KU Law Raising the
bar
Happy KU Law graduates enjoy commencement day festivities. Roughly 140 new KU lawyers graduate each year, joining the ranks of more than 7,000 living KU Law alumni.
E x p l o r e K u L aw why choose ku LAW page 2 Academics page 3 faculty page 16 student life page 20 career services page 25 financial aid page 28 Admissions page 30 Visit ku law page 32
KU Law Three years at KU Law will transform you. You’ll work extraordinarily hard. You’ll study theory, policy, the law on the books and the law in practice. And you’ll walk away ready to confront the world’s legal challenges.
Sure, there will be tough days. But in the final equation, you’ll have a lot of fun here. A rich curriculum, topflight faculty, a collegial environment – all in a vibrant university town brimming with intellectual and cultural abundance. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Raising the bar for... ACADEMICS Our faculty members are strong scholars and lawyers with national and international reputations. They will challenge and engage you in the classroom. And their doors are always open when you need advice.
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE KU Law was a pioneer in experiential learning and today offers 12 clinics and externships in which students roll up their sleeves and translate classroom theory into real-world practice.
DIVERSITY
VALUE
KU Law has been admitting students regardless of ethnicity or gender since it opened in 1878 and is home to a wide variety of affinity groups, including those for women and students of color. Here, variety spices intellectual and social life.
Our competitive tuition rate allows KU Law students to get a stellar legal education at a flagship public university while paying less than one-third the cost of attending a comparable private law school.
LOCATION
ENGAGEMENT
Lawrence boasts art galleries, museums, performance halls, global cuisine, lakes, trails, Division I athletics and proximity to Kansas City. It’s laid-back living in a cosmopolitan Midwest community.
Members of our student groups stage food drives and charity walks, sponsor talks by noted scholars and support one another through all the rigor and reward of law school.
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Why choose KU Law? Welcome to the study of law. You are about to embark on the most intellectually challenging, and the most rewarding, educational experience of your life. The knowledge and skills you gain over the next three years will form the foundation of your legal career. By joining us as a student at KU Law, you can ensure that the foundation you build will support your professional goals, whatever they may be. As a KU Law student, you become part of a proud history. The University of Kansas was established by a determined group of abolitionists with the personal courage and integrity to take a stand against slavery. They envisioned a free state in which every citizen would have legal rights and the protection of the law. When you walk around Green Hall, you will see composite photographs of generations of law students. From the earliest classes, those pictures include the faces of students of color and women. KU Law is, as it always has been, an inclusive and welcoming place.
become part of a proud history.
You will find the learning environment at KU Law to be challenging,yet collegial. Your classmates will include students from across the country and around the world. The diversity of the student body’s backgrounds and opinions creates a rich classroom environment. That environment is supported by faculty members who are outstanding lawyers and who are known, nationally and internationally, as outstanding scholars in their fields. What makes the learning environment at KU Law unique, however, are the relationships between the students and the faculty. Unlike the faculty at many law schools, KU Law professors are open and accessible to students – and truly committed to teaching, both in and out of the classroom. As a KU Law student, you can select courses from a broad and varied curriculum and participate in a wide array of extracurricular learning opportunities. You can pursue a general legal education or specialize through one of our eight certificate programs. We have 11 joint degree programs, all of which allow you to obtain both a J.D. and master’s degree on an accelerated basis. You will find the clinical opportunities at KU Law are more extensive than at most law schools. These programs allow you to begin your legal training by prosecuting criminals or representing inmates, serving in a judge’s chambers or providing legal services to the poor. You can also participate in crafting legislation through the Legislative Clinic or the Public Policy Clinic. Best of all, you can take advantage of all the educational opportunities at KU Law for less than one-third the cost of a comparable private school. With a law degree from KU, you become part of an alumni network that includes graduates practicing in law firms that range in size from over a thousand lawyers to just two or three. Many of our graduates act as corporate counsel, advising business leaders, and as chief executive officers, helping run businesses large and small. They are state and federal judges, appointed officials, elected leaders and law professors. They can be found in the halls of Congress, on Indian reservations, in law schools, law offices and government buildings in every state in the nation and in countries around the world. When you complete your legal education and take your own place as a member of the bar — whether your place is in the courtroom, the boardroom or the classroom, on the bench or in the statehouse — KU lawyers will be there to welcome you. Make a wise choice: Join KU.
Stephen W. Mazza Dean and Professor of Law
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academics
Professor Martin Dickinson leads students on a walk to Old Green Hall, the former home of the law school. KU Law faculty members are known for their accessibility, which can help students adjust to the challenges of law school coursework.
The school and its programs At the University of Kansas School of Law, you’ll find the tools you need to become an outstanding member of the legal profession, well-educated in the law and committed to professional achievement and public service. We start with a powerful foundation in the general principles of law and its practice in a changing legal environment. Then we help you tailor an education to fit your interests – in international law, criminal prosecution, tribal law, environmental law or a dozen other areas.
You’ll develop your expertise in the classroom and in the field – through theory and practice. In class, you’ll be involved in a dialogue that builds on your examination of cases and statutes.You’ll perfect legal analysis and writing, and develop professional skills. Then you can apply your know-how to real cases in any of KU Law’s 12 clinical and externship programs. But your first year comes first. What can you expect?
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The first year WHEN DO I START? First-year students may choose to begin their studies in either the summer or the fall. Roughly one-third of students in each year’s entering class start their studies in the summer. Summer-starters take two required first-year courses in each of two consecutive five-week summer sessions, beginning in mid-May and concluding at the end of July. At the end of the second session, students will have taken eight of the 90 hours required for graduation. If you begin law school in the summer, you may choose to graduate early. For more information about KU Law’s summer start and accelerated programs, please see the inside back cover or visit the Prospective Students section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
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From your first day at KU Law, you’ll be engaged in both broad considerations of the role of law in society and specific training in legal research, writing and advocacy. All first-year students take Lawyering, a course that focuses on the skills and values of the legal profession. Faculty members with extensive practice experience meet with students in a traditional classroom setting and in small groups. By the end of your first year, you will have prepared a brief and argued a summary judgment motion. You’ll also take one of your other required first-year courses in a small section of about 20 students. These classes provide an informal learning atmosphere and encourage in-depth discussions and critical analysis. They also allow you to form bonds with fellow first-year students and a faculty member who may become a mentor.
First-year courses include: n Civil Procedure n Contracts n Criminal Law n Introduction to Constitutional Law
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Lawyering Skills I and II Property Torts I
“Having a small class during my first semester increased my confidence in the classroom because I was able to get comfortable with the law school environment among familiar faces. My section grew to be close friends, hosting basketball watch parties and celebrating together when papers and finals were over. Through my small section, I found the support I needed to get through my first year of law school successfully. ” — AMANDA FERGUSON, L’12
“There are numerous opportunities here to hone my skills as a future lawyer. KU has 12 clinical and externship opportunities in addition to moot court competitions and traffic court. The school is very close to major areas of employment: Topeka and Kansas City. I have also found that law faculty members are very approachable and will do almost anything to help.” — Alex Aguilera, L’11
KU Law consistently maintains a low Student-to-faculty ratio.
upper-level courses Once you’ve conquered your first-year requirements, you’ll have access to more than 100 upper-level courses in a variety of practice areas, from agricultural law to the law of cyberspace. Many are seminars, simulation courses, directed research or clinics. Among the intriguing offerings are Islamic Law, Law and Bioethics, Introduction to Copyright in Literary and Artistic Works, Race and American Law, Legal Responses to Terrorism, Indian Gaming, and Legal Aspects of the Music Industry. What’s more, you’ll benefit from the small size of our upper-level courses. With a consistently low student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll get individual attention from leading scholars and practitioners who have been where you’re going.
