University of Louisville - Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

The Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville has a “down-to-earth atmosphere,” and students find the program and overall cost of living affordable. “Professors are accessible and happy to interact with students,” and the “open door” policy of the faculty and staff is among the school’s greatest strengths. Students note that the program has “some fantastic professors” who “will clearly go through hell and back for their students,” but some note that instructors can be “hit or miss.” Students would like to see “more class selections and better time slots” but appreciated the more practical nature of the curriculum, noting that professors here “are not lost in academic rigor. They seemed more concerned with us practicing than publishing.” Students also praised the school’s resources, including the library, where “law librarians are very helpful and available to answer any questions.”
The school has “great connections with the Louisville and Kentucky legal communities and finding mentors/internship opportunities is never a problem.” For many students, it’s the professors who stand out when it comes to career development. Many professors here connect students to opportunities and are readily available to “write recommendations or act as a reference for students who are seeking jobs and internships.” Students appreciate the school’s “encouragement of practical experience before graduation.” As part of the degree requirements to graduate, students are required to complete 30 hours of legal public service. To help students meet this requirement, the school offers first-year students the opportunity to return to campus one or two weeks before the spring semester and be paired with an employer to complete their public service. This program is optional, but the school notes that the majority of first-year students participate.

There is healthy competition among peers with activities such as moot court and the law review, but the environment here is not “super competitive,” which is “very helpful for students' mental health.” The overall vibe on campus is left leaning, with students noting that “Most are fairly liberal, but [there are] some conservatives.” Students here are “really nice to each other” and can be found “helping and supporting each other.” One 1L student remarks that, in general, “people are open and excited about getting to know one another.” To facilitate networking among students, alumni, and potential employers the school offers job fairs and there are frequent school sponsored and student org sponsored events on campus, such as panels and speaker series.