Transylvania University’s Pre-Law and Policy Society is giving students a first-hand look at the legal profession by hosting a session of the Kentucky Court of Appeals on Feb. 6.
A panel of judges — Allison Jones ’97, Glenn E. Acree and Pamela Goodwine — will hear oral arguments of three cases in Carrick Theater beginning at 1 p.m., followed by an audience Q&A. The public is invited to the event, and students from several local high schools have been invited.
“This is part of an initiative to enhance pre-law culture at Transylvania,” said Peter Fosl, a philosophy professor and faculty adviser for the society.
This is a culture that’s already thriving, partly through the efforts of dedicated alumni carrying on a legal tradition that includes two U.S. Supreme Court justices as graduates. As for the upcoming event, not only is Judge Jones an alumna, but D.C. attorney D. Chanslor Gallenstein ’16 helped bring the session to Transylvania.
The lawyers involved with the proceedings have submitted briefs for their cases and will be making oral arguments along with answering questions from the judges. Afterward, students will be able to ask judges their own questions.
“The main thing students get is to see how our legal system works,” said Fosl, who’ll be sharing the briefs with his classes beforehand. He also hopes seeing the process in person may inspire them to think about pursuing their own legal career.
The Court of Appeals visit is one of a variety of events the campus pre-law group has hosted in the past two years since its launch. Other guests have included a panel of legal professionals and an alumna who’s a federal D.C. judge — the society also brought in an important legal theorist and prominent federal judge as a lecturer.
The school’s commitment to educating future legal professionals is evident in the fact that 100% of its students recommended to law school are accepted.
“Transylvania is serious about its pre-law education,” Fosl added.