WITH EMPHASIS Curriculum guides are available in the following areas of interest: n Business and Commercial Law n Constitutional Law n Criminal Law n Elder Law n Environmental and Natural Resources Law n General Practice n Intellectual Property Law n International Law and Business n Litigation n Media Law n Public Law n Tax Law n Tribal Law A complete list of course descriptions, as well as curriculum guides in the areas above, can be found in the Academics section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
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KU LAW students can earn any of 11 joint degrees.
degree options JURIS DOCTOR (J.D.)
TWO-YEAR J.D. for foreign-trained lawyers
To earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) at KU Law, you must: n complete a minimum of 90 credit hours; n achieve a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 (C); n complete all first-year and upper-level required courses; and n satisfy the writing and professional skills requirements.
If you already have a foreign law degree, you may pursue a Two-Year J.D. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers, which can make you more marketable to employers who appreciate the benefit of having attorneys with full credentials in two or more jurisdictions.
JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS KU Law students can earn a master’s degree in addition to the J.D. in just one additional year of study in 11 areas: n Business n East Asian languages and cultures n Economics n Health services administration n Global indigenous nations studies n Journalism n Philosophy n Political science n Public administration n Social welfare n Urban planning
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LL.M. in American Legal Studies The LL.M. in American Legal Studies is designed to provide international students with an introduction to the breadth of American law. Students who complete the program will be prepared for the further study of law in the U.S., select bar examinations, and the practice of law internationally.
LL.M. IN ELDER LAW The LL.M. in Elder Law builds on the strengths of our existing elder law curriculum by expanding course offerings and clinical opportunities, and incorporating a faculty-supervised thesis.
DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE (S.J.D.) The S.J.D. program is designed for students interested in in-depth legal scholarship. Candidates must hold a basic law degree (LL.B. or J.D.), a master’s (LL.M.) and a prestigious academic record.
certificate programs At KU Law, we offer a first-rate comprehensive legal education. But if you find a niche, we can help you develop your specialty. In addition to curriculum guides in more than a dozen areas of interest, we also offer eight certificate programs that allow you to hone your knowledge and skills.
Advocacy Certificate Effective advocacy requires a solid grounding in all aspects of litigation and alternative forms of dispute resolution. This certificate provides the means for students to develop basic knowledge and skills in advocacy.
Business & Commercial Law Certificate Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to begin a successful career as a business lawyer, receiving a foundation in the basic principles of business and commercial law and becoming familiar with the transactions that business and commercial lawyers commonly encounter in practice.
Elder Law Certificate The percentage of Americans over 60 has been growing steadily and significantly. This certificate allows students to focus on the substantive law upon which an elder law practice is based, as well as the unique issues relevant to client counseling and professionalism when dealing with this expanding population.
Environmental & Natural Resources Law Certificate
in depth Find detailed information about all of KU Law’s degrees and programs by exploring the Academics section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
Since the inception of modern environmental and natural resources law in the late 1960s and ’70s, the field has become increasingly important — in its own right and because it often overlaps with more traditional fields of practice. This certificate introduces students to the basics of this constantly changing area so they can address environmental and natural resources law issues wherever they arise.
International Trade & Finance Certificate The globalization of business has forced nearly all lawyers to be familiar with the rules of international trade, commerce, investment and finance. This certificate assists students in preparing for the practice of law in an increasingly global setting, emphasizing the business nature of that practice.
Media Law & Policy Certificate Legal representation in the private and public sectors is enhanced by an understanding of media influence on the development and administration of law and public policy. This certificate focuses on legislative challenges, judicial decisions and administrative policy in an era shaped by global networks and the media.
Tax Law Certificate This certificate allows students to develop the practical and technical skills needed to build successful careers in the field. Certification also assures employers that students not only have a mastery of basic principles of individual and entity taxation, but also are familiar with many of the intricacies of tax law and practice.
Tribal Lawyer Certificate Effectively representing Indian nations and tribes requires an understanding of the complex federal, state and tribal laws that affect all aspects of indigenous societies. This certificate ensures that students have the skills to appreciate and strengthen the unique nature of tribal legal systems and governments.
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clinical Programs and externships KU Law was a pioneer in experiential learning and today offers 12 clinics and externships in which students translate classroom theory into real-world practice. We’re talking real clients, real cases and real opportunities to make a difference for individuals and communities. Not only will you be testing your knowledge and gaining confidence, but you’ll also be racking up the kind of experience that convinces employers you’re ready to hit the ground running.
Criminal Prosecution Clinic
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Family Health Care Legal Services Clinic
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Legal Aid Clinic Page 11
every law student has the chance to enroll in one of our 12 clinics or externships.
Legislative Clinic Page 12 Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence and post-conviction remedies
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Elder Law Externship Students work under the supervision of attorneys from Kansas Legal Services in matters such as income maintenance, access to health care, housing and consumer protection.
Externship Clinic Students perform legal work under the supervision of an attorney at governmental agencies, nonprofit legal services organizations and public international organizations.
Immigration / Asylum Law Clinic Students become acquainted with issues and procedures in immigration cases by collaborating with the instructor on appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals.
Judicial Clerkship Clinic Students serve as law clerks for state and federal trial judges, preparing memoranda and assisting in various phases of the judicial process.
Media Law Clinic Students respond to questions from lawyers, policymakers, publishers and others concerned with mass communications. The students analyze law, policy, regulations and ethics relating to the First Amendment and diverse media technologies.
Public Policy Clinic Students undertake in-depth policy studies in response to requests from public officials, coordinated through the Legislative Research Department and Revisor of Statutes Office.
Tribal Judicial Support Clinic Students provide research assistance to tribal court judges and personnel for tribal code development, legal research, and drafting of legal memoranda and judicial orders.
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criminal prosecution clinic In the Criminal Prosecution Clinic, students engage in the day-to-day work of a prosecutor. They are assigned to various local prosecutorial offices, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office or the offices of the United States Attorney. They assist prosecutors in virtually all phases of the criminal justice process, working closely with law enforcement agencies, drafting criminal complaints, preparing for and participating in preliminary hearings and jury trials, and handling appeals. Students in the Criminal Prosecution Clinic stand to gain a significant amount of courtroom experience. The clinic’s director, KU Law Professor Suzanne Valdez, brings to the learning environment her recent experience as a special prosecutor in nearby Wyandotte County, where she was commissioned for four years.
