Why University of Kentucky?
The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law offers a close-knit community with a rich history of trial advocacy and a strong emphasis on experiential learning, including the nation's tenth oldest law review.
University of Kentucky is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 50.1%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.72 GPA and 157 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.52–3.90 GPA and 155–160 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 120 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Kentucky admitted 3 transfer students into the 2L class. 3 1Ls transferred out.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #70
- Median GPA
- 3.72
- 25th–75th: 3.52–3.90
- Median LSAT
- 157
- 25th–75th: 155–160
- Acceptance rate
- 50.1%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 120
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 3
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
2025 transfer admit profile
Actual GPAs of students University of Kentucky admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.
- 25th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
- Median
- —
- 50th percentile
- 75th percentile
- —
- Suppressed (small cohort)
3 1Ls transferred out of University of Kentucky in the same cycle — context for how portable University of Kentucky's 1L credit is among admissions committees elsewhere.
Top employment markets
- 1Kentucky
- 2Illinois
- 3Ohio
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define University of Kentucky's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Kentucky" essay where they align with your interests.
- Civil Litigation ClinicStudents represent clients in a variety of civil legal matters under faculty supervision, gaining practical litigation skills.
- Civil Rights and Restorative Justice-Kentucky Clinic (CRRJ-KY)Students investigate cold cases of historical racial violence in Kentucky, seeking fact-finding and redress through restorative justice practices.
- Advanced ClinicStudents continue supervised casework from prior clinics, take on more complex matters, and develop clinic projects.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Kentucky Law Journal— General legal scholarship, the tenth oldest law review published by U.S. law schools.
- Kentucky Journal for Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Law (KJEANRL)— Multi-disciplinary journal focusing on law, science, and policy related to equine, agriculture, and natural resources.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
- James C. DuffInterim Dean
- Joshua DouglasElection Law, Constitutional Law
- Melissa HenkeLegal Research and Writing
- D'lorah L. HughesClinical Law, Civil Rights
- Michael MurrayLegal Research and Writing, Artificial Intelligence in Law
- Kathryn MooreTax Law
- Jonathan ShaubNational Security Law, Public Policy
- Ramsi WoodcockBusiness Law, Antitrust
- Tiffany AtkinsRace, Law, and Social Justice
- John BlevinsProperty Law, Land Use
What makes University of Kentucky distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Home to the Kentucky Law Journal, the tenth oldest law review in the nation, with continuous publication since 1881.
- ·Established the nation's first law school trial practice program in 1913, emphasizing practical skills.
- ·Offers a UK BLUE accelerated Bachelor of Arts/Juris Doctor (BA/JD) degree option for ambitious undergraduates.
- ·Provides four dual degree programs: JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MHA, and JD/MA in Diplomacy and International Commerce.
- ·A hallmark of the first-year experience is the required 1L oral argument, providing early advocacy experience.
Using this for your "Why University of Kentucky" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about University of Kentucky
What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Kentucky?▾
University of Kentucky's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.72 and a median LSAT of 157. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.52–3.90 GPA and 155–160 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is University of Kentucky's acceptance rate?▾
University of Kentucky's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 50.1%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does University of Kentucky offer?▾
University of Kentucky's notable clinical programs include: Civil Litigation Clinic, Civil Rights and Restorative Justice-Kentucky Clinic (CRRJ-KY), Advanced Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does University of Kentucky publish?▾
University of Kentucky's notable student-edited journals include: Kentucky Law Journal, Kentucky Journal for Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Law (KJEANRL).
Where do University of Kentucky graduates work?▾
University of Kentucky graduates concentrate employment in Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
How many transfer students does University of Kentucky admit?▾
University of Kentucky admitted 3 transfer students into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.
Schools similar to University of Kentucky
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
About to start at University of Kentucky?
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Try Case Cub free →Sources (3) — verify any fact above
- https://law.uky.edu/academics/clinics
- https://law.uky.edu/academics/journals
- https://law.uky.edu/faculty
Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.