November a Big Month for Law School Lawsuits
In the last month alone, law students have filed at least four lawsuits against their schools, prompting the National Law Journal to question the reason for the flurry of litigation.
David Van Zandt, dean of Northwestern University School of Law and president of the American Law Deans Association, said the high cost of legal education could be a factor. Students paying a lot of money for a degree may be more willing to challenge obstacles to their goals of graduation and a good job, he told the legal publication.
“It certainly is understandable if it’s happening because the cost of education is going up,” he said.
The defendants in last month’s lawsuits include:
–American Justice School of Law in Paducah, Ky., accused of mismanagement that makes ABA accreditation unlikely. Two administrators at the school are accused of delaying distribution of student loans so they could invest the money and earn interest.
–Regent University School of Law, accused of improperly expelling student Adam Key for posting an unflattering photo of school president Pat Robertson.
–University of Dayton School of Law in Ohio, accused of negligence in the use of school exam software that benefited some students at the plaintiff’s expense.
–Southern Illinois University School of Law, accused of discriminating against a student with learning disabilities.