Margaret Mahoney, L’10
From inspiration to conviction The summer after her first year of law school, Margaret Mahoney lost a dear friend and fellow law student to domestic violence. The tragedy sealed her commitment to pursue a career in criminal prosecution. As an intern at the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, Mahoney helped try a man charged with domestic battery. The victim, his girlfriend, did not show up to testify at the bench trial. Nevertheless, the prosecution got the conviction. “It was very influential for me because he’s being held accountable for his actions against her,” said Mahoney, L’10. The breadth of hands-on work that Mahoney conducted during the clinic equipped her to step immediately into the role of a prosecutor after law school. “It’s real-world experience that prepared me better than any classroom instruction could have.” 9
family health care legal services clinic The physician director of Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care in Kansas City, Kan., believes strongly that the health concerns of the poor are often directly related to the legal trials that can accompany poverty. KU Law’s Family Health Care Legal Services Clinic sprung from that foundation. Since January 2008, law students have been advocating for patients referred to them through the medical clinic, which serves some of the poorest residents of the state. Students have helped clients resolve past due medical bills; apply for disability and general financial assistance; research safe, clean housing; navigate divorce and custody disputes and more. KU’s clinic is something of a pioneering effort, joining about 10 other law schools in the country with similar medical-legal partnerships.
Hannah Sandal, L’11
Healing the whole person Some of Hannah Sandal’s cases in the Family Health Care Legal Services Clinic bore an obvious medical-legal connection. Like the parents whose daughter had cerebral palsy and was about to turn 18. Sandal helped them obtain a guardianship so they could continue to make health and legal decisions on her behalf. But not all cases have such a direct medical link. Sandal, L’11, also worked on divorces and traffic tickets. “I think a lot of times the doctor is trying to heal the whole patient, but there are problems beyond their expertise,” Sandal said. “Even if they’re not related to medicine at all, they might interfere with the patient’s ability to take care of themselves or follow the doctor’s advice or afford the medications they need.” 10
legal aid clinic Since 1967, the Legal Aid Clinic has been working to secure “justice for and to protect the rights of the needy.” Students in the clinic, which is housed in Green Hall, work under the supervision of clinical faculty members and represent low-income clients in Lawrence Municipal Court and Douglas County District Court. Cases include domestic relations, landlord-tenant disputes, collections, and other civil and misdemeanor criminal matters. The goal of the clinic, apart from providing legal assistance to those who might not be able to get it elsewhere, is to instruct students on the tasks and challenges of trial lawyers and instill them with confidence in their ability to practice law when they graduate. For the past nine years, the clinic has served an average of 353 new clients annually.
Tristan Tafolla, L’10
Gaining experience, building trust Tristan Tafolla had already completed the Criminal Prosecution Clinic, but he enrolled in the Legal Aid Clinic to “see both sides of the coin.” He noticed that he really built connections with clients while defending their interests. Tafolla, L’10, advocated for a mother of two who faced up to 90 days in jail for repeat offenses of driving with a suspended license. “It was pretty clear-cut; she did it,” Tafolla said. “It was a matter of how the sentence should be carried out.” After explaining the situation – single mom, recent bad divorce, no money for auto insurance – Tafolla negotiated a deal in which his client spent just two days in jail, the statutory minimum, and served the rest of her time on house arrest. “There are some cases that really tug at the heart strings,” he said, “especially when children are involved.” 11
legislative clinic Much of law school is spent learning about statutes and case law already on the books. The Legislative Clinic gives KU Law students a chance not only to observe but also actively participate in the formation of new laws. Students are assigned as interns to state legislators during the legislative session in nearby Topeka. Their responsibilities may include taking notes at committee hearings, conducting research, assisting with constituent communications, analyzing bills and briefing legislators on potential issues. Some students even draft and edit legislation. Clinic Director Burdett Loomis is a professor of political science who has written extensively about legislatures and legislators. He served on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ senior staff in 2005 and has directed the undergraduate intern program in Topeka for more than 20 years.
Courtney Sipe, L’11
A glimpse behind the scenes The floors of the Kansas House and Senate may be the most public venues for hashing out new laws, but Courtney Sipe, L’11, learned that the legislative process also depends on behind-the-scenes work in committee hearings and hallway conversations. During her internship with Rep. Julie Menghini (D-Pittsburg), Sipe researched a cut to the state’s historic preservation tax credit that had inadvertently stalled projects. She spoke with the revenue department and the state historical society to determine the impact of the change and how best to correct the problem. Eventually, legislators reversed the cut, with Menghini as the ranking minority member of the tax committee. “I have a lot more knowledge of the state legislative process that I had no idea about before,” Sipe said. 12
Paul E. Wilson project For Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies Former KU Law Professor Paul E. Wilson founded what was then the Defender Project in 1965 to help prisoners who otherwise might not receive legal representation. Students in the clinic represent state and federal prisoners in appellate and post-conviction litigation in state and federal courts, conducting fact investigations, drafting pleadings, filing motions, preparing for hearings and creating case strategy. In 2009, a project team won a rare grant of executive clemency for a man convicted of robbery during a racially charged civil rights-era trial in Wichita, Kan. The project gets more than 200 letters a year from inmates seeking assistance.
Michael Kelly, L’11
Innocent after proven guilty? Michael Kelly, L’11, finds it both exhilarating and frightening to hold another human being’s freedom in his hands. That’s essentially the position he assumed last year in the Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies. His standout case involved a man serving a 23-year prison sentence on an aggravated sexual battery conviction. After meeting with the defendant, his family, his trial attorney, witnesses and accusers, Kelly became convinced of the defendant’s innocence and is “humbly confident” that the judge will grant his motion for a new trial. “With the backlog of cases that are waiting for defense attorneys,” Kelly said, “it was really powerful for me to be able to help someone and at the same time gain valuable, practical experience as a young lawyer.” 13
KU law centers create forums for scholarship, training and mentoring.
centers Center for International Trade & Agriculture The Center for International Trade & Agriculture brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers and students around the study and practice of international trade and agriculture. It promotes key issues in these fields through research and outreach in Kansas and around the world. Components of the center include: n Interdisciplinary conferences addressing issues in international trade and agriculture, with special emphasis on matters of importance to the state of Kansas. n Visiting scholars, practitioners or policymakers who interact with students, faculty and alumni through guest lectures and mini-courses. n Course work and summer placement for students interested in legal practice, legal reform, or agribusiness and international trade in areas related to trade and agriculture.
trial lawyers to share information with one another, and creates outlets to educate the public about the role of litigation in a democratic society. In addition to a course on the Art of Advocacy, the center has two components: n The Advocacy Certificate Program n The Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy Annual Lecture invites distinguished lawyers and judges to campus to give a public lecture on a topic related to advocacy. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor delivered the lecture in April 2010.
tribal Law & Government Center The Tribal Law & Government Center prepares a new generation of advocates for careers representing the legal interests of indigenous nations and tribes. It also provides a forum for research and scholarship on indigenous legal and governance issues. The center operates four programs: n The Tribal Lawyer Certificate Program
Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy The Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy creates opportunities for mentorship between experienced litigators and law students, provides a forum for practicing
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n
The Tribal Law and Government Conference
n
The Tribal Judicial Support Clinic
n The Joint Degree Program in Law and Global Indigenous Nations Studies
Study abroad KU Law students who take advantage of the school’s study abroad programs often say the experience transforms them. As the practice of law grows ever more global in scope, getting out of the country can help expand your intellectual and cultural horizons. We offer programs in London, England; Istanbul, Turkey; and Limerick, Ireland. U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg have taught in these programs. Or you can choose other study abroad programs approved by the American Bar Association.
Wheat Law Library Named for alumnus Douglas D. Wheat, L’74, and his wife Laura, the law library occupies a central place in Green Hall and in the life of law students. With its collection of more than 350,000 volumes, the library is an important legal research facility in the region.
