Law Schools

While number of lawyer jobs have been decreasing, law school applications are up more than 8%

Law school applications have increased by more than 8 percent, and some schools are reportedly concerned about over over-enrollment.

“Because the demand was so strong, some schools are finding that they may have had higher yield rates than they had in prior years, and they may have larger classes than they aimed for,” Kellye Testy, president of the Law School Admissions Counsel, told Law.com. She advises matching enrollment with employment opportunities for new lawyers.

Jul 31, 2018 2:40 PM CDT

Potential closure plan for Arizona Summit discussed while accreditation appeal is pending

Updated: If Arizona Summit School of Law, a for-profit InfiLaw campus, loses its ABA accreditation, students may have the option to finish their education at Arizona State University’s law school.

Jul 27, 2018 11:23 AM CDT

NCCU has taken ‘concrete steps’ toward admissions standards compliance, ABA says

North Carolina Central University School of Law, which in January was found to be out of compliance with an ABA accreditation standard regarding admissions, has now demonstrated compliance, according to a decision the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar posted to its website Monday.

Jul 23, 2018 4:43 PM CDT

Chicago to get a public law school: John Marshall acquired by University of Illinois system

After more than two years of discussions, the University of Illinois’ board of trustees Thursday approved a plan to acquire Chicago’s John Marshall School of Law, a private stand-alone institution.

Jul 20, 2018 7:10 AM CDT

Reforming law school: Start with the end in mind

Last month, I wrote here about some potential changes to legal training in the United States, based on my own experience and conversations within and outside both the industry and country. The response was overwhelmingly positive from those who understood that I am trying to improve our profession for lawyers and clients alike.

Jul 13, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

14 of 19 Vermont Law professors lose tenure, retention chair tells professors’ organization

After being informed by the chair of Vermont Law School's retention committee that the school stripped 14 law professors of tenure, the American Association of University Professors has questioned whether the school followed proper regulations.

Jul 12, 2018 7:15 AM CDT

Florida Coastal loses TRO motion after Legal Ed Section stays some remedial actions

A federal judge has denied Florida Coastal School of Law”s motion seeking to prohibit an American Bar Association accreditation requirement that the school post public notice on its website about being out of compliance with various standards.

Jul 11, 2018 12:28 PM CDT

Dismiss Florida Coastal suit, ABA says; case not ‘ripe’ for review

The American Bar Association has filed a motion for summary judgment to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Florida Coastal School of Law, arguing that the accreditation dispute is not appropriate for federal court litigation.

Jul 2, 2018 2:54 PM CDT

The ‘think like a lawyer’ approach to law school is outdated

I have been writing about change within the legal industry for a few years, but have held off commenting directly on the law school and bar experience for a couple of reasons.

Jun 14, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Arizona Summit loses accreditation approval, which may be a first for an operating law school

Accreditation approval has been withdrawn for Arizona Summit Law School, the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar announced last week.

Jun 11, 2018 9:30 AM CDT

Court filing has more details about Cooley Law coming into compliance with admissions standard

When Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in March was found to be back in compliance with an ABA accreditation standard regarding admissions, it was after the school agreed to no longer admit students with predicted law school grade point averages below 2.1, and limit admittees with predicted GPAs between 2.2 and 2.49 to part-time enrollment, according to an accreditation committee decision made public in a recent court filing.

Jun 6, 2018 7:20 AM CDT

Charlotte School of Law sues ABA, arguing it was never out of compliance with bar pass rule

Updated: Following the Florida Coastal School of Law lawsuit filed against the American Bar Association last week, another InfiLaw school, the now-shuttered Charlotte School of Law, has sued the organization, arguing the ABA violated the law school's due process rights when it placed the law school on probation in November 2016.

May 15, 2018 6:31 PM CDT

UVA Law to receive $43.9 million donation from 2 alumni

Martha and Bruce Karsh, a couple who met at the University of Virginia School of Law, will donate $43.9 million to their alma mater.

May 14, 2018 11:35 AM CDT

ABA Legal Ed council approves proposed rule change to end admission test requirement

Updated: A proposed revision to remove an admission test requirement for accredited law schools was approved Friday by the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar—as was a plan to reorganize the section.

May 11, 2018 1:19 PM CDT

Florida Coastal sues ABA over finding of noncompliance with accreditation standards

Florida Coastal School of Law, which the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has found to be out compliance with various standards regarding admissions and academic support, filed a federal court lawsuit against the organization Thursday, alleging that the ABA's accreditation finding violated the school’s due process rights.

May 10, 2018 2:57 PM CDT