Law School: An Overview

In General: Law school is typically a three-year program. Admissions standards generally require that you must have completed your undergraduate degree before matriculating in law school and that you must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). There are no particular undergraduate courses or majors that are required for law school. At UK Law we have enrolled students who have majored in topics from Art History to Zoology.

The study of law is a very involved process. Many law professors, particularly in the first year, teach using the Socratic Method. Class preparation and participation are very important, because class discussion will start with the reading you have done in advance of class and go forward from there. It is important to attend class, to do the reading in advance of class, and to be ready to be engaged in class discussion.

The Socratic Method: In the first year of law school, most professors use a method of teaching which is known as the "Socratic" or discussion method. Instead of lecturing, a professor will call on you asking questions about material you have studied as well as questions which test your ability to apply legal principles to different situations. Thorough preparation for class will guide you through difficult questions and make the experience rewarding rather than frightening.

The Socratic method is designed to teach you to solve problems by listening carefully to the facts, analyzing them with good judgment, and expressing conclusions precisely. Law professors vary in their use of the Socratic method. Some begin by asking you to state the case or issue presented in the case, and then follow with questions asking whether the decision is right or wrong, poorly reasoned, or in line with similar decisions. Other professors create hypothetical situations similar but not identical to the case you studied, and then ask you to analyze the situation applying legal principles.

As you might suspect, the Socratic method is more difficult and demanding than most teaching methods used in undergraduate courses. Many professors at UK also use a mix of lecture and problem solving along with the Socratic dialogue. To get the most out of class, you should be not only well prepared and alert, but also thinking, asking questions that trouble you, and participating in the discussion.

Law is a profession, and professionals have a responsibility to their colleagues as well as the public. As one professor put it, "What is taught in the classroom depends on the level and quality of student preparation and participation. Your professional responsibility begins as a student."

About Classes and Class Preparation: Law school classes generally use what is known as the case method. Professors expect you to discuss with them in class the reports of actual cases collected in a textbook. The text contains mostly appellate decisions which are organized and selected in such a way as to present important legal principles. However, when confronted with the first assignments in a casebook, many students have difficulty trying to figure out exactly what the purpose of the case is. Therefore, law students over the years have developed a way to master the study of the law through the case method:  the brief.

Briefing: Briefing is a way of organizing the information in a case. A brief is a summary of the important points of the court's decision. Most law students, especially first-year students, find briefing an invaluable tool. Not only does briefing help prepare you for class, but the end result is a capsule outline of all the cases you have read during the semester. During finals preparation, this organization saves you the task of re-reading cases.

First-Year Curriculum: As a first year student, you will be required to take certain courses which are basic to the study of law. These courses introduce you to the fundamentals of the law and serve as the foundation for other classes. Below is a short description of the first year curriculum for students at the University of Kentucky College of Law.

    First Semester

Torts: Most tort cases are brought by someone seeking money from someone else for injury to a person or damage to property. The course includes assault, battery, false imprisonment, products liability, negligence, and many other occurrences that lead to law suits. (4 hour course)

Contracts I: The study of bargain and exchange. This course discusses the formation, performance, and breach of contracts in the common law and in the sale of goods under the Uniform Commercial Code. (3 hours)

Civil Procedure I: The study of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly jurisdiction, venue, and the application of state law in federal courts. (3 hours)

Criminal Law: This is a course on the law of crimes and defenses thereto. (3 hours)

    Second Semester

Property: The study of the rights of ownership. It includes future interests, gifts, land easements. (4 hours)

Contracts II: Contracts continued. (3 hours)

Civil Procedure II: Procedure continued. (3 hours)

Constitutional Law I: The study of the judicial interpretation of the Constitution: the federal system, powers of the national government and limitations on the exercise of state powers. (3 hours)

Additionally, throughout the first year you will participate in a Legal Research and Writing class for three hours of credit. In the research portion of the class, you will learn the ins and outs of how to use the Law Library and internet resources. In Legal Writing you will learn how to write a memo and a brief.

Also during the first year, the College provides instruction and support in timely one hour seminars (Basic Skills Seminars) taught by faculty, each on a different skills needed in law school.