Incoming students might consider the Cambridge Pre-Law Institute, which focuses on the culture, history and politics of the English and American legal systems. Whether you choose to study abroad or not, we’ll bring the world to you at Green Hall; the law school frequently hosts visiting scholars from around the globe.
Students find a rich collection of print and specialized electronic legal resources in the law library. It provides study space for individual students, work areas for group projects and a designated quiet floor. The wireless network allows students to access the Internet and numerous legal databases, including Westlaw, Lexis, Hein Online and CALI. Students also can tap into the university libraries’ 4.2 million volume collection and extensive interdisciplinary resources on and off campus. Students can print to high-speed printers from computer stations throughout the library. Law library faculty teach in the lawyering program, serve as liaisons to lawyering small sections and offer courses in legal research. In addition to preparing subject research guides, they provide research assistance in person, by telephone and by e-mail. Find a list of library faculty members on page 19. Explore what the library has to offer by visiting the Wheat Law Library section of the school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
Top: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul,Turkey. Bottom: Law students in Limerick, Ireland.
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faculty
Rice Distinguished Professor Raj Bhala visits with students in his Green Hall office. The law school encourages student-faculty interaction by situating faculty offices around the edges of the library, which occupies the center of the building.
teachers, mentors & scholars Our faculty members are scholars and lawyers recognized nationally and abroad as experts in their fields. Many have written the casebooks and treatises used in their classrooms and at law schools across the country. Others are practitioners with decades of experience. At KU Law, these respected legal minds will challenge and engage you. They’ll also offer advice and guidance when you need it. Our faculty and administration are dedicated to helping students find their way. You’ll be encouraged to meet with
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them regularly about your studies, career plans, job opportunities, the professional responsibilities of lawyers — even your personal goals. Law faculty offices are situated around the edges of the library, which occupies the heart of Green Hall. So you’re never more than a few steps away from your teachers and mentors, and their doors are always open to students.
“I attended the open house and admitted students day and found the faculty and student body to be very knowledgeable, supportive and friendly. My courses are taught by experienced professors who are dedicated to teaching and genuine in their willingness to talk with students at any time.” — T.J. Trum, L’11
Many KU faculty members have written casebooks used at law schools across the country.
law faculty Raj Bhala Associate Dean, International & Comparative Law, Rice Distinguished Professor, and Co-Director, Center for International Trade & Agriculture. A.B., Duke, 1984; M.Sc., London School of Economics, 1985; M.Sc., Oxford, 1986; J.D., Harvard, 1989. International Trade Law, Islamic Law, Public International Law, Trade Law. Charles A. Briscoe Clinical Associate Professor. B.S., Kansas State, 1969; M.A., J.D., Kansas, 1971, 1975. Legal Aid Clinic, Trial Advocacy. Karl B. Brooks Associate Professor of History and Environmental Studies (affiliated). B.A., Yale, 1978; M.Sc., London School of Economics, 1980; J.D., Harvard, 1983; Ph.D., Kansas, 2000. Environmental Law Survey. Elizabeth Seale Cateforis Clinical Associate Professor. B.A., Smith, 1985; J.D., Kansas, 1994. Capital Punishment, Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies.
Shelley Hickman Clark Clinical Associate Professor. B.A., J.D., Kansas, 1971, 1976. Historic Preservation, Legal Aid Clinic, Poverty Law, Public Benefit Law. Derrick Darby Associate Professor of Philosophy (affiliated). B.A., Colgate, 1988; M.A., Ph.D., Pittsburgh, 1990, 1996. Philosophy of Law. Michael J. Davis Centennial Teaching Professor of Law. B.A., Kansas State, 1964; J.D., Michigan, 1967. Land Development, Property, Religion and the State. Phillip E. DeLaTorre Professor of Law. B.A., Kansas, 1975; J.D., Harvard, 1978. Estates and Trusts, Property, Sports Law. Martin B. Dickinson Robert A. Schroeder Distinguished Professor of Law. B.A., Kansas, 1960; M.A., Stanford, 1961; J.D., Michigan, 1964. Corporate and Partnership Taxation, Estate Planning, Federal Income Taxation.
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law faculty Christopher R. Drahozal Associate Dean for Research & Faculty Development and John M. Rounds Distinguished Professor of Law. B.A., Washington, 1983; J.D., Iowa, 1986. Commercial Arbitration, Commercial Law, Contracts. Judge Robert W. Fairchild Lecturer in Law. B.A., Texas Tech, 1970; J.D., Kansas, 1973. Alternative Dispute Resolution. Webster L. Golden Visiting Professor from Practice. B.A., Kansas, 1966; J.D., Virginia, 1969. Business Planning. David J. Gottlieb Professor of Law. B.A., Oberlin, 1969; J.D., Georgetown, 1974. Immigration Law, International Human Rights, Professional Responsibility, Refugee and Asylum Law. Marilyn M. Harp Lecturer in Law. B.S.W., J.D., Kansas, 1976, 1979. Elder Law Externship. John W. Head Robert W. Wagstaff Distinguished Professor of Law and Co-Director, Center for International Trade & Agriculture. B.A., Missouri, 1975; B.A. Juris, Oxford, 1977; J.D., Virginia, 1979. Comparative Law, International Commerce and Investment, Public International Law. Edwin W. Hecker Jr. Professor of Law. B.A., Oakland, 1966; J.D., Wayne State, 1969; LL.M., Harvard, 1970. Business Associations, Estates and Trusts, Mergers and Acquisitions.
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Laura J. Hines Professor of Law. A.B., Brown, 1987; J.D., Michigan, 1991. Civil Procedure, Complex Litigation, Remedies.
Stephen R. McAllister Professor of Law. B.A., J.D., Kansas, 1985, 1988. Civil Rights Actions, Constitutional Law, Torts.
Virginia Harper Ho Associate Professor of Law. B.A., M.A., Indiana, 1995, 1997; J.D., Harvard, 2001. Chinese Law, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law.
Sandra Craig McKenzie Professor of Law and Director, Elder Law LL.M. Program. B.A., J.D., New Mexico, 1971, 1974. Alternative Dispute Resolution, Elder Law, Local Government, Property.
Michael H. Hoeflich John H. and John M. Kane Distinguished Professor of Law. B.A., M.A., Haverford, 1973; M.A. (by Grace), Ph.D., Cambridge, 1976, 2001; J.D., Yale, 1979. Copyright Law, Law and the Arts, Legal History, Professional Responsibility. M.A. (Mike) Kautsch Professor of Law. B.A., J.D., Iowa, 1968, 1971. Copyright Law, Media Law, Torts. Pamela V. Keller Clinical Associate Professor. B.A., Pennsylvania, 1990; J.D., Kansas, 1993. Judicial Clerkship Clinic, Lawyering, Moot Court. Richard E. Levy J.B. Smith Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law. B.A., M.A., Kansas, 1978, 1980; J.D., Chicago, 1984. Administrative Law, Constitutional Law. Burdett A. Loomis Professor of Political Science (affiliated). B.A., Carleton College, 1967; M.A., Ph.D., Wisconsin, 1970, 1974. Legislative Clinic. Stephen W. Mazza Dean and Professor of Law. B.S., Samford, 1989; J.D., Alabama, 1992; LL.M., New York, 1993. Federal Income Taxation, Federal Tax Procedure, Tax Policy.
