Law Schools

Afternoon Briefs: Kim Kardashian West finishes year of legal studies; guilty plea for man’s viral ice cream video

Kim Kardashian West completes first year of legal studies Kim Kardashian West says she has completed her first year of legal studies in a four-year apprenticeship program that can pave the way to a law license in California. West said she spends about 20 hours per week on her studies.…

Jan 21, 2020 3:20 PM CST

New York Times defamed me with clickbait headline, Harvard Law prof alleges in lawsuit

Lawrence Lessig, a professor at Harvard Law School, has filed a lawsuit that says the New York Times defamed him with a sensationalized clickbait headline that read: “A Harvard Professor Doubles Down: If You Take Epstein’s Money, Do It in Secret.”

Jan 14, 2020 12:41 PM CST

3 law students launch food pantry to help feed hungry classmates

Three law students at the University of Hawaii’s law school are launching a food pantry to help classmates who are going hungry.

Jan 14, 2020 10:43 AM CST

California may offer more opportunities for JDs taught entirely online

If people are open to attending a non-ABA-accredited law school, they may soon have a lot more online choices in California—thanks to a recent rule change by the State Bar of California allowing state-accredited law schools to teach JD programs entirely over the internet.

Jan 14, 2020 6:30 AM CST

Under teach-out plan, Thomas Jefferson law school has ABA accreditation for 3 more years

A teach-out plan for Thomas Jefferson School of Law, allowing limited accreditation until the end of the spring 2023 term, has been approved by the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Jan 13, 2020 11:43 AM CST

A better bar exam? Law profs weigh in on whether test accurately measures skills required for law practice

Some lawyers say that little has changed with bar exams nationwide, and there are still concerns about whether the test accurately evaluates skills needed to practice law. Others have argued that today’s technology could handle many methods of bar exam testing than seemed impossible in 1980.

Jan 8, 2020 10:09 AM CST

BigLaw firm defends its commitment to diversity after Al Sharpton’s criticism

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is defending its diversity efforts after the Revs. Al Sharpton and Dale D. Dennis II criticized the law firm for having few racial minorities in its Wilmington, Delaware, office.

Jan 7, 2020 3:42 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Harvey Weinstein threatened with jail for courtroom phone use; Supreme Court closes for weather

Judge threatens to jail Harvey Weinstein after he uses cellphone in court On Tuesday, a Manhattan judge threatened to jail former film producer Harvey Weinstein for using his cellphone in the courtroom where jurors will be picked for his rape trial. “Is this really the way you want to end…

Jan 7, 2020 2:58 PM CST

Director of wrongful convictions center is struck and killed by pickup truck

Karen Daniel, a former co-director of Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions and a law professor, was struck and killed Dec. 26 by a pickup truck while she was walking her dog in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park.

Jan 6, 2020 11:57 AM CST

Career confessions of an atypical law school graduate

“I’m excited at what lies ahead. My circuitous professional path since law school reflects a profession in flux. … At the same time, there has never been a more exciting moment to create a new path,” writes law professor Jason Tashea.

Dec 17, 2019 6:00 AM CST

Atlanta’s John Marshall sees some success with ABA legal ed section

Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School has had its probation removed, and its application to convert to a nonprofit was accepted, according to notice posted by the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Dec 16, 2019 11:50 AM CST

ABA again says no to Florida Coastal’s nonprofit application and makes noncompliance finding

Florida Coastal School of Law is out of compliance with two sections of Standard 202, which deals with program resources, according to a public notice posted by the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Dec 13, 2019 2:46 PM CST

First-year class sizes for ABA-accredited law schools are slightly smaller in 2019

The total number of students at ABA-accredited law schools rose slightly this year. However, the number of first-year students decreased from 2018 to 2019, according to ABA data released Thursday.

Dec 12, 2019 3:29 PM CST

Law school found out of compliance with program resources standard; dean is ‘surprised by the finding’

The University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law is out of compliance with three sections of Standard 202, which deals with program resources, according to a recent finding from the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Dec 11, 2019 2:48 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Law student wins Dr Pepper’s $100K tuition contest; lawyer makes Miss Universe top 10

A quick strong arm earns law student six figures Tyler Gordon, a 3L at West Virginia University College of Law, on Saturday won $100,000 from the Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway, after throwing 20 footballs—in 30 seconds—through a structure replicating a giant soda can. Gordon spent a lot of time practicing…

Dec 10, 2019 5:00 PM CST