Health & Wellness
Overview
Some students will love every minute of law school. Some won’t. Most will experience ups and downs as rigorous academic demands intersect with family and work obligations, daily life, and countless personal and professional events beyond KU Law.
As with any major undertaking, you will get more out of law school if you take care of yourself mentally, physically, socially and emotionally.
At KU Law, we are committed to the success and well-being of our students. The law school and the greater university offer many resources dedicated to helping students personally and academically.
Student Affairs
If you’re not sure where to start, contact the law school’s Office of Student Affairs or drop by for an appointment. Leah Terranova, associate dean for academic and student affairs, is available for academic advising and personal counseling.
Wellness Programs at KU Law
Wellness Space
Therapeutic Online Yoga – Free with VAST Studio
Student Emergency Fund
Student Food Pantry
Health & Wellness
We are here to support you! Have questions or need additional help navigating resources? Please feel free to contact us! The Office of Student Services is located within Green Hall, Suite 212.
At KU School of Law, we care deeply about our students thriving both individually and collectively. In 2020, the American Bar Association created the ABA Well-Being Campaign. We prioritize the unique needs of our students and utilize the eight dimensions of wellness, which focus on a holistic viewpoint of well-being in everyday life. Below you will find resources within Green Hall, across the KU campus, and in the community that can support your wellness journey at every stage.
Emotional
The Balance & Well-Being student organization exists to improve the mental well-being of students at KU Law through mindful practices. All law students, regardless of experience, are welcome to join this secular organization that helps connect like-minded individuals with peers and resources.
The Bert Nash Center (BNC) provides outpatient services that address the diverse mental health needs of children, families, and adults.
Contact:785-843-9192
Location: 200 Maine St Suite A, Lawrence, KS 66044
The mission of Counseling and Psychological Services is to aid in the emotional and psychological development of students in the university environment for the purpose of enhancing performance; assist in the evaluation of student academic progress for the purpose of improving student and faculty functioning and; contribute to the professional education of graduate students in mental health and counseling professions.
Contact: 785-864-2277
Location: 1200 Schwegler Dr., Room 2100
The CARE Coordinator offers free and confidential support, information and advocacy for enrolled students who have experienced sexual violence, intimate partner/dating violence and stalking. The CARE Coordinator can assist students in navigating KU and community resources as requested and offer various types of emotional and practical support during KU and/or criminal processes. The CARE Coordinator can also help explore and arrange supportive measures for academic or KU housing needs. The CARE Coordinator also responds to requests for the Interpersonal Violence Fund.
Melissa Foree, she/her
Contact: care@ku.edu
Location: Watkins Memorial Health Center, 1200 Schwegler Drive, Suite 2500
Headquarters Counseling Center is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Center serving all of Kansas. When you call from a Kansas area code, your call comes to Headquarters Counseling Center first. Our highly-trained volunteer counselors are standing by to listen.
Contact: 785-841-2345
Location: 2110 Delaware St, Lawrence, KS 66046
The Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program (KALAP) provides confidential support to both lawyers and law students, typically surrounding challenges connected with substance and alcohol use disorders and mental health disorders. KALAP has offered KU law students eight free, confidential counseling sessions with a licensed counselor. Students can preview a list of licensed counselors and select the best-fitting counselor for their unique situation.
Contact: kalap@kscourts.org
Location: 515 S Kansas Ave, Topeka, KS 66603
Student Support and Case Management provide non-clinical support to students in order to develop close helping relationships while coaching them toward appropriate self-care and self-advocacy. Case Managers are trained to answer students' questions, discuss support options, help identify and complete next steps and ultimately, connect students to resources. SSCM is not a one-stop but a caring and supportive office that works alongside students navigating institutional bureaucracy and engaging with campus and community resources.
Contact: studentsupport@ku.edu
Location: 1300 Sunnyside Ave. Summerfield Hall, Suite 350, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
Student Support Program is a free online 24/7 counseling text and talk app available to law students. This service provides in-the-moment, immediate support for students in need of counseling by connecting students to a licensed counselor.
These 1-hour classes are offered via zoom. Relax and recharge with this deeply meditative form of yoga, taught by a KU Law alum to help your mind and body decompress from the stress of law school and create space for wellness.
Contact:kharpstrite@gmail.com
Location: 1510 N. 3rd Lawrence, KS 66044
The Treatment & Recovery Center (TRC) of Douglas County is the place where our community members come to begin their behavioral health or substance use recovery journey, whether they're simply seeking a life change, or find themselves in crisis and need help now.
Contact:785-843-9192
Location: 1000 W 2nd St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Financial
The Student Emergency Fund provides one-time grants of up to $500 for students in need of emergency financial assistance. Grants do not need to be repaid. Students should send their completed application to Dean Terranova at leaht@ku.edu.
