Has the decline in law school applicants run its course?
July 22, 2015
Data released by the Law School Admissions Council establishes that, at least fro now, the decline in LSAT test takers has abated.
Touro Law Center's "Portal to Admission" Program
July 14, 2015
Professor Tracy Norton describes how qualifies students, even those who have tested poorly on the LSAT in the past, can, upon successful completion of the Portal program, be guaranteed admission to the law center and once enrolled at Touro Law Cnter, be awarded a one time scholarship equal to the Program's cost ($1,950).
Assistant Dean for Admissions, George Justice, Touro Law Center
July 14, 2015
Dean Justice shares his experiences as Dean for Admission at Touro Law Center
On-line Law Degrees?
April 07, 2015
CNCB brings us the University of Minnesota's 50-50 on-line ABA accredited law school program!
2016 U.S. News Rankings are out!
March 13, 2015
See where the law schools stand.
Touro Law Center announces its "Portal to Law School" Program
January 16, 2015
Touro Law Center, in conjunction with Focus Approach, LLC, has created the "Portal to Law School" Program. Whether you have taken the LSAT and failed to achieve success, or you have yet to sit for the exam, the Portal Program is open to you.
2014 ABA 509 Statements
January 02, 2015
Though seldom examined, the 509 statement is as powerful a tool for understanding where a law school stands as there is. Law Schools are required to furnish this information to the ABA and every law school applicant should examined the information carefully.
The Philadelphia Story --- Law School that is
December 24, 2014
I've previously blogged about law school tuition wars in Philadelphia. You can read those posts here and here. I've noted that underneath much of the broad-stroke reporting about law school enrollment and tuition are a variety of local markets and local stories. This is the local market I know best.
Again this year, it appears that, for applicants with moderately strong predictors, Philadelphia law schools offer among the lowest net tuitions in the country. Scholarship competition in Philly is fierce.
But as this news story indicates, the Philly schools are also bringing down class size. Overall, the six Philly area law schools have contracted 1L class size by 35% since 2009-10. This greatly exceeds the national decline of just under 28%. The reason parallels the explanation for such aggressive discounting in the market: every law school and every university wants to maintain quality. Is that because of US News? Is it for bar pass rates? Is it for reputation? Is it because it's the right thing to do, given the job market? Is it because all the schools are non-profits? Or all of the above?
And particular kudos is due to Widener University, which - without any US News stake (since they are unranked) - nonethess chose to shrink class size rather than seriously reduce student quality. That was both a good choice and the right choice, but far from a foregone conclusion given the decisions of other law schools around the country.
This chart of Philly school first year enrollment is from the Philadelphia Biz Journal article:
| School | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
|---|
| Drexel |
156 |
149 |
150 |
140 |
143 |
129 |
| Penn |
253 |
249 |
264 |
243 |
251 |
250 |
| Rutgers-Camden |
270 |
269 |
339 |
115 |
140 |
182 |
| Temple |
304 |
326 |
270 |
257 |
225 |
216 |
| Villanova |
258 |
252 |
216 |
220 |
162 |
155 |
| Widener - Del. |
378 |
388 |
320 |
223 |
238 |
126 |
Law School Enrollment hits 30 Year Low
December 17, 2014
The trend continues. Fewer students enrolling in law school while the median age of practicing attorneys approaches 60 years old.
Albany Law Announces the "Pathway to Admission" Program
December 16, 2014
Albany Law School announces its "Pathway to Admission Program." The program will begin February 14th and is scheduled to end May 5th. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (class continues to 4:15 p.m. when the legal writing component is scheduled).
Pathway to Admission offers qualified students who successfully complete the program and enroll at Albany Law School: a guaranteed offer of admission, complete reimbursement of the Program's cost ($1,950), and eligibility for merit based scholarships.
To enroll, applicants must first complete a Pathway to Admissions Application (available by contacting Albany Law School's Admissions Office). Upon acceptance, students will attend the 60 hour Focus Approach LSAT course offered at Albany Law School and participate in a 12 hour legal writing segment taught by an Albany Law School faculty member.
