Student Awards & Recognition

At the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our students—both in and out of the classroom. Through a wide range of academic honors, leadership awards, writing competitions, and prestigious fellowships, we recognize the talent, dedication, and service that define our student body.

These awards not only celebrate individual excellence but also honor the alumni, faculty, and donors who continue to invest in the next generation of legal professionals.

Academic Achievement

Dean’s List
Students whose semester GPA ranks in the top 20% of their class and who complete at least 8 graded credit hours are named to the Dean’s List. This honor is announced each semester and formally recognized with a letter from the Dean.

CALI Excellence for the Future Awards
The CALI Award is given to the student with the highest grade in each course. Certificates are issued in recognition of outstanding academic performance across the curriculum.

Graduation Honors
Graduates may earn Latin honors based on GPA through the semester prior to graduation:

• Summa Cum Laude (3.8–4.0)
• Magna Cum Laude (3.5–3.799)
• Cum Laude (3.2–3.499)

Valedictorian and Salutatorian
The top-ranked student in each graduating class is honored as Valedictorian and awarded the George William Moss Memorial Award. The second-ranked student is named Salutatorian and serves as the law school’s banner bearer at University Commencement.

Named Awards & Scholarships

Each year, Brandeis Law celebrates students who exemplify outstanding scholarship, service, and professionalism through a variety of awards, including:

• Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Award
• Excellence in Legal Writing Awards
• Robert C. Jayes Memorial Award for Leadership and Service
• William Marshall Bullitt Memorial Award for Excellence in Constitutional Law
• Professional Responsibility at Law Awards
• Justice Essay, Ethics, and IP Writing Competitions

Additional honors often include recognition from organizations such as the American Law Institute, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the Kentucky Bar Association.

Honor Societies & Fellowships

Brandeis Honor Society
Students who rank in the top 5% of their 2L class or top 10% of their 3L class are inducted into this honorary society for academic excellence and commitment to legal scholarship.

Order of the Barristers
A national honor society recognizing outstanding skill in oral advocacy and brief writing.

Brandeis Inn of Court
A selective program bringing together students, judges, and lawyers to foster excellence in courtroom advocacy and ethical professionalism.

Fellowship Opportunities

Many of our students are awarded fellowships that provide hands-on, service-focused experiences in legal advocacy, research, and public interest law, including:

• Breonna Taylor Fellowship
• Human Rights Advocacy Program Fellowship
• Library Fellowship
• Ordered Liberty Fellowship
• Resilience Justice Fellowship
• Ellen Ewing Fellowship
• IOLTA Public Interest Fellowship
• Brandeis Leadership Initiative Fellowship

These fellowships are often made possible through the generous support of alumni and community partners and serve as both financial and experiential support for students pursuing public service.

With Gratitude to Our Supporters

We are grateful for the donors and organizations whose continued support makes these recognitions and opportunities possible. Their generosity sustains the legacy of academic excellence, public service, and professional leadership that defines the Brandeis School of Law.