Lumen N. Mulligan Professor of Law and Director, Shook, Hardy & Bacon Center for Excellence in Advocacy. B.A., Kansas, 1995; M.A., Colorado, 1999; J.D., Michigan, 2002. Civil Procedure, Civil Rights Litigation, Federal Courts, Federal Jurisdiction. Uma Outka Associate Professor of Law. B.A.,Virginia, 1995; M.A., Southern Maine, 2005; J.D., Maine, 2005. Energy Law, Environmental Law. Joyce A. McCray Pearson Associate Professor of Law and Director, Wheat Law Library. B.M.E., Wichita State, 1980; J.D., Washburn, 1989; M.L., Washington, 1990. Law and Literature, Legal Research, Advanced Legal Research. John C. Peck Connell Teaching Professor in Kansas Law. B.S., Kansas State, 1968; J.D., Kansas, 1974. Contracts, Family Law, Land Transactions, Water Law. Jean K. Gilles Phillips Clinical Professor of Law. B.A., Augustana, 1987; J.D., Kansas, 1990. Criminal Practice in Kansas, Criminal Procedure, Project for Innocence & Post-Conviction Remedies.
Dennis D. Prater Connell Teaching Professor in Kansas Law. B.A., J.D., Kansas, 1969, 1973. Advanced Litigation, Evidence, Trial Advocacy. Joyce Rosenberg Lecturer in Law. B.A., Boston, 1992; J.D., Kansas, 1996. Externship Clinic, Lawyering. Elinor P. Schroeder Paul E. Wilson Distinguished Professor of Law. B.A., J.D., Michigan, 1968, 1974. Disability Law, Employment Discrimination Law, Employment Law, Labor Law. Jan Sheldon Courtesy Professor of Law. B.A., M.A./Ph.D, J.D., Kansas, 1970, 1974, 1977. Juvenile Law. Elizabeth Brand Six Lecturer in Law. B.A., Indiana, 1989; J.D., Stanford, 1992. Lawyering. Thomas G. Stacy Professor of Law. B.A., J.D., Michigan, 1980, 1983. Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, First Amendment. Ellen E. Sward Professor of Law. B.A., Cincinnati, 1970; J.D., Harvard, 1979. Civil Procedure, Federal Courts, International Civil Litigation. Andrew W. Torrance Professor of Law. B.Sc., Queen’s Univ. (Ontario), 1991; A.M., Ph.D., J.D., Harvard, 1994, 1997, 2000. Biodiversity Law, Food and Drug Law, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law. H. Rutherford Turnbull III Courtesy Professor of Law and Co-Director, Beach Center on Disability. B.A., Johns Hopkins, 1959; LL.B./J.D., Maryland, 1964; LL.M., Harvard, 1969. Disability Law. Suzanne Valdez Clinical Professor of Law. B.S., Nevada (Las Vegas), 1991; J.D., Kansas, 1996. Criminal Prosecution Clinic, Deposition Skills Workshop, Practice in Kansas, Pretrial Advocacy. Stephen J. Ware Professor of Law. B.A., Pennsylvania, 1987; J.D., Chicago, 1990. Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bankruptcy, Contracts, Secured Transactions. William E. Westerbeke Professor of Law. B.A., Bowdoin, 1964; M.A., Middlebury, 1968; J.D., Stanford, 1970. Insurance, Products Liability, Torts, Workers’ Compensation. Melanie D. Wilson Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law. A.B.J., J.D., Georgia, 1987, 1990. Art of Advocacy, Criminal Procedure, Evidence.
Emeritus Faculty Robert C. Casad John H. and John M. Kane Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Law. B.A., M.A., Kansas, 1950, 1952; J.D., Michigan, 1957; S.J.D., Harvard, 1979. George C. Coggins Frank Edwards Tyler Professor Emeritus of Law. B.A., Central Michigan, 1963; J.D., Michigan, 1966. Keith G. Meyer E.S. and Tom W. Hampton Professor Emeritus of Law. B.A., Cornell College, 1964; J.D., Iowa, 1967.
LAW LIBRARY FACULTY
Chief Justice John Roberts
Ashly LoBurgio Basgall Faculty Services, Senior Researcher. B.A., J.D., Kansas, 2001, 2011; M.A., Wyoming, 2008. Katherine Greene Automation and Acquisitions Librarian. B.A., Kansas, 1989; M.L.S., Emporia State, 2004. Joyce A. McCray Pearson Director, Law Library and Associate Professor of Law. B.M.E., Wichita State, 1980; J.D., Washburn, 1989; M.L., Washington, 1990. Law and Literature, Legal Research, Advanced Legal Research. Christopher L. Steadham Associate Director, Law Library. B.A., J.D., Kansas, 2001, 2004; M.L.I.M., Emporia State, 2007. Advanced Legal Research, Elder Law Research Project. Pamela M. Tull Head of Public Services. B.S., M.L.S., Emporia State, 1975, 1994. W. Blake Wilson Head of Instructional and Research Services. B.A., Missouri (Kansas City), 2000; M.A., J.D., Missouri, 2004. Advanced Legal Research, Research in Lawyering. For more information about law faculty members, including their publications and professional activities, visit the Faculty section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
distinguished visitors KU Law routinely draws distinguished scholars, judges, lawyers and public officials to campus for symposia, lectures and informal meetings with students and faculty. Past visitors have included Chief Justice John Roberts; Justices Sandra Day O’Connor, Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen Breyer, Byron White, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Janet Reno, Linda Greenhouse and Sheila Bair.
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student life
Students celebrate the start of a KU men’s basketball game at historic Allen Fieldhouse. KU Law is fully integrated into university life, and law students partake in the rich array of cultural, social and athletic activities, including Jayhawk basketball and football.
at Green Hall and beyond When you come to KU Law, you don’t just get an outstanding law school.You also gain membership to a flagship research and teaching university — and all the intellectual, social and cultural benefits it has to offer. What’s more, you can live, work, study and play in Lawrence, one of the most beautiful college towns in the country. A vibrant community with excellent schools, arts, food and other cultural resources, Lawrence always ranks high on lists of America’s most livable cities.
