Student Bar Association

The University of Kentucky Student Bar Association, affiliated with the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, represents UK Law's 400 students in the formation of law school policy and student governance. Equally important, the SBA organizes social and community service events during the year. The American Bar Association has recognized UK's SBA as one of the top student bar associations in the Midwest 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96. For 2000-2001, UK SBA was named the ABA/LSD Midwest Region Student Bar Association of the Year and for 2001-02 we were named the best Student Bar Association in the nation.

2007-2008 Officers:

Anthony Tagavi, President
Regan Merkel, Vice President
Emily Wilkey, Secretary
Patrick Martin, Treasurer
Zachariah Webb, 3L Representative
Mark Maier, 2L Representative
TBA, 1L Representative
Lance Phillips, At-Large Rep.
Tyler Green, Advisor

Membership:

SBA membership is open to all UK Law students. Dues for all three years of law school traditionally are collected during first-year student Orientation. Dues for the 2003 entering class were $100.00.

Social Events:

The Student Bar Association recognizes that its primary role is to serve students of its law school. With a diverse student body composed of traditional and non- traditional, married and single, local and out-of-state students, our goal is to provide a variety of events with broad appeal. In addition, we organize activities that will promote faculty-student interaction outside of the classroom.

UK Law at Lexington Legends!

On August 28th, the SBA held a welcome party at the Lexington Legends baseball game at Applebee's Park. The Pepsi Party Deck on the right field wall was reserved. All 1L's and their mentors were encouraged to attend.

UK v. UL Football Tailgate

On Sunday, August 31st, the SBA started another season of law school tailgating.

Barristers' Ball

The Barristers' Ball is the annual law school spring formal. This year's event was held at the Marriott Griffin gate Hotel. Following a cocktail hour, approximately 300 law students and faculty, spouses and friends enjoyed dinner, music and dancing.

Libel Show

The Libel Show is an annual event where we students get a chance to get back at the faculty for the pains endured in the classroom. Each class puts on a skit which pokes fun (tastefully, of course) at their favorite faculty members. The Libel Show began as a modest program of skits, but now is a full-fledged variety show. Another tradition of the Libel Show is an auction of items donated by the faculty and administration to raise money for the Student Public Interest Law Foundation. This auction raises thousands of dollars for SPILF to help fund their summer fellowships.

Cardozo Open Golf Scramble

Each semester, the SBA sponsors the Cardozo Open, named after the famous Supreme Court Justice, every semester. This event includes an 18 hole golf scramble and a cookout following the round. Participants include law students, their spouses, alumni, professors, and friends of the law school. The tournament is competitive and fun regardless of skill level.

Barrister's Bowl

Three years ago, the SBA presidents of UK and UofL started a flag football game to coincide with the annual football game between the two schools. This past year, UK Law won (18-0) for the first time in the game's three year history. After the game, both teams head out for a night of fun. The losing school must travel to the other school's city to do volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity.

Community Service

The SBA devotes a substantial amount of time and service to the community. The SBA organizes a number of community service events each year. In addition, the SBA regularly schedules Noon Forums to bring attorneys, judges and other persons to speak on current topics related to our students' professional education and interests. Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass and UK Law Provide Service Opportunity

UK Law SBA and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass have developed a program to provide law students the opportunity to serve as mentors to local children. Each law student will be placed with a local area student and will visit that child at school once a week. BBBS will be on hand during the organization fair to provide more information on this exciting new service opportunity.

UK Law Bleeds BLUE!

The Central Kentucky Blood Center uses the Courtroom Lobby to take blood donations from students for the annual UK v. UL Blood Drive before the UK/UL football match-up.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

Every year, the SBA organizes students from the College of Law to run the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. VITA assists persons who cannot afford professional tax counsel, mainly the elderly and UK students, in preparation of their tax returns. For more information about this year's program, visit the UK College of Law Tax Assistance website.

Race Judicata

One of the longest standing traditions of UK SBA is the annual Race Judicata, a 5k race held at the UK Arboretum. Each year dozens of students, faculty, and people from the community run in the race. All proceeds from the race go to the University of Kentucky Legal Clinic, which is a student-manned organization that helps to provide legal assistance to indigent clients in the local community.

Central High School Outreach Program

In 2002, UK SBA embarked on our most advantageous and successful community outreach program yet. The SBA in conjunction with the Black Law Student Association organized a book drive to collect legally related books from students and faculty to donate to Central High School's Law and Business Magnet library. We also visited the school to discuss with students the rigors of legal education and how to prepare for and apply to law school. Further, the students then accompanied us to UK Law School for a of fun and learning about the practice of law.

This program was started to help the University of Kentucky College of Law's aspiration that our law school and others will soon be composed of an even more diverse student body.

Salvation Army Angel Tree Project

Every year, UK SBA participates in the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Project. The SBA, through the gifts of students, faculty and staff, is able to provide Christmas gifts to many needy children in the local community.

Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign

Each year at the end of the semester and over the winter break, dozens of students volunteer to ring bells and attend the kettles outside a local department store for a week to help raise money for the Salvation Army. This takes place in very cold temperatures; however, we raise thousands of dollars for the needy during the Christmas season.

Contact Information

    Student Bar Association
    College of Law Building, Room 1??
    Lexington KY 40506-0048
    (859) 257-4875
    uksba@hotmail.com