The Pathway program targets two segments of the LSAT population:
(i)students with strong UGPAs (>3.2) who have no character and fitness issues with prior reported LSAT scores of 142 and above, or
(ii)students who have not taken the LSAT
Students with prior reported LSAT's scores successfully complete the program when they:
(a)increase their LSAT score by 6 points, or
(b)raise their score to 151 or above
Students without a prior reported LSAT score who achieve a score of 151 or higher successfully complete the program as well.
Should you be aware of students who might be interested in Pathway, please have them contact the Office of Admissions at
admissions@albanylaw.edu or by calling (518) 445-2326.
Albany Law Dean Andrews Steps down
October 24, 2014
Penny Andrews steps down as Dean.
Albany Law considers closer alliance with UAlbany
October 10, 2014
As reported in the Albany Business Review, Albany law and SUNY Albany are exploring mutual opportunities.
Law Schools become less selective
October 09, 2014
The George Washington Hachet reports on how a top tier law school is dealing with declining LSAT scores.
Albany Law Employment Stats '13
October 02, 2014
Albnay Law Stats for 2013
Columbia Law Employment Stats - July 2014
October 01, 2014
More data about Columbia Law
Professor Alex Johnson, former chair of the LSAC, discusses the validity of the LSAT
September 30, 2014
University of Virginia law professor Alex Johnson, former chair of the Law School Admissions Council and former dean of Minnesota Law School, discusses the black/white LSAT score gap and why law schools are not admitting African-American students at a rate proportional to the test-taking population. Johnson offered his remarks during a talk sponsored by the UVA Black Law Students Association.
NYLS data - 2014 entering class
September 30, 2014
Statistics | Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
Brooklyn Law Data - 2013 entering class
September 30, 2014
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The online Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools allows you to download Standard 509 Information and Employment Summary data charts for each ...
Choose College Classes Wisely
September 24, 2014
Advice from "Law Admissions Lowdown" about choosing college courses to have a well-rounded law school application.
National Conference of Bar Examiners - - 2013 State by State Bar Passage Rate
September 06, 2014
Curious about how your state's bar passage rate compares to those of other states? Take a look.
Law Schools boost enrollment after price cuts
September 02, 2014
Law schools are in the process of responding to market conditions.
ABA Standards for maintaining accreditation
September 01, 2014
Standard 316. BAR PASSAGE
(a) A law school’s bar passage rate shall be sufficient, for purposes of Standard 301(a), if the school demonstrates that it meets any one of the following tests:
(1) That for students who graduated from the law school within the five most recently completed calendar years:
(i) 75 percent or more of these graduates who sat for the bar passed a bar examination; or
23(ii) in at least three of these calendar years, 75 percent of the students graduating in those years and sitting for the bar have passed a bar examination.
In demonstrating compliance under sections (1)(i) and (ii), the school must report bar passage results from as many jurisdictions as necessary to account for at least 70 percent of its graduates each year, starting with the jurisdiction in which the highest number of graduates took the bar exam and proceeding in descending order of frequency.
(2) That in three or more of the five most recently completed calendar years, the school’s annual first-time bar passage rate in the jurisdictions reported by the school is no more than 15 points below the average first-time bar passage rates for graduates of ABA-approved law schools taking the bar examination in these same jurisdictions.
In demonstrating compliance under section (2), the school must report first-time bar passage data from as many jurisdictions as necessary to account for at least 70 percent of its graduates each year, starting with the jurisdiction in which the highest number of graduates took the bar exam and proceeding in descending order of frequency. When more than one jurisdiction is reported, the weighted average of the results in each of the reported jurisdictions shall be used to determine compliance.
(b) A school shall be out of compliance with this Standard if it is unable to demonstrate that it meets the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) or (2).
2015 U.S. News Law School Ranking
August 31, 2014
According to US News, this is where matters presently stand
Preparing for the LSAT
August 21, 2014
A must see. LSAC explanations to actual LSAT questions.