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Our students take full advantage of opportunities outside the classroom. You can get involved in any of the more than 30 student organizations at the law school alone, as well as over 500 campuswide. More than social clubs, many of these groups donate dollars and hours of service to the university and Lawrence communities. And if you’re into sports, you might be interested in knowing that the 2008 NCAA National Champion Jayhawk men’s basketball team plays its home games across the street from the law school.
student involvement Student organizations provide a focus for service, social activities and professional development. There are more than 30 student groups at the law school, and law students are eligible to join over 500 organizations campuswide. The Student Bar Association is an umbrella group that sponsors events ranging from charity fundraisers to a formal law school dance. Each class elects officers to plan activities and represent the class. In a program that may be unique to KU, law students serve the university and develop litigation skills by acting as prosecutors, defense counsel and judges in the Traffic Court, which handles all appeals of campus parking tickets.
a few of our student groups n Asian Law Students Association n Black Law Students Association n Business Law Association n Christian Legal Society n J. Reuben Clark Law Society n Environmental Law Society n Federalist Society n Global Lawyers Society n Health Law Society n Hispanic American Law Students Association n Intellectual Property Law Students Association n International Law Society n Islamic Law Students Association n Jewish Law Students Association
n Kansas Law Free Press n KU Law Interfaith Coalition n KU Law Legal Entrepreneurs n Law School Chess & Boxing Club n Native American Law Students Association n OUTLaws & Allies n Phi Alpha Delta n Public Interest Law Society n Real Estate Law Club n Saint Thomas More Society n Sports & Entertainment Law Society n Student Ambassadors n Student Bar Association n Women in Law
“Law school isn’t just sitting in classrooms reading casebooks. Whether you can only commit to a day or an entire school year, there are many opportunities to get involved in valuable student activities. You meet fellow students with similar interests that you may not have met otherwise and start building a networking foundation that will last for years.” — Natalie Hull, L’12
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student traditions Some activities sponsored by student organizations are significant components of law school tradition and involve the entire student body. For the annual Thanksgiving food drive, Black Law Students Association members solicit contributions from faculty, students and staff to provide turkeys and all the trimmings to Lawrence residents and organizations in need. A combination of talent show, auction and party, Pub Night draws members of the KU Law community together to raise spirits and money for local charities of particular interest to Women in Law. Pub Night’s most anticipated talent show act is the Moody Bluebooks, a rock band composed of faculty, staff, students and alumni. Each spring, students participate in the Walk to Old Green Hall, an annual tradition since 1978 that celebrates the law school’s history. Commencement day is a joyous occasion for grads, faculty, families and friends. Activities include the Hooding Ceremony, during which each graduate is recognized and a faculty member who students deem particularly helpful in advising and counseling receives the Dean Frederick J. Moreau Award.
KU Law students staff two academic journals.
moot court competitions It was the opportunity of a lifetime for four KU Law students. After countless hours of rigorous preparation, Beau Jackson, Christina Elmore, Ben Sharp and Carrie Bader placed second in the North American regional of the European Law Students’ Association Moot Court Competition in Washington, D.C. The payoff: a trip to Taipei for the international finals. The day after graduating from law school, the team departed for Taiwan with high hopes of bringing home a global victory. Despite not ultimately winning the competition, Jackson was deemed best oral advocate of the preliminary rounds. “I was very pleased because it is perhaps the highest individual honor, since it is the only stage at which every competitor participated – four people from 19 teams, so almost 80 people,” Jackson recalls. Team members also met luminaries in the world of international trade law and found time to experience the Taiwanese capital, which is home to nearly 3 million people. All while putting their expanding knowledge of WTO law into practice and setting the stage for possible careers in the field. The ELSA team originated from KU Law’s second-year in-house moot court competition, in which students argue a case under Supreme Court conditions. Top-placing students represent KU in national and international competitions their third year of law school and become members of the Moot Court Council, assisting with the in-house competition. In recent years, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has twice judged the final round of competition, along with federal court of appeals, district and state court judges. Student finalists argued before Chief Justice John Roberts in 2008.
opportunities for publication KU Law students edit and publish two scholarly journals: the Kansas Law Review and the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. The journals allow students to delve deeply into areas of law that interest them, hone their writing and expand their editing skills. The publications host symposia that draw distinguished legal scholars to campus; recent topics have included biolaw, reparations for racial disparities, state constitutional law, arbitration law, and employment law in recessionary times. Staff members are chosen each spring by way of writing competitions and receive course credit.
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NEBRASKA
29 KCI Airport 81
70 Topeka Hays
435 KU Kansas Campus City Lawrence KU
Salina Emporia
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Located just 20 minutes from
Ottawa
the state capital of Topeka and 40 minutes from Kansas City,
59 Wichita
MISSOURI
COLORADO
KANSAS
A great place to be
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Lawrence is the perfect place to enjoy the best of all that eastern Kansas has to offer.
OKLAHOMA
The KU-Lawrence advantage The University of Kansas rivals just about any college campus in the nation for its beauty. It’s also a major educational and research institution with more than 30,000 students, 2,200 faculty members and 14 major academic divisions. The university includes the main campus in Lawrence; the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.; the Edwards Campus in Overland Park; a clinical campus of the School of Medicine in Wichita; and educational and research facilities throughout the state of Kansas. Green Hall is a five-minute walk from Student Health Services and the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center. The Burge Union, which houses food services, meeting rooms and a bookstore, is across the street. And the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics and the Lied Center of Kansas, one of the finest performing arts venues in the region, are just up the hill.
HOUSING The University of Kansas campus boasts brilliant foliage in fall, as seen in this aerial view looking south along Jayhawk Boulevard. Fraser Hall, left, is a readily identifiable part of the Lawrence skyline, visible for miles from its perch on the highest point of Mount Oread.
DAY CARE There are a number of child care options in Lawrence and on the KU campus. Hilltop Child Development Center, located across the street from Green Hall, is a popular choice for many law students and their families. Dependents of KU students receive first priority for day care openings on campus, but space is limited. For more information on Hilltop, visit www.hilltop.ku.edu or call (785) 864-4940. To inquire about off-campus options, contact the Douglas County Child Development Association at (785) 842-9679 or visit its website, www.dccda.org. The association can connect you with a free referral service.
Most law students live off campus in apartments and rental homes throughout the city. The Lawrence Journal-World includes housing ads at www.ljworld.com. The Office of Admissions maintains a list of students seeking roommates and individual renters with rooms or apartments at www.law.ku.edu/housing. Information about on-campus housing is available from the student housing department at (785) 864-4560 or online at www.housing.ku.edu. For graduate students, students with children and nontraditional students, KU offers Stouffer Place, an apartment complex near the law school. Law students also may live in any KU residence hall or Jayhawker Towers, an apartment complex for unmarried students located across the street from Green Hall.
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Art
culture
play
Lawrence has been named one of the “100 Best Small Art Towns in America,” and it doesn’t take long to see why. Here you’ll find art in restaurants, public buildings, galleries, museums and literally on street corners. The Lawrence Arts Center is home to dance and theater companies, and offers classes to the public in visual arts, theater, creative writing and more. The Lied Center hosts world-class performances, and the Spencer Museum of Art boasts a collection of more than 25,000 works.
The historic downtown is the center of social life in Lawrence. You can shop book peddlers, specialty merchants and clothing stores you’ll only find here. Sample Greek, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Mexican, French, Indian and Cuban cuisine. Catch art-house films at Liberty Hall Cinema. Bob your head as regional and national acts take the stage at The Bottleneck and other music venues — or just wait for a street musician to tune up his saxophone. Study at a coffeehouse. Stake out a spot to sit and watch the citizenry. Take a yoga class. Get a massage. Learn to tango. It’s all possible within a few blocks in the heart of the city.
