The Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University

Law School Admissions

Application

Director of admissions Ashley Folger Gray
Application deadline July 1
Full-time program application fee $40
Part-time program application fee $40
Besides the fall semester, can enter in N/A

The Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University

Admissions & Enrollment (Overall)

Acceptance rate 53.2% – High
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.35
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 154

Admissions & Enrollment (Full-time)

Acceptance rate 52.1%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 152-156
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.17-3.56
Median undergraduate GPA for full-time program entrants 3.39
Median LSAT score for full-time program entrants 154

Admissions & Enrollment (Part-time)

Acceptance rate 59.2%
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 150-158
Undergraduate GPA (25th-75th percentile) 2.82-3.58
Median undergraduate GPA for part-time program entrants 3.13
Median LSAT score for part-time program entrants 153

Law School Academics

Academic Program Details

Academic calendar Semester
Joint degrees offered
J.D./M.B.A.
Special programs offered to J.D. students (as provided by the school)
Exceptional practical training is offered via clinical & externship opportunities. The Center for Excellence in Advocacy & the Transactional Law Practice Center offer programs that enable students to acquire specialized knowledge. Students may also receive certificates in Advocacy or Transactional Law. The Pro Bono Service Program provides students with diverse public service opportunities.
Programs/courses offered in
appellate advocacy intellectual property law
clinical training international law
dispute resolution tax law
environmental law trial advocacy
health care law

Curricular Offerings (Overall)

Classroom course titles, beyond the first-year curriculum, offered last year 82
Seminars 4
Positions available in seminars 94
Positions available in simulation courses 332
Positions available in faculty-supervised clinical courses 40
Student activities (as provided by the school)
Co-curricular activities include the Northern Kentucky Law Review, Moot Court, National Trial Advocacy Team, Arbitration Team, and Negotiation Team. Numerous student organizations provide students with the opportunity to hone their leadership skills. These organizations bring national speakers to campus, host social events, and sponsor professional and community service programs.

Curricular Offerings (Full-time)

Typical first-year full-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 72
Is there typically a full-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? No
Typical size of first-year “small section” N/A
Positions filled in full-time program seminars 72
Positions filled in full-time program simulation courses 180
Positions filled in faculty-supervised full-time program clinical courses 29
Full-time students involved in field placements 36
Full-time students involved in law journals 29
Full-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 25
Full-time students enrolled in independent study 17

Curricular Offerings (Part-time)

Typical first-year part-time section size taught by full-time faculty (excludes small sections) 67
Is there typically a part-time “small section” of the first-year class taught by full-time faculty (excluding Legal Writing)? No
Positions filled in part-time program seminars 20
Positions filled in part-time program simulation courses 128
Positions filled in faculty-supervised part-time program clinical courses 6
Part-time students involved in field placements 14
Part-time students involved in law journals 5
Part-time students involved in advanced moot court or trial competitions 4
Part-time students enrolled in independent study 5

Faculty Profile (Fall 2011)

Student-faculty ratio 14.7:1 – Medium
Full- and part-time faculty 48
Full-time minority faculty 13.0%
Part-time minority faculty 8.0%
Total faculty 61
Total faculty (men) 54.1%
Total faculty (women) 45.9%
Total faculty (minorities) 9.8%

Class Size

Law School Ranking

Rank Not Published Best Law Schools

(1) Ranking by Specialties

#58 in Part-time Law

Law Ranking Scores

Score N/A
Peer assessment score (out of 5) 1.6
Assessment score by lawyers/judges (out of 5) 2.1
GPA (25th-75th percentile) 3.07-3.56
Median undergraduate GPA for all program entrants 3.35
LSAT scores (25th-75th percentile) 151-156
Median LSAT score for all program entrants 154
Acceptance rate 53.2% – High
Student-faculty ratio 14.7:1 – Medium
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.9% – Medium
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 77.0% – Low
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar KY
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 82.0%

Law School Student Body

Student Body (Overall)

Total Enrolled 569

Student Body (Full-time)

Enrollment (full-time) 352

Student Body (Part-time)

Enrollment (part-time) 217

Attrition Rates for Full- and Part-time Students (2010-2011)

First-year students discontinuing law school 14.2%
Second-year students discontinuing law school 10.1%
Third-year students discontinuing law school 1.5%
Fourth-year students discontinuing law school 1.6%
Male students discontinuing law school 7.5%
Female students discontinuing law school 8.2%

Law School Cost

Financial Aid Contact Information

Financial aid director Leah Stewart
Financial aid phone (859) 572-6437
Financial aid application deadline March 1

Expenses

Tuition and fees
Full-time: $15,886 per year (in-state)
Full-time: $33,644 per year (out-of-state)
Part-time: $10,998 per year (in-state)
Part-time: $23,292 per year (out-of-state)
Room and board $9,674
Books $1,000
Miscellaneous expenses $4,114
Is the tuition the same for first-, second-, and third-year students? Yes
Does the university offer housing restricted to law students? No
Does the university offer graduate student housing for which law students are eligible? Yes
Does the university offer a public-interest scholarship program to current J.D. students? No

