Syracuse University College of Law Dean Hannah Arterian will step down from her post on August 1 to focus on “research and scholarly activities,” the school announced Monday. Board of Advisors Distinguished Professor William C. Banks will take over as interim dean.

After receiving her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law with high distinction, Arterian practiced corporate tax law at Dewey, Ballantine, Bushby, Palmer & Wood. She then moved onto academia, teaching at Arizona State, the University of Houston, and the University of Iowa law schools, most notably serving as associate dean at Arizona State (ASU) for ten years. She began her tenure as dean of Syracuse Law in 2002.

Arterian expressed enthusiasm for the job from the very beginning. In a 2002 ASU press release announcing her move to Syracuse, Arterian commented, “I think what drove me to apply [to Syracuse Law] was the school’s strong reputation…When I had a chance to spend time getting to know the faculty, I became even more enthusiastic. The law school is well positioned, and I am happy to have the chance to move the school even further forward.”

It seems she has been successful. During her tenure, Arterian increased the number of the college’s free legal clinics from five to nine and launched several new internship and externship opportunities, including the Washington D.C. externship program. She oversaw the establishment of legal centers and institutes, including the Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media and the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT). Perhaps her crowning moment came in August 2014, when the College of Law relocated to Dineen Hall, a 200,000 square foot building that allowed the entire Syracuse Law community to operate within a single facility. The building was ranked the 25th most architecturally attractive law school in the world, according to Syracuse Law. Syracuse Law interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Liz Liddy stated,

[Arterian] has ushered in a new era of success for the college. Last year, the College of Law bar exam pass rate was the highest it has been among the law schools in New York State. We are grateful for her service and thankful that she will remain at the University as a member of the faculty

Liddy appointed founding director of INSCT William C. Banks as interim dean effective August 1. Banks joined the Syracuse Law faculty in 1978 and was named a Meredith Professor Teaching Excellence in 1998. He has authored several books on national security, including “Combating Terrorism, Strategies, and Approaches” and “National Security Law and the Power of the Pulse;” serves on the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security; and is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of National Security Law & Policy. “Professor Banks is a tremendous teacher, scholar and leader of INSCT, I am certain he will be a strategic interim dean and an advocate for the College of Law,” Arterian said in the announcement.

He certainly has big shoes to fill, especially in today’s stressful law school environment. Law school deans across the country are struggling with the lowest number of applicants in four decades, fueled by an abysmal legal job market. Potential applicants are increasingly making the decision that incurring $100,000-$200,000 in student debt is not worth it if they do not attend an elite law school that can land them a job after they graduate. For the vast majority of law schools, this means adapt or die.

George Washington University Dean Blake Morant said at a panel hosted by Lawyers of Color, “Every single law school that I know of is doing something to not only innovate, but also to add value to what they’re giving to students.”

Doing so may involve lowering tuition costs to entice applicants, like the University of Illinois College of Law. Georgetown University Law Center is “personalizing” its admissions process, with alumni and admissions officers interviewing more applicants. Other schools are prioritizing practical training for students. In response to the long-time criticism that law schools teach too much theory that is not relevant in day-to-day firm operations, Villanova University School of Law Dean John Gotanda told the Washington Post that the school is now requiring students to take a course on the economics of law firms in case they want to open their own practice.

Even so, it is likely that Banks is going to have to make some compromises. Well funded elite programs are able to offer significant scholarship money to qualified applicants, eliminating the incentive for students to attend less prestigious schools to lower student debt. To combat this trend, schools like George Mason University School of Law had to ease their admissions standards to maintain enrollment.

For Banks to be successful, he is going to have to perform a balancing act. Fewer applications means there is going to be less funding to provide additional experiential learning opportunities and scholarships to attract students. That is precisely what he is going to have to provide if he wants Syracuse Law to survive. It would be wise for him to take some notes from his predecessor.

Hyunjae Ham

Hyunjae Ham is a member of the University of Maryland Class of 2015 and a Law Street Media Fellow for the Summer of 2015. Contact Hyunjae at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Unfortunately, it seems as though another law school is feeling the effects of the declining enrollment facing law schools across the country in recent years. George Kosko and Robert Carr, the owners of Charleston School of Law located in South Carolina, have recently announced that they might not enroll a new class of students this coming fall. The statement they put out read:

We cannot in good faith enroll another class when, like last year, the school is spending more money than is coming in; when we cannot assure the students that they will be able to use federal student loans for their full three years; and when we cannot be sure the school will be able to maintain its license and stay open

While this was not a formal announcement of closure, it does not look promising that the school is going to be able to turn things around.