Lawrence offers more than 50 miles of hiking and biking paths suitable for novice or experienced riders. The League of American Bicyclists named Lawrence a “Bicycle-Friendly Community” in 2000. The city maintains 52 parks where you can toss a frisbee, catch a concert or spread out a blanket and kick back. Clinton Lake is just west of town, offering acres of recreational water as well as campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking and mountain biking trails, public hunting lands, boat docks and swimming beaches.
living in lawrence “One of my favorite parts about KU and the Lawrence community is that there is always something to do if you need a break from studying. Kansas basketball games are full of tradition, and Allen Fieldhouse is conveniently located across the street from the law school. If basketball is not your thing, the Lied Center always has a fabulous lineup of concerts and performances, and Kansas City is only 40 minutes away.” — Courtney Johnston, L’11
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career services
The Office of Career Services assists students with job searches, resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills and more. Its knowledgeable staff coordinates career fairs and on-campus interviews that often result in offers for summer internships or permanent positions.
fROM classroom to legal career A degree from KU Law can take you anywhere. Just ask Sheila Bair, L’78, recent chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Or Janet Murguia, L’85, the executive director and COO of the National Council of La Raza, the largest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S. Or Brett Hattaway, L’96, vice president and head of legal services for the Eastern Europe Middle East Africa region of DHL Express, who splits his time between Brussels and Dubai. Wherever you want to go, the law school’s Office of Career Services can help you get there. As a first-year student, you’ll meet with staff members to discuss
opportunities, and you’ll be matched with a mentor from the ranks of our alumni who can provide advice. Workshops throughout the school year can help you explore career options and develop job-seeking skills. Students frequently meet with career services staff for assistance with resumes and cover letters, advice on interviewing and tips on career strategies. You can put that guidance to work during interviews with employers who visit campus to recruit. Each year, some 100 regional and national law firms, corporations and government agencies interview students for summer jobs and permanent positions.
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tools for career development n Programs designed especially
for first-year students, offering practical guidance on legal careers n Mock interviews conducted by practicing attorneys from the ranks of KU Law alumni to help you develop interviewing skills and gain confidence n Networking opportunities at
Legal Career Options Day, the Government Agency Career Fair and the Small Firms Fair n A speaker series featuring
lawyers and judges sharing advice on everything from job-hunting skills to the realities of practice n Career Services Alumni
Network, consisting of KU Law graduates willing to speak with students about careers in the law n Symplicity, an online database
of instructional materials and current job listings for students
career opportunities Typically, more than half of our graduates join private law firms. Some of those firms specialize in corporate and transactional work or trial work, but most are general practice firms. Some graduates work for the government at the federal, state or local level. They become prosecutors or public defenders or work in administrative agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, Environmental Protection Agency or the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. Still other graduates accept judicial clerkships, usually for a year or two after graduation, working for trial or appellate courts at the state or federal level. Our graduates also opt for public interest work at legal services organizations or agencies working for social change. KU Law graduates have joined the likes of Kansas Legal Services, Legal Aid of Western Missouri and Colorado Legal Services. Armed with a KU Law degree, your options are boundless. Our graduates have been successful passing the bar examination in Kansas and Missouri, as well as states farther afield, such as California and New York. The Office of Career Services provides up-to-date information on bar requirements for all states. Speaking of states, the school’s more than 6,800 living alumni reside in all 50 of them — plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and at least 20 foreign countries. The majority of our graduates practice law in the region, but there are concentrations of KU Law alumni in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and many other cities in states across the nation. For more about options and tools the Office of Career Services can provide, visit the Career Services section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
“The Office of Career Services is dedicated to partnering with you from the first day you arrive on campus through the full arc of your legal career. By developing a meaningful understanding of you and your ambitions, we will help you identify career opportunities and develop the strategies to translate them into reality. Regional and national employers actively recruit KU Law graduates — demonstrating how well-respected and versatile your degree will be across the U.S. and beyond. ” — Arturo Thompson, assistant dean for career services
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Our alumni live in all 50 states and 20 foreign countries.
where our grads go Here are just a few of the employers of recent KU Law grads. Find a more extensive list on the Career Services page of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
Judicial Clerkships
Law Firms
Justice Anthony Kennedy, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court Hon. Judith Barzilay, U.S. Court of International Trade Hon. Gregory Carmen, U.S. Court of International Trade Hon. Mary Beck Briscoe, 10th Circuit Hon. Deanell Reece Tacha, 10th Circuit Hon. Frederick Scullin, Federal District—NY Hon. Gary Sebelius, Federal District—KS
Alston & Bird, Atlanta
Government/Public Interest
O’Melveny & Myers, San Francisco
Environmental Protection Agency Federal Bureau of Investigation Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Reserve Bank Internal Revenue Service Kansas Corporation Commission Libel Defense Resource Center Library of Congress Navajo Nations Department of Justice U.S. Department of Transportation
Shook Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City
Arent Fox, Washington, D.C. Baird Holm, Omaha Ballard Spahr, Denver Cravath Swaine & Moore, New York Fish & Richardson, San Diego Foulston Siefkin, Wichita Hall Estill, Tulsa Husch Blackwell Sanders, Kansas City Miller Nash, Portland
Sidley Austin, Chicago Snell & Wilmer, Phoenix Thompson & Knight, Dallas
products of ku law Among the ranks of KU Law graduates are, clockwise from lower left, Lydia Beebe, L’77, corporate secretary and chief governance officer for Chevron Corporation in San Ramon, Calif.; the Hon. Julie A. Robinson, L’81, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas; Sam Brownback, L’83, governor of Kansas; and Sheila Bair, L’78, recent chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Corporate Black & Veatch, Kansas City Hallmark, Kansas City Koch Industries Inc., Wichita PricewaterhouseCoopers, Chicago
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financial aid
Recent KU Law graduates Tracie Revis and Alexis Rothenberg bask in the spotlight before the hooding ceremony, during which the school recognizes each graduate.Three years of law school at KU cost less than one-third the rate at most private law schools.
affording KU Law At KU Law, our tuition runs less than one-third that of comparable private law schools, which makes us an excellent choice for students seeking a first-rate education at a price they can afford. Roughly half of entering students receive scholarship assistance — based on need, merit, leadership, achievements and potential for contributing to the law school experience. Some awards go to students who are from specific geographical regions, are members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession, or are committed to public service. The priority deadline for scholarships is Feb. 15.
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You can find information about scholarship consideration under Cost & Aid on the Prospective Students page of our website, www.law.ku.edu. Low-interest loans and summer earnings can help supplement the cost of school. A handful of outstanding incoming students from Kansas are designated Rice Scholars and receive full tuition and fees scholarships. A faculty committee selects potential Rice Scholars from the incoming class list based on excellent academic records and proven leadership ability. Final selections are made after interviews with the scholarship committee.
“Attending KU was the best choice for me. The cost for out-of-state students was less than the cost for residents at my home state university. In addition to federal financial aid, there are a lot of excellent scholarship opportunities available year-round.” — MARCHANT MARTINELLI, l’11
Feb. 15 is The priority application deadline to be considered for law school scholarships.
Tuition & AID For up-to-date information on tuition and fees at KU Law, go to www.tuition.ku.edu. Your tuition and fees entitle you to course instruction; dispensary care for ordinary illnesses and special medical care at nominal rates; the use of the Kansas and Burge Unions, libraries, buses, Legal Services for Students and the Ambler Student Recreation Fitness Center; a copy of the University Daily Kansan and other newspapers; and reduced-price admission to most campus events.
Merit-based scholarships are awarded to entering students on the basis of academic achievement and the student’s potential to succeed in law school and contribute to the law school experience. Priority deadline for scholarships is Feb. 15. You are also encouraged to investigate outside sources of scholarship and loan assistance. Many civic, service and cultural organizations provide scholarships, as do religious groups and private foundations. For questions about financial aid, visit www.financialaid.ku.edu.
