Legal Education

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

Online tool—still in beta testing—aims for better bar study technique

Online bar review can be more effective than in-person lectures, because data from users' study time pinpoints their strengths and weaknesses, and can help design individual study schedules based on the information, says Matt Sellers, whose law school e-learning company Quimbee is currently beta testing a Uniform Bar Examination study offering that he plans to release to the public in time for the February 2019 exam.

Jul 10, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

ADA lawsuit about Florida bar examiners’ mental health requirements allowed to proceed

A federal judge in Florida has allowed a suit by a law student to go forward against the Florida Board of Bar Examiners, alleging that the board violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by requiring candidates with mental health conditions to undergo and pay for invasive procedures.

Jul 9, 2018 2:49 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

Valpo Law may transfer to Middle Tennessee State University

Indiana’s Valparaiso University has entered a nonbinding letter of intent to transfer its law school to Middle Tennessee State University, located in Murfreesboro.

Jun 25, 2018 3:58 PM CDT

Recovering former convict defies odds, ends ‘long and hard journey’ after being sworn in as a lawyer

A 2017 law school graduate and advocate for the recently incarcerated—who also has a felony record and has been in recovery for more than six years—was sworn in as a member of the Washington State Bar Association on Saturday following a battle with the agency’s character and fitness board. The…

Jun 18, 2018 1:28 PM CDT

Some bankruptcy judges look for ‘wiggle room’ in student debt cases; law clerks prove instructive

Some bankruptcy judges are showing more flexibility when borrowers seek to cancel student debt.

Jun 18, 2018 7:10 AM 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

What advice do you have for someone studying for the bar exam?

School is out, and for recent law school graduates, it's bar exam season.

Jun 6, 2018 1:58 PM 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

Is the NFL’s anthem policy constitutional? Not in some states, law prof argues

State constitutions may protect players who are fined for violating the NFL's ban on protests during the national anthem, according to incoming Harvard law professor Nikolas Bowie.

Jun 6, 2018 7:05 AM CDT

Magna cum laude law grad, 7 years sober, led a charge for students’ well-being

At Marquette University Law School's orientation for new students, Michael Anspach heard about “bar review,” a weekly event that involved meeting at bars for drinks, and he expressed interest in starting a sober club on campus.

May 31, 2018 7:05 AM CDT