ABA House rejects proposal to tighten bar-pass standards for law schools

The ABA House of Delegates on Tuesday voted against a proposal to tighten bar passage rate standards for accredited law schools. Under ABA rules, the house can send the proposed rule, Resolution 110B, back to the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar twice for…

Feb 6, 2017 3:33 PM CST

Wyoming law school ends out-of-state tuition—for three students per year

Corrected: In-state tuition will be offered to three nonresident students per year at the University of Wyoming College of Law, its board of trustees decided last month. Annual in-state tuition at the law school is approximately $16,000, according to the Wyoming Business Report. Previously, annual out-of-state tuition at the Laramie…

Feb 6, 2017 1:15 PM CST

Resolution recommending CLE on substance-abuse disorders, ethics and diversity approved by ABA House

The ABA House of Delegates has adopted Resolution 106, which imposes a new Model Rule for Minimum Continuing Legal Education to replace the older model rule, which was first adopted in 1988. The new rule recommends that lawyers be permitted to select CLE programs and their method of delivery—whether at…

Feb 6, 2017 10:12 AM CST

Charlotte School of Law reportedly files teach-out plan to ABA

Charlotte School of Law has submitted a teach-out plan, which lists Florida Coastal School of Law as its partner, to the American Bar Association, a Charlotte School of Law spokesperson told the ABA Journal. Both for-profit schools are part of the Infilaw System, which is owned by the private equity…

Feb 6, 2017 9:19 AM CST

How can law schools encourage diversity and opportunity? Two Florida deans speak out

Law schools are adapting to changing times with courses and training that go beyond the goal of teaching students to practice law. They are also ensuring that students gain an understanding of diversity and inclusiveness as well as be able to demonstrate technological competence, according to two Florida law school…

Feb 3, 2017 3:10 PM CST

IRS lawyer who is an adjunct Georgetown law prof is charged in alleged meth conspiracy

An undercover sting operation has led to drug charges against a lawyer who worked as an attorney adviser with the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The lawyer, Jack Vitayanon, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, according to a Justice Department press release issued Wednesday. The New…

Feb 3, 2017 11:52 AM CST

LSAT scores at high-risk schools getting worse, according to analysis by law school reform group

Despite increased attention to admissions standards for ABA-accredited law schools, LSAT numbers and bar-pass rates are getting worse at those schools seen as the most at risk for exploiting students, according to an investigation released Thursday by Law School Transparency. The group, which focuses on law school reform, first published…

Feb 2, 2017 2:25 PM CST

Board of Governors approves creation of Commission on the Future of Legal Education

Updated: The ABA Board of Governors on Friday approved a proposal submitted by incoming president Hilarie Bass to create a Commission on the Future of Legal Education. Bass is aiming to restructure the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar with a new, “forward thinking” entity handling…

Feb 1, 2017 2:05 PM CST

Paul Goldstein skewers law school politics in new satirical novel ‘Legal Asylum’ (podcast)

Feb 1, 2017 8:55 AM CST

Charlotte School of Law prof seeks donations to help students with food and rent

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Charlotte School of Law students with their living expenses after a recent U.S. Department of Education decision that they will not receive federal loan money for the spring semester. Also, the law school is reportedly offering students interest-free $1,000 loans (PDF).…

Jan 30, 2017 1:10 PM CST

Which law schools offer the best and worst return on investment?

If you want to earn a top salary as a lawyer, it’s a good idea to attend law school at Cornell, Columbia, New York University, the University of Chicago or Harvard. But if you want the best return on investment, Brigham Young University and the University of Texas at Austin…

Jan 25, 2017 9:40 AM CST

Proposal to tighten ABA bar-pass standards criticized by deans and state bar president

A group of 90 law school deans asked the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar to pull a proposal that would tighten accreditation requirements on bar passage rates. Under the proposal, being in compliance with Standard 316 of the section’s law school accreditation…

Jan 19, 2017 3:50 PM CST

Charlotte School of Law vows to fight Dept. of Ed’s ‘final’ ruling denying student financial aid

Updated: Charlotte School of Law has backed away from a teach-out plan, and its students will no longer receive federal student aid, the U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday.

Jan 19, 2017 9:20 AM CST

Number of LSAT tests administered jumps nearly 8 percent; is optimism or scheduling the reason?

The number of LSAT tests administered in December increased 7.6 percent over December of last year, according to figures released by the Law School Admission Council. The increase is the largest year-over-year growth in administration of the tests since December 2009, according to Russell Schaffer, senior communications manager for Kaplan…

Jan 18, 2017 2:09 PM CST

More law schools should consolidate, writes former dean

There aren’t enough jobs for new lawyers, and the ones that are available don’t provide a “return on investment,” which leads to fewer people attending law school, writes Frank H. Wu, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of Law who served as its dean and chancellor from…

Jan 18, 2017 1:30 PM CST