You’ll be classified as resident or nonresident based on information you provide on your application for admission. This classification determines the cost of attending KU Law. The Office of the University Registrar determines residency. If you have questions about your status, contact the office at (785) 864-4423 or visit www.residency.ku.edu.
The Office of Career Services offers information about part-time and summer law-related employment on its section of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu. The University Career Center — in the Burge Union, across the street from Green Hall — is a source for employment not related to law.
Need-based awards and loans are considered for applicants who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Applications and information may be obtained from the KU Office of Student Financial Aid, (785) 864-4700, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The priority deadline is March 1.
We strongly recommend that you not work during your first year of law school. Upper-level students may work, but Standard 304 of the American Bar Association Standards for Approval of Law Schools dictates that employment of any full-time law student be limited to 20 hours per week.
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admissions
KU Law is committed to providing meaningful access to a legal education for men and women of all religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and physical abilities. Pictured above are international students enrolled in our S.J.D. and Two-Year J.D. programs.
students of character, promise The admissions committee at KU Law will have a goal in mind when looking at your application: to admit a highly qualified and diverse class — one that consists of people who, individually and collectively, show great promise of contributing to and succeeding in the complex enterprise of studying and practicing law. Your job is to show them you’re up for the challenge. We’ll look at your grades, LSAT score, letters of recommendation, application and personal statement. And then we’ll dig deeper, examining undergraduate course work, employment history, professional or
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volunteer experience, leadership in school or civic activities, diversity of background and experience, and ability to overcome cultural, financial or other disadvantages. We are committed to providing access to a legal education for men and women of all religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations and physical abilities. To that end, we actively recruit applicants with diverse backgrounds and characteristics, including those from minority ethnic backgrounds. And your experience at KU Law will be all the richer for it.
requirements for admission You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university, conferred before enrollment in law school. No specific course of study is required. Take the Law School Admission Test. It’s offered four times a year — in June, September/October, December and February. To register, contact the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) at (215) 968-1001 or through its website, www.lsac.org. o Register for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) by contacting LSAC through the above channels. o
Submit at least two letters of recommendation, though we welcome up to three. We recommend that an instructor write the letters. If you have been out of school for some time, you may submit letters from employers or associates. We prefer to receive letters through CAS.
o
Complete the KU Law application for admission. We prefer that you do so electronically through CAS, which allows us to process it more quickly. The electronic application is available at www.lsac.org. You may also reach it through the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu. Or request a paper application by calling (866) 220-3654.
o
Complete a personal statement. This might include information about your education, social and economic background, achievements and goals, or interest in attending law school. We encourage you to include any connections to or particular interest in Kansas or KU.
o
Pay the $55 application fee.
o
If you are a citizen of a non-English-speaking country, take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For information, visit www.ets.org.
The PRIORITY application deadline is MaY 1. We will begin filling spaces in the entering class in the fall and continue until classes begin. We notify most applicants of a final decision by April, and almost all admissions decisions are made by May 1. Applicants placed on our waiting list may be admitted until classes begin. Students offered admission must pay two nonrefundable deposits to hold a place in the class. The deposits are credited to the student’s account upon enrollment. Students who have completed their first year at another law school may be considered for transfer. Find more information on admission with advanced standing on the Prospective Students page of the law school’s website, www.law.ku.edu.
“‘What are you looking for in an application?’ That’s a question we answer every day. Well, we don’t have a checklist here, but what we do have is a philosophy of seeking out candidates who will make a positive impact both while they are here on our campus and after they leave our campus. So tell us about your goals and ambitions, and let us know what it is about you that will lead you there.” — Steven Freedman, Assistant Dean for admissions
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visit KU Law
Getting to campus From the north, east or west, take I-70 to the West Lawrence exit (202). Go south on Iowa to 15th Street and turn east. From the southeast, take Highway 10 (23rd Street) west to Iowa Street. Go north to 15th Street and turn east. From the south, take Highway 59 (Iowa Street) north, and turn east on 15th Street.
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To West Lawrence Turnpike Exit
15th Street
N
Jayhawk Towers
Green Hall
Restricted parking
Naismith Drive
Office of Admissions www.law.ku.edu/prospective admitlaw@ku.edu (866) 220-3654 (toll free)
The law school is at the southeast corner of 15th Street and Burdick Drive. Its street address is 1535 W. 15th St., Lawrence, KS 66045-7608. Visitor parking is available in the garage southeast of the school, adjacent to Allen Fieldhouse.
Engel Road
Getting to Green Hall
Iowa Street
KU Law students come from Kansas City to Garden City, Newport Beach to New York, Dubai to Dublin. In other words, you can start anywhere and find a home at the University of Kansas School of Law. We hope you’ll visit us. Sit in on a class. Meet faculty and students. Tour the building with one of our student ambassadors. To schedule a visit, learn about open houses or find out when we’ll be at a career fair near you, contact the Office of Admissions:
Murphy Hall
Irving Hill Road
Burge Union
Restricted parking
Visitor parking in covered garage
Allen Field House
To 23rd Street/ K-10
get a jump start on your legal education o-Do List
Summer T
lease Sign new wrence Move to La school!! Start law
Summer Start Program As a first-year student at KU Law, you may begin your studies in the summer or fall. About a third of the students in each year’s entering class opt for a summer start. The Summer Start Program consists of two five-week sessions beginning the third week of May and concluding at the end of July. Each class meets 80 minutes a day, five days a week, including Memorial Day. Summer starters may choose to participate in the optional Accelerated Program, completing their degree in two full academic years (60 credits) and three summer sessions (30 credits).
Why start in the summer? Greater flexibility As a summer starter, you may acquire up to 41 credit hours toward graduation by the end of the spring semester. If you continue at the traditional pace and attend law school for three academic years (six semesters), you only have to complete an additional 49 hours. (A minimum of 12 hours per semester is required.) So you can either take additional courses prior to graduation or proceed at a more leisurely pace after the first year.
Greater comfort level Many summer starters have a greater comfort level when they undertake fall courses. They have already taken four classes and four final exams. They’re also already familiar with the law school and its faculty.
Concentration on fewer courses Starting in the summer allows you to focus exclusively on two subjects during the initial months of law school. Given the complexity of legal training, you might appreciate this concentrated focus at the beginning rather than a fall-semester start during which you must attend five classes and take five final exams.
Smaller class size The Summer Start Program is open to all admitted students. If you are working professionally or will graduate at least three weeks prior to the start date, we encourage you to consider the program.
The summer class size is smaller, permitting greater interaction among students and between students and faculty members. In this environment, summer starters often bond over their shared experience.
Reduced expenses “The Summer Start Program gave me the opportunity to adjust back to the academic lifestyle after two years working full time.” — Chris Kaufman, L’10
Summer starters who participate in the Accelerated Program and graduate early benefit from reduced living costs and less income sacrificed during law school. However, accelerating can limit course selection and make it difficult to schedule the appropriate sequencing of classes to meet prerequisites for upper-level courses.
Designer: Mindie Paget Printing: Allen Press, Lawrence, Kan. Photography: R. Steve Dick, Randy Edmonds, Chuck France, Lawrence Convention & Visitors Bureau, Megan McAtee, David McKinney, Jennifer Nerren, Mindie Paget, Steve Puppe
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