Law Schools

California law deans have ‘grave concerns’ about new bar exam plans

Fifteen deans from ABA-accredited law schools have signed a letter to the California Supreme Court stating that they have “grave concerns” about Kaplan Exam Services’ ability to develop a multiple-choice bar exam “in a responsible manner” in time for the February 2025 administration of the newfangled exam.

Sep 20, 2024 12:54 PM CDT

Court rejects injunction to reopen Golden Gate Law’s JD program

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard B. Ulmer Jr. has shut the door on reopening the beleaguered Golden Gate University School of Law’s JD program, denying a motion for an injunction filed by students and alumni.

Sep 19, 2024 3:33 PM CDT

2 federal judges who boycotted Columbia law grads didn’t commit misconduct, review panel says

Two federal judges who said they wouldn’t hire future law grads from Columbia University did not commit misconduct, according to a review panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Atlanta's judicial council.

Sep 17, 2024 10:10 AM CDT

Nevada green-lights three-pronged plan to licensure

Nevada will move forward on its proposal for a unique three-stage assessment for bar licensure that does not include using the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ new NextGen bar exam—but might include the test being developed by Kaplan Exam Services for the State Bar of California.

Sep 12, 2024 2:24 PM CDT

Did you read the small print? ‘Infinite’ arbitration clauses are on the rise

Companies tend to prefer arbitration over a jury trial for a number of reasons. In arbitration, there’s usually a quicker and quieter resolution, more confidentiality, no jury, limited appeal and discovery, and relaxed evidentiary rules.

Sep 6, 2024 11:46 AM CDT

White male law student settles suit against Chicago Bears over ‘legal diversity fellow’ position

A student at the DePaul University College of Law has settled a lawsuit claiming that the Chicago Bears football team refused to consider him for a “legal diversity fellow” position because he is a white man.

Sep 5, 2024 10:36 AM CDT

Scores are in for July 2024 MBE; how did test-takers fare?

The July 2024 Multistate Bar Examination boasted more test-takers than the previous year, while the mean score on the just-completed exam went up.

Aug 29, 2024 1:42 PM CDT

St. Thomas College of Law reinstates fired tenured professor, will start termination hearings

Updated: After firing a tenured professor in July, the St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law has reinstated her for the purpose of formally terminating her via the due process rights spelled out in the faculty handbook.

Aug 29, 2024 10:22 AM CDT

Interest in law school is up, LSAC tallies show

More people are interested in attending law school, with the number of aspiring lawyers taking the Law School Admission Test up by 11.6% over last year and the number of applicants to law schools up 5.7%

Aug 27, 2024 11:19 AM CDT

Tenured professor sues St. Thomas College of Law after firing

Updated: A tenured professor filed a civil lawsuit against the St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County after being fired, claiming she did not receive due process in violation of her contract.

Aug 21, 2024 11:20 AM CDT

4 of 5 modern lawyer presidents graduated from T-14 law schools; Harris wouldn’t be in that group if elected

Updated: Vice President Kamala Harris would be the second modern president with a law degree from a school outside the top 14 if she is elected in November.

Aug 20, 2024 8:50 AM CDT

California signs deal with Kaplan for bar exam with plan for potential copyright issues

Despite concerns about copyright issues, the State Bar of California and Kaplan Exam Services signed an agreement allowing the company best known for test prep to create multiple-choice, essays and performance test questions for a California Bar Exam for use starting in February 2025.

Aug 15, 2024 2:52 PM CDT

Racial disparities in law school applicants remain, AccessLex Institute says

Racial disparities among law school applicants persist, according to the AccessLex Institute’s Legal Education Data Deck.

Aug 15, 2024 9:36 AM CDT

Golden Gate Law students and alums race to court to keep school open

“The court hearing is set for Sept. 13, but I plan to request to have the date shortened,” Ryan Griffith, attorney for the alums and students, and an adjunct professor at and graduate of the Golden Gate University School of Law, told the ABA Journal via email.

Aug 14, 2024 12:16 PM CDT

Tests into and out of law schools—what’s changing and why

Not much can strike more terror into the hearts of aspiring lawyers than the LSAT and the bar exam. Right now, these tests are having a moment.

Aug 14, 2024 8:49 AM CDT