UMKC takes pride in being the urban law school in the University of Missouri system. From this unique vantage point, faculty and students actively lead and participate in professional activities with greater Kansas City bar associations, continuing legal education programs, lawyers, law firms and the judiciary located in both Kansas and Missouri. In addition, the community serves as an integral part of the School's educational program, with students providing legal services under the direction of faculty and supervising lawyers in clinical programs and externships. The Law School, student groups and individual faculty have won awards for this high degree of community service and engagement.

The School of Law community enjoys strong partnerships with many area causes and concerns. A variety of community-based projects, ranging from the rehabilitation of inner-city houses to tax preparation services, receive benefits from this involvement. Students work with faculty on research of value to the community and are often involved in drafting or commenting on pending legislation. The LawSchool houses and assists the Kansas City Youth Court, a diversion program from juvenile court, where high school students act as lawyers and judges. Faculty, students, staff and alumni volunteers also help introduce inner-city high school students to careers in law.

Graduates of the UMKC School of Law have important responsibilities in legal arenas throughout the city, state and country. From corporate counsel positions in more than 25 national companies to the library of the Supreme Court of the United States, Law School alumni provide distinguished service.

On a local level, the annual listing of "Outstanding Lawyers in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area" names more UMKC alumni than from any other school. In addition, only two women have served as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and only one African-American has served as president of the Missouri Bar; all are UMKC Law School alumni. A majority of the active judges of both the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the Missouri Court of Appeals (Western District) and the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri are graduates of the School of Law. Moreover, the first African-American Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court graduated from the school and one of the present sitting judges graduated from the school.  Courts throughout the multi-county metropolitan area are populated with UMKC alumni.

The Law School is proud of the fine reputation of its alumni and the outstanding contributions they have made and continue to make in both the legal and non-legal communities.