You appear to have been right (on both issues) the bar did direct me to bar examiners who told me as follows: ( I am asking them in responce how it's legal to have had the "lawschool" in that state to begin with then, I will see what they say. It should be interesting)
Kentucky Supreme Court Rule 2.014 states that “Every applicant for admission to the Kentucky Bar must have completed degree requirements for a J.D. or equivalent professional degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or by the Association of American Law Schools.” (In fact, the Association of American Law Schools no longer is authorized to “approve” law schools, so the ABA approval is the only one that matters.)
The rule goes on, in subsequent paragraphs, to provide an exception for non-ABA accredited law school graduates who (1) become licensed somewhere other than Kentucky and practice for three of the past 5 years; and (2) can show that the legal education at the non-accredited law school is the substantial equivalent of the legal education they would have received at an ABA-accredited law school in Kentucky. This latter requirement is very difficult because, most of the time, if the law school could show substantial equivalency, it would be accredited by the ABA. Also, the non-ABA accredited law school must be accredited in the jurisdiction where it exists.
Because the Barkley School of Law was not accredited by the ABA, you would be required to, first be admitted in another jurisdiction and practice for three out of five years, next, show that Barkley was accredited in Kentucky, and then establish that the legal education offered by Barkley was the substantial equivalent of the legal education you would have received at an ABA-accredited law school in Kentucky. The Board does not evaluate an applicant’s legal education unless and until, the applicant meets the other threshold requirement of three years of practice.
Your message did not include information as to whether you are admitted in another jurisdiction and whether you have practiced for three of the past five years, If not, you would be ineligible for admission, without regard to educational equivalency. Last year, the Kentucky Supreme Court addressed an application from a Barkley School of Law graduate who was not admitted in any jurisdiction, so he had not practiced law for three years. The Court upheld the application denial.
I regret that my response could not be more encouraging and I wish you well in your endeavors.
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