Former Kentucky Deputy Chief Justice Praises UK Rosenberg Law at Annual Event for Admitted Students
The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law recently hosted 21 admitted students, including high-performing students from Kentucky and a diverse group of students from across the country, for the annual Dean’s Scholars Summit.
The students toured the law building; attended a panel of law faculty and students; and joined faculty, staff, and students for lunch at UK’s Hilary J. Boone Center, where Interim Dean Mary J. Davis and former Kentucky Deputy Chief Justice Mary C. Noble, a UK Rosenberg Law alumna now serving as Secretary of the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet, spoke to the group.
“I know you’ve seen that building and it’s amazing,” Davis said, referring to the recently renovated law building on South Limestone in Lexington, Kentucky. “But what happens in that building is collaboration between faculty and students every day, throughout the day, in classrooms and outside of classrooms. It’s a wonderful, thriving community. I’m passionate about it, and I’m excited for you to be a part of it.”
In her lunch presentation, Noble described the variety of opportunities available to law graduates and the reasons to attend UK Rosenberg Law. Noble pointed to bar passage rates and the significant number of prominent legislators, judges and justices who graduated from the college.
“There are good law schools in the state of Kentucky … but of course I think UK is the best,” Noble said.
People are impressed by a law degree from UK and “there are UK law graduates everywhere,” Noble said. In addition, she noted UK Rosenberg Law’s consistent ranking as one of the best value law schools in the country. Noble also called Lexington, Kentucky, a fun place to live with great shopping and dining.
Noble, who began her professional career as an English teacher, was elected to the Kentucky Supreme Court from the Fifth Supreme Court District after serving 15 years as a Fayette Circuit Court judge. She was re-elected to the Supreme Court in 2008 and, in 2010, was appointed deputy chief justice. Noble graduated from the UK College of Law, now the UK Rosenberg College of Law, in 1981.
“All of the opportunities that I’ve had, and it looks like a checkerboard when you look at the things that I have done, I never could have done if I hadn’t graduated from law school and I feel like I certainly would not have done them as well if I hadn’t graduated from University of Kentucky.”
UK Rosenberg Law Admissions Director Jimmi Nicholson said the interaction the admitted students had with current faculty and student volunteers throughout the day was key to making the event a success.
“It is important that we retain the brightest students in Kentucky and encourage talented, diverse students to enroll,” Nicholson said. “This annual Dean’s Scholars Summit is an opportunity to show the students what makes this community special.”