The law school’s Student Food Bank is in the wellness room in suite 212A and provides non-perishable food products for students struggling with food insecurity.
For a larger selection, including perishable foods, the Campus Cupboard in the Kansas Union is available to students with a KU ID. Just Food, a local Lawrence organization, is also available to students. Once registered, you can access the pantry weekly. No income, residency or household verification is required. Both the Campus Cupboard and Just Food offer small supermarkets using a points system to shop for perishable and non-perishable items.
The Professional Clothing Closet, located in the Career Services Office, provides gently used professional attire for law students at no charge. Contact Stacey Blakeman at staceyblakeman@ku.edu to donate or to make an appointment to view items.
A one-time $100 professional attire stipend is available to current KU Law students in good standing who struggle to acquire professional clothing for interviews or professional functions. To apply, send a completed application to Dean Terranova at leaht@ku.edu.
For students facing financial hardship, the Student Affairs Office will cover the $50 application fee for Rule 715 Licenses (required for students doing certain field placements/clinics).
Intellectual
In clinics, KU Law students take the lead on real cases with real clients, honing practice skills while providing quality legal representation to underserved individuals and communities.
Clinic offices are housed in the law school, and full-time KU Law faculty and staff attorneys supervise the work of student advocates. Each clinic also includes a classroom component taught by a KU Law faculty member.
In field placements, KU Law students perform legal work under the supervision of a practicing attorney. Placements are at approved government agencies, nonprofit organizations and courts.
KU Law offers placements in criminal prosecution, elder law, the judicial branch and the medical-legal partnership setting. Students can also enroll in the general Field Placement Program. All field placements include a classroom component taught by a KU Law faculty member.
Writers need feedback, sounding boards and other people to coach them while they compose. That's where the KU Writing Center comes in. It's a place for productive talk about writing, with trained peer consultants to help you brainstorm, draft and revise your projects.
Contact:writing@ku.edu
Location: Anschutz Library, Room 424, 1301 Hoch Auditoria Dr, Lawrence, KS 66045
The Student Access Center assists students with disabilities by facilitating accommodations that remove barriers to their academic success. We authorize reasonable and appropriate accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities, assist students in self-advocacy, educate the University of Kansas about disabilities and ensure compliance with federal and state law.
Contact: access@ku.edu
Location: Room 22Strong Hall, 1450 Jayhawk Blvd
Have questions about your textbooks? You’re not alone! Check out KU Bookstore where you will find all the textbooks you need conveniently available for purchase or rental!
Wheat Law Library is an integral part of the University of Kansas School of Law. The library serves the law school and university community in legal and interdisciplinary scholarly pursuits. The law library provides access to legal information for legal professionals and the general public.
Through services including reference questions and teaching, the library supports the study, teaching and research needs of the KU Law community.
Built in 1924, Watson Library is the oldest and largest of KU’s libraries and is named after university librarian Carrie Watson. The library houses collections in the social sciences, humanities, education, journalism, and social welfare. The majority of KU's film and DVD collection can also be found in Watson.
Watson offers both group and quiet study areas, as well as computer workstations, bookeye scanners, and printers. Laptops and calculators can be checked out at the service desk.
The Lawrence Public Library offers a wide selection of books and services to anyone in the Lawrence community. Reserve meeting spaces for large groups or smaller venues for individual study spaces.
Occupational
The KU Law Career Services Office is dedicated to preparing our students for meaningful and successful careers. In addition to career counseling and opportunities to connect with KU Law alumni, the CSO offers a wide range of professional development programming and training resources.
Contact:carservlaw@ku.edu
Location: Green Hall, Suite 204
Physical
KU Recreation Services provides a variety of resources for wellness, physical fitness, team and individual sports, group fitness classes and personal training. Indoor and outdoor facilities accommodate a broad range of athleticism -- from beginners looking to improve their health with low-impact exercise to seasoned athletes aspiring to push their physical abilities to the next level.
Contact: recreation@ku.edu
Location: 1740 Watkins Center Dr. Lawrence, KS
The Campus Cupboard is a food pantry for KU students, faculty, staff and affiliates. It was created to address and reduce food insecurity among our campus community. The Campus Cupboard is located on Level 4 of the Kansas Union and accessible from both the Student Involvement and Leadership Center and the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center.
Contact:studentsupport@ku.edu
Location: 1301 Jayhawk Blvd, Lawrence, KS 66045
Provides quality and compassionate health care to all people in Lawrence and surrounding areas – focusing on integrated, patient-centered care for all.
Contact: 785-841-7297
Location: 1312 W 6th St, Lawrence, KS 66044
The Intramural Sports program offers opportunities to actively participate in sports by providing an arena in which participants can compete against one another in a safe, friendly environment. It is our goal to provide at least one activity that appeals to every participant (a sport for everyone and everyone in a sport).
