More people are applying to law school, but it’s not like last year’s ‘Trump bump’

People applying to law school saw a modest 3.3% increase for the 2019-20 admission cycle, according to the Law School Admission Council. The data is as of July 31 and includes 62,427 applicants, Kellye Y. Testy, president and CEO of the LSAC, wrote in an Aug. 5 web post for…

Aug 7, 2019 12:04 PM CDT

What essay questions do you remember from the bar exam?

When test-takers took the California bar exam earlier this week, some say they might have had a leg up. An email from State Bar of California days before the test listed the essay question topics to be covered on the bar exam. The state bar had just mistakenly sent the…

Aug 1, 2019 11:45 AM CDT

2 bright spots in law-grad hiring: more BigLaw jobs, higher rate of JD-required employment

The job picture improved for law school graduates in the class of 2018, with increases in both the overall rate of employment and the percentage of graduates who secured full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage, according to the National Association for Law Placement.

Jul 31, 2019 10:06 AM CDT

Thanks to email error, those taking California bar exam now know essay question topics

When California bar exam test-takers received an email July 27, listing the topics to be covered on the upcoming state bar exam, many of them thought it was a hoax. It turns out that email, which was sent by the State Bar of California, was legitimate.

Jul 30, 2019 11:32 AM CDT

First-year lawyer offers self-care tips and shares how he learned to quiet his mind post-law school

In this episode of Asked and Answered with the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward, Michael R. Anspach talks about his road to success after law school, his self-care tips and how he learned to quiet his mind.

Jul 29, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Controversial Penn law prof is under fire for remarks about third-world immigration

Updated: Controversial University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax is back in the news for recent remarks about the dangers of “cultural-distance” immigration.

Jul 22, 2019 11:55 AM CDT

Few qualify for public service loan forgiveness, often due to bad information, lawsuit says

Jul 18, 2019 3:50 PM CDT

As nation debates racism, readers respond to controversial ‘MAGA’ column

The ABA Journal’s July 3 Your Voice piece “Seeing Red: A professor coexists with ‘MAGA’ in the classroom” by Jeffrey Omari, has drawn a large number of comments and a lively discussion around the topics of the First Amendment and racism. Below is a sampling of reader responses to Omari’s…

Jul 18, 2019 9:15 AM CDT

Legal Ed asks for comment as they consider revising teach-out plans and accreditation rules

The American Bar Association’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is considering revisions for rules and standards that apply to ABA-accredited law schools, including a proposal that would change the existing direction for teach-out plans.

Jul 16, 2019 2:55 PM CDT

Seeing Red: A professor coexists with ‘MAGA’ in the classroom

Jeffrey Omari understands the complexities of academic freedom and free speech. But just as faculty and staff are required to maintain professional formalities, it seems only logical that students, too, should maintain similar businesslike etiquette.

Jul 3, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

Closing Time: As Whittier Law School prepares to close, its dean tries to soften the blow for students

Closing Time: As Whittier Law School prepares to close, its dean tries to soften the blow for students

Jul 1, 2019 12:16 AM CDT

Urge to merge: Difficult times for law schools have prompted several to attempt to be acquired by other schools

In the past three years, seven law schools announced plans to partner, gift or sell themselves to universities—all but begging the question: Why would anyone want them?

Jul 1, 2019 12:15 AM CDT

What American legal education can learn from the ‘Harry Potter’ series

I’m sitting in my law school office daydreaming about the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I’m working on pedagogy, not fantasy. Published just over 20 years ago, the Harry Potter books captivated children and adults alike, with dramatic storylines, imaginative characters and even moral lessons about courage and…

Jun 27, 2019 6:30 AM CDT

University of Idaho law professor sues school for racial and gender discrimination

A black female law professor alleging race and gender discrimination in employment and education has filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Idaho College of Law. In her complaint filed June 19 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, Shaakirrah Sanders, the first black person to…

Jun 24, 2019 2:40 PM CDT

Want to go to law school? This teen has some tips

In this episode of Asked and Answered with the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward, teen Haley Taylor Schlitz talks about her organization plans and how she’ll be spending the summer before starting law school at Southern Methodist University this fall.

Jun 24, 2019 6:00 AM CDT