Legal Education

More law schools plan to accept GRE scores, but there’s still hesitation, survey finds

In its 2017 survey of law school admissions offices, Kaplan Test Prep found that there’s a sharp increase in those planning to accept Graduate Records Examination scores from applicants. According to answers to a survey of 128 law schools released Monday, 25 percent indicated that they plan to implement the…

Sep 18, 2017 12:40 PM CDT

JDs from middle-ranked schools in states with many public colleges may give best investment return

Between 2010 and 2014, net tuition declined the most at middle-ranked law schools, due to merit scholarship patterns associated with maintaining or improving rankings, according to a law review article by Jerome M. Organ, which looks at variable returns on investing in a law degree.

Sep 15, 2017 3:35 PM CDT

California bar brief pokes holes in some arguments for a lower bar exam cut score

Amidst arguments that lowering the California bar exam cut score may help diversity in the profession, increase lawyer access for moderate-income residents and have no influence on attorney misconduct findings, the State Bar of California filed a data-heavy brief with the California Supreme Court taking the position that there’s scant evidence for the majority of those claims.

Sep 14, 2017 2:29 PM CDT

6th Circuit rejects law prof’s claim that ‘mark of the beast’ pay raise constituted retaliation

A federal appeals court has tossed a suit by a retired Cleveland-Marshall College of Law professor that contended his $666 pay raise was intended as retaliation for a successful union organizing campaign for law faculty. The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the suit by Sheldon Gelman and…

Sep 14, 2017 7:00 AM CDT

Chemerinsky brief argues Trump’s pardon of Arpaio is void

Updated: A proposed amicus brief filed Monday argues that President Donald Trump’s pardon of Sheriff Joe Arpaio is void because it violates the Constitution. The brief (PDF) was submitted to a federal judge in Phoenix who is considering whether the pardon, issued before Arpaio had a chance to appeal his contempt conviction, requires her to vacate the conviction, Law.com (sub. req.) reports.

Sep 12, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

Law school’s civil rights center is barred from litigating cases

The Center for Civil Rights at the University of North Carolina’s law school will no longer be able to litigate cases after a vote by university leaders on Friday. The vote bans all centers in the University of North Carolina system from engaging in litigation, but the Center for Civil…

Sep 8, 2017 4:32 PM CDT

Why did Posner retire? He cites ‘difficulty’ with his colleagues on one issue

Judge Richard Posner had intended to stay on the federal appellate bench until he reached 80, an age he believed to be the upper limit for federal judges.

Sep 7, 2017 9:04 AM CDT

California bar board of trustees sends state supreme court 3 options for bar exam cut score

Rather than suggest to the California Supreme Court that it should or shouldn’t lower its bar exam cut score, which is currently 1440, the State Bar of California's Board of Trustees voted Wednesday in favor of providing the court with three possibilities--keep the score where it is, lower the score to 1414 or lower it to 1390.

Sep 6, 2017 2:41 PM CDT

Florida state courts to close Friday for Hurricane Irma; some Georgia courts also announce closings

Updated: The Florida Supreme Court has issued an order closing all Florida state courts on Friday and extending time limits through Monday. Some state courts in Georgia, meanwhile, were also announcing closings as Hurricane Irma threatened the coastline. The Florida order (PDF) noted that Gov. Rick Scott has declared a…

Sep 6, 2017 1:25 PM CDT

Federal guidelines on campus sexual misconduct ‘seriously overbroad’ say some Harvard law faculty

Four Harvard Law School academics have asked the U.S. Department of Education to revisit policies regarding campus sexual misconduct investigations. The policies were set by the Obama Administration, the Harvard Crimson reports, and outlined in the Office of Civil Rights’ 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter (PDF) that stated that sexual violence…

Sep 1, 2017 2:30 PM CDT

ABA president's goals focus on young people and the future

ABA President Hilarie Bass has chosen homeless youth as the pro bono project for her presidency. She says resolving their common legal needs makes a real difference in their lives.

Sep 1, 2017 1:15 AM CDT

Vision of Success: Future of the legal profession requires change the ABA can provide

The future is upon us and never before has there been a more urgent need for the American Bar Association to lead the way toward change in the profession and a better understanding of the rule of law among our citizens.

Sep 1, 2017 12:50 AM CDT

California Committee of Bar Examiners recommends keeping bar exam cut score the same

Updated: On Thursday, the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners voted 13-1 to recommend leaving California’s bar cut score at 1440, Courthouse News Service reports. Some studies are still ongoing, according to the article, including a content validity study expected to be completed in October. “I have yet…

Aug 31, 2017 4:47 PM CDT

Law prof’s book asks if ‘class cluelessness’ led to Trump’s election win

Professionals with large salaries and “class cluelessness” may be the reason Donald Trump was elected president, according to a new book by a University of California Hastings Law professor. “White Working Class: Overcoming Class Cluenessless in America” is written by Joan Williams, who also directs the law school’s Center for…

Aug 31, 2017 3:20 PM CDT

FIU law school alumni ask their former dean to quit Trump’s cabinet

A group of Florida International University College of Law graduates have asked Alexander Acosta, their former dean, to resign as President Donald Trump’s labor secretary on the basis that the administration “demonizes minorities,” and that does not fit with the law school’s vision. Jordan Dollar, a graduate of the law…

Aug 30, 2017 1:55 PM CDT