Grants (Full-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 8.8%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 28.1%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 12.5%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 0.0%
Median grant amount $12,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $8,000–$14,000
Full-time students receiving grants 49.4%

Grants (Part-time students)

Students receiving grants of less than one-half tuition 3.2%
Students receiving grants of one-half tuition or more but less than full 2.3%
Students receiving grants of full tuition 1.8%
Students receiving grants of more than full tuition 0.0%
Median grant amount $6,000
Grant range (25th–75th percentile) $2,400–$9,000
Part-time students receiving grants 7.4%

Indebtedness

Average indebtedness of 2011 graduates who incurred law school debt $79,238
Proportion who borrowed 71.3%
Does the school offer a loan repayment assistance program for 2011 J.D. graduates? No

Law School Library

Library Information Resources

Print titles (excluding nonbook titles) 62,814
Microform titles 12,192
Electronic titles 8,448
Other non-book titles 1,661
Total titles 85,115
Volumes (excluding microforms) 166,976
Volume equivalent microforms 173,918
Total volumes and volume equivalents 340,894
Number of volumes in the collection that are stored off site and are systematically retrievable 0
Library’s online catalog or website includes links to electronic titles or databases made available by another campus library or consortia Yes

Library Schedule of Operation

Number of hours per week library is open on a regular schedule 168
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty on a regular schedule 66
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on a regular schedule 0
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on a regular schedule 4
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on a regular schedule 61
Number of weeks per year library operates on an abbreviated schedule 16
Number of hours per week library is open on an abbreviated schedule 168
Number of hours per week professional staff are on duty are on an abbreviated schedule 46
Number of hours per week only full-time support staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 0
Number of hours per week only students or other part-time staff are on duty on an abbreviated schedule 6
Number of hours of reference service provided per week on an abbreviated schedule 26
Number of weeks per year library operates on expanded schedule 36

Information Technology

Department(s) responsible for the law school information technology operations law school library, university information technology department
Approximate number of full-time-equivalent information technology staff (excluding hourly students and other temporary staff) 3
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in the law library (excluding computer labs) 27
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in classrooms 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students in computer labs 0
Number of open, wired network connections available to students elsewhere in the law school 4
Does the law school have a wireless network? Yes
Wireless network is available in the law library, in classrooms, in computer labs, in administrative/faculty offices and work areas, elsewhere in the law school
Does the school require entering students to own a computer? No

Physical Library Facilities

Net square feet of space assigned for library purposes 24,653
Total seats available for library users 273
Details about the library and other facilities (as provided by the school) The library is open 24/7 and is a fully wireless environment. The library provides ample individual study space and group study rooms. Students can access networked printers, Internet, and e-mail from anywhere in the building. They can use the computers available in the library or simply plug their laptop in to a wired study carrel.

Law School Careers

Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2010 administrations)

State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar KY
Bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 77.0% – Low
Statewide bar passage rate (first-time test takers) 82.0%

Class of 2010 Graduates

Total graduates 149
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.9%

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Graduation

Graduates whose employment status is unknown N/A
Graduates whose employment status is known N/A
Graduates known to be employed at graduation N/A
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program N/A
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work N/A
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work N/A

Class of 2010 Graduates-Class Breakdown at Nine Months

Graduates whose employment status is unknown 3.4%
Graduates whose employment status is known 96.6%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation 87.9%
Graduates known to be enrolled in a full-time degree program 0.0%
Graduates known to be unemployed and seeking work 7.4%
Graduates known to be unemployed and not seeking work 1.3%

Starting Salaries of Graduates Employed Full-time (Class of 2010)

25th percentile private sector starting salary $40,000
Median private sector starting salary $50,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary $57,500
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information 43%
Median public service starting salary $38,000

Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2010)

Percent employed in academia 5.3%
Percent employed in business and industry 22.1%
Percent employed in government 5.3%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships 7.6%
Percent employed in law firms 54.2%
Percent employed in public interest 5.3%
Percent employed in an unknown field 0.0%

Employment Location (Class of 2010)

Graduates employed in-state 53%
Graduates employed out-of-state 47.0%
Graduates employed in foreign countries 0%
Number of states where graduates are employed 9
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA) 0.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 41.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 0.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) 5.0%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) 53.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) 1.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) 0.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) 0.0%
Employment location unknown 0.0%

Career Services

(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)

Career services operations The Career Development Director & Coordinator are both licensed attorneys with over 17 years of combined practice experience. They assist students with planning & developing employment seeking skills. The office lists job openings & sets up on-campus interviews & workshops to prepare students for the job market. Presentations about career options & employers enable students to network with alumni.

Job Type

Bar admission required/anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks) 56.0%
Bar admission required/anticipated – percent employed in full-time positions 92.6%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent) 18.0%
J.D. preferred – percent employed in full-time positions 80.8%
Professional other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse) 15.0%
Professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 90.5%
Non-professional other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path) 2.0%
Non-professional other – percent employed in full-time positions 100.0%