Contact: recreation@ku.edu
Location: 1740 Watkins Center Dr. Lawrence, KS
Just Food is the food bank of Douglas County, supplying over 30 partner agencies with fresh produce, dairy products, meat, bread and pantry staples. Tuesday through Friday, Just Food operates a food pantry out of our main building serving 300-600 families daily. We are a team dedicated to our guiding principles and listening to our shoppers and community to serve the larger needs of our neighbors facing hunger.
Contact: info@justfoodks.org
Location: 1000 E. 11th st. Lawrence, KS 66046
The law school’s Student Food Bank is in the wellness room in suite 212A and provides non-perishable food products for students struggling with food insecurity. For a larger selection, including perishable foods, the Campus Cupboard in the Kansas Union is available to students with a KU ID. Just Food, a local Lawrence organization, is also available to students. Once registered, you can access the pantry weekly. No income, residency or household verification is required. Both the Campus Cupboard and Just Food offer small supermarkets using a points system to shop for perishable and non-perishable items.
Contact: ekg@ku.edu or leaht@ku.edu
Location: Green Hall, Suite 212
LMH Health is a community-owned, not-for-profit hospital that serves the healthcare needs of the community regardless of an individual's ability to pay
Contact: 785-505-5000
Location: 325 Maine Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Lawrence Parks & Recreation is keeping Lawrence active. Lawrence has a very active parks and recreation program for both youth and adult sports. Three community rec centers across the city are free to Douglas County residents. Rock Chalk Park is the largest and includes indoor courts, a running track, exercise equipment and outdoor running and biking paths.
Contact: parksrec@lawrenceks.org
Location: 1141 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044
Watkins Health Services is an on-campus health clinic that focuses on providing high-quality affordable student healthcare that supports the Jayhawk learning experience. You can visit them for allergy injections, athletic training, gender-affirming care, general medicine/procedures, immunizations, labs, mental health management, medication management, pharmaceutical needs and utilize their walk-in clinic services.
Contact:whs-services@ku.edu
Location: 1200 Schwegler Dr, Lawrence, KS 66045
Social
The Center for Sexuality & Gender Diversity (SGD) is located on the 4th floor of the Kansas Union in the 435 Suite and features a dynamic lounge, work, and resource space where students, faculty, and staff can make connections and seek support.
Contact: sgd@ku.edu
Location: 1301 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, KS 66045
Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity (ETCWGE) at the University of Kansas (KU) seeks to support the personal, educational and professional success of students through challenging societal norms which impede full access to the university.
Contact: emilytaylorcenter@ku.edu
Location: 1565 Irving Hill Road Suite 1040
KU Law students take full advantage of opportunities outside of the classroom. There are dozens of student organizations in the law school alone and more than 600 across campus. More than social clubs, many of these groups contribute dollars and hours of service to the university and Lawrence communities.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) provides social justice education for KU students to critically examine the intersections of identity, equity, accessibility and impact. In addition, the OMA offers programming to center community-building, liberation and joy of students with marginalized identities.
Contact: oma@ku.edu
Location: 1299 Oread Ave Lawrence, KS 66044
Spiritual
CLS exists to inspire, encourage, and equip law students, both individually and in community, to proclaim, love, and serve Jesus Christ through the study and practice of law, the defense of religious freedom, and the provision of legal assistance to the poor.
Ecumenical Campus Ministries (ECM) is a registered non-profit dedicated to serving KU students and the Lawrence community. We strive to be sensitive, accepting, intellectually honest and liberating in the matter of how humans cultivate and know a sense of purpose in their lives.
Contact: ecmatku@gmail.com
Location: 1204 Oread Ave. Lawrence, KS 66044
Jewish Legal Society (JLS) aims to support Jewish law students by providing a space to celebrate Jewish holidays, connect with the greater Jewish community of Lawrence/Topeka/Kansas City and advocate for social justice. JLS is open to law students of all backgrounds.
The St. Lawrence Center, the Catholic Church at the University of Kansas, guides and forms those she encounters through the intellectual, moral, liturgical and spiritual traditions of the faith. Her deepest desire is to send out free and full disciples of Jesus Christ capable of the greatest vocations.
Contact: kucatholic@kucatholic.org
Location: 1631 Crescent Rd. Lawrence, KS 66044
The St. Thomas More Society is a community of law students who are practicing members of the Roman Catholic Church, and welcomes anyone who wants to connect with Catholic members of the legal profession and grow deeper in the faith. The St. Thomas More Society seeks to continue to grow the already robust Catholic legal community as well as shed light of important intersections between the Catholic faith and the law.
Wellness Events at KU Law
