers Association, International Law Society, Student Health Law Association, Environmental Law Society, and The Brand (intellectual property). Social and political organizations include the Federalist Society, 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.
According to 2018 ABA disclosures, 92% of the Class of 2018 was employed within ten months of graduation, with 76% obtaining full-time, long-term, JD-required employment. The Law School Transparency under-employment score was 6.7%, indicating strong career placement outcomes. The school's career services include the Office of Professional Development, student career services, employer engagement, and alumni career support.