University of Kentucky law students could face a steeper tuition climb than others on campus.

College of Law Dean David Brennen has written to law students to say that on Tuesday he'll ask the UK Board of Trustees for a 1.8 percent tuition increase for his school, on top of the 6 percent tuition hike the board will consider for the entire university.

The extra money will create "a modest salary raise pool" for law school faculty, Brennen wrote. He did not say how much money he expects to generate, and he did not return a call Friday seeking comment.

"Our salary structure is simply not competitive with other law schools with which we compete," Brennen wrote. "For example, the average faculty salary at the University of Georgia College of Law is nearly 40 percent higher than the average faculty salary at our college. Top 20 law schools average almost 50 percent higher faculty pay."

Brennen's salary is $250,000, according to a February 2011 UK salary database.

UK plans to increase tuition by 6 percent for all of its students next school year, which would help pay for an average 3 percent raise for faculty and staff members — the first raise they've had in three years.