Deal to acquire Concordia law school no longer in place; dean says news was big surprise

The Concordia University School of Law in Idaho will close, following months of uncertainty for the Boise institution.

Jun 26, 2020 2:04 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: State chief justices on racial inequality; court worker fired for tearing down signs in video

State high courts, chief justices issue racial injustice statements A growing number of state chief justices are issuing public statements following the death of George Floyd. Many of the statements deal with the legal system’s role in perpetuating racial inequality. “We are part of the problem,” wrote Chief Justice Bernette…

Jun 18, 2020 4:33 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Officer charged in arrest death of Rayshard Brooks; mixed grades for pass-fail changes

Officer is charged in death of Rayshard Brooks Former Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe has been charged with felony murder and other charges in the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks at an Atlanta Wendy’s restaurant Friday. A second officer faces lesser charges. Police were trying to arrest Brooks on a…

Jun 17, 2020 4:53 PM CDT

Many would-be lawyers are allowed to practice law without exam in Washington state

Graduates of ABA-accredited law schools who are registered for the July or September bar exam in Washington state can skip the test and still practice law.

Jun 16, 2020 12:04 PM CDT

As some law grads prepare for an online bar exam, academic support experts offer advice

Most states planning remote bar exams because of the novel coronavirus pandemic have cut the dreaded multiple-choice multistate bar exam portion of the test. But that doesn’t mean that the test will be easier to pass, according to some academic support experts.

Jun 16, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge admonishes state AG for ignored voting order; court upholds law school’s $2.6M settlement

Judge admonishes Tennessee attorney general’s office for ignoring absentee voting order Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle chastised attorneys from the Tennessee attorney general’s office Thursday for not following the temporary injunction that she issued last week to allow state voters who were concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic to vote…

Jun 12, 2020 4:14 PM CDT

Law student’s admission is revoked over ‘racially offensive behavior’ on social media

The Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law in Dallas announced on Twitter on Wednesday that it revoked the admission of an incoming student, “based on the student’s racially offensive behavior recorded on social media.”

Jun 12, 2020 11:32 AM CDT

Most law firms will shorten their summer programs and switch to virtual format, NALP study says

While the vast majority of law firms still plan to offer a summer program this year, almost two-thirds will shorten those programs between five to six weeks, and more than half will transition them to an entirely virtual format, according to a National Association for Law Placement study released Thursday.

Jun 12, 2020 9:46 AM CDT

California keeps plans for online bar exam, but test date may be pushed back again

Following an earlier announcement that the California bar exam for July would be pushed back to September because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Supreme Court has announced that the test may be moved to October.

Jun 11, 2020 2:26 PM CDT

Revised bar pass standard may be less absolute than some thought

When the ABA in May released public notice that 10 law schools were out of compliance with a recently tightened up bar pass standard, there was some surprise as to which school didn’t make the list.

Jun 11, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

Does disabilities law prohibit mental health bias in bar admissions? Law grad seeks cert

A law grad undergoing mental health treatment is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider whether Illinois officials discriminated against him under the Americans with Disabilities Act when they refused to admit him to the bar.

Jun 9, 2020 12:13 PM CDT

Is lower number of law school applicants a COVID-19 glitch? LSAT schedule changes could be to blame

Applicants to ABA-accredited law schools are below the number reported at this time last year, but it’s unclear whether that will translate to lower enrollment because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jun 4, 2020 4:20 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: AG Barr sees lack of confidence in justice system; will students reconsider law school?

AG Barr says ‘witches’ brew’ of extremist groups caused violence U.S. Attorney General William Barr said at a press conference Thursday that many African Americans lack confidence in the American criminal justice system, and that needs to change. Barr said most protesters were peaceful, but there is a “witches’ brew”…

Jun 4, 2020 3:38 PM CDT

Harvard Law will be online-only for the fall 2020 term

Harvard Law School will be online for the fall 2020 term because of concerns that testing and monitoring of the novel coronavirus will not be fully available by that point.

Jun 4, 2020 11:20 AM CDT

Two states introduce COVID-19 waivers for July bar exams

Jun 2, 2020 3:42 PM CDT