The Office of Continuing Legal Education at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law (UK/CLE) is a separately budgeted, completely self-supporting unit of the College. UK/CLE offers instructional services and publications to maintain the professional development of practicing lawyers, law school faculty, the judiciary, and law students. Created in 1973 as the first continuing legal education entity in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, its stated purpose is to assist the legal profession in: (1) keeping abreast of changes in the law resulting from statutory enactments, court decisions and administrative rulings; (2) developing and sustaining practical lawyering skills and; (3) maintaining a high degree of professionalism in the practice of law. In addition to the statewide commitment to provide quality professional development services in Kentucky, UK/CLE has established regional reputations in many of its program and publication offerings, and is recognized as the nation's leading resource in equine law.
UK/CLE has a tradition of firsts, starting with the initial observation that it was the first continuing legal education organization in Kentucky. Other firsts have included Kentucky's first intensive skills training course (10 days in trial advocacy); the nation's first annual conference dedicated to equine law; Kentucky's first (and only) complete library of practice publications; Kentucky's first origination of live satellite broadcasting to multiple statewide locations, the first use of two-way live video ("distance learning") for continuing legal education in Kentucky; and the first offering of streaming audio and video self-study programs by a Kentucky CLE provider.
UK/CLE subscribes to the ACLEA Standards in Continuing Legal Education as revised and adopted in 1992, and the Standards of Fair Conduct and Voluntary Cooperation administered under the auspices of the American Law Institute American Bar Association Committee on Continuing Professional Education.
UK/CLE's association with national and international CLE professionals affords it the opportunity to continually reassess instructional methods, quality in publications and alternative methods of delivering professional development services. UK/CLE operates with a small but dedicated staff which takes pride in what they accomplish and the services they provide. Their efforts are combined daily with the expertise of hundreds of attorneys who voluntarily contribute to UK/CLE's professional development services. Thanks to these individuals' willingness to work in a joint public sector/ private sector effort, the educational opportunities available to Kentucky lawyers, judges, and law students are recognized as being among the best in the nation.
UK/CLE provides numerous benefits for the Rosenberg College of Law, both tangible and intangible. Professors lecture, write, and attend programs giving them an opportunity to contribute to the legal profession and to relate with members of the practicing bar. Law students attend programs and utilize UK/CLE publications in ever increasing numbers. Many alumni view our services as indispensable to improving their practice as well as a key means of maintaining contact with the College. This gives them and other friends of the law school a personal reason to contribute their time as well as their financial assistance to the activities of the law school. The legal profession as a whole holds our services in high regard and looks to the University of Kentucky as a critical resource for the maintenance of their post law school professional development. UK/CLE remains an integral component of the overall mission of the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law through its commitment to lifelong learning, legal knowledge, the profession of law, and service to society.