Understandably, many of the students were shocked and confused by this news. The announcement came during the thick of finals season, a bizarre time to announce something that could rattle and greatly affect the futures of the school’s current students. Many students expressed that they were in disbelief that the administration would announce something of this magnitude during finals.

Other students expressed disappointment. Second-year law student Drew Waxler believed that he would finish his three years at Charleston School of Law and then head back home to Burlington, Vermont to start his career. However, it appears that his plans may have to change. He says that, “it is discouraging that you won’t have an alma mater to take pride in after graduation if they do decide to stop taking” new classes of students.

While many of the students were shocked by the news, the school has actually been in trouble since 2013 when its owners announced that a sale to the education company Infilaw was under consideration. At the time, many students and faculty members expressed their outrage with the sale. They explained how the three schools currently under Infilaw are of a lower caliber than Charleston. If the school were to become an Infilaw school, it would decrease the value of a Charleston Law degree. To the relief of many, the sale didn’t go through. However, it appears as though the process has done lasting damage to the school.

So, what does this mean for the students? According to the American Bar Association and state rules, a law school is not allowed to simply close its doors without doing anything for its students. If they decide to close, they will have to submit a “teach-out” plan that details how current students will finish their education programs. So, while certainly not ideal, at least the students can know that they won’t be left to figure things out for themselves.

The owners have stated that they expect to release a formal announcement at some point this week.

Brittany Alzfan

Brittany Alzfan is a student at the George Washington University majoring in Criminal Justice. She was a member of Law Street’s founding Law School Rankings team during the summer of 2014. Contact Brittany at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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Here at Law Street, we’ve written a lot about the steps that some law schools are taking to the buck the trend of lower enrollment that is taking a widespread toll on almost all law schools. One really great way to attract students, especially for schools that aren’t as highly ranked as others, is to offer unique programs. That’s exactly what the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii is doing, and it seems like they’re seeing great success.

Hawaii Law is the only law school in the state, and it has been able to draw on its unique history when creating its programs. One of the most unique offerings it has is a specific focus on indigenous law. The school, which is home to the Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law, offers a Native Hawaiian Law Certificate that can be earned along with a Juris Doctorate. According to the Center, the focus on Native Hawaiian law allows them to connect with the community; Director Melody Kapilialoha MacKenzie explains how the center is able to incorporate students’ studies into the law school environment, stating that it “provides our students with the legal principles to advance the rights of indigenous and Pacific peoples, and it also increases knowledge and protection of customary practices and values.” 

The Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law’s ability to offer such a unique joint degree program can definitely be considered a draw for their students. Allowing them the opportunity to study such a unique facet of law makes Hawaii Law stand out. The center goes beyond just offering classes and the joint-degree program, to hosting a number of events and symposia. Given that Hawaii Law is the only law school located in the state, and that 20 percent of Hawaii’s population is made up of people who are at least part Native Hawaiian ancestry, it’s obvious that the Ka Huli Ao Center is a great resource.

According to recent news coming out of the school it seems like offering such a unique program is working, among other things, to increase Hawaii Law’s enrollment. Last week, Hawaii Law had the most students in its history, with 145. The school also saw more applications (639) last year. Hawaii Law was hit by the same drop in applications that many law schools saw a few years ago, but they’re well on their way to recovery now. The fact that they have such a large class this year is certainly an indication of that.

Cost is also an incredibly important facet of the conversation about law school enrollment. Hawaii Law has been able to keep its cost fairly low — just south of $10,000 per semester for in-state students. This pairs well with the Native Hawaiian Law focus. It seems like Hawaii Law has found its appeal — creating a program that allows its students to focus on issues that are important for their community while still remaining a part of that community.

Anneliese Mahoney

Anneliese Mahoney is Managing Editor at Law Street and a Connecticut transplant to Washington D.C. She has a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University, and a passion for law, politics, and social issues. Contact Anneliese at amahoney@LawStreetMedia.com.

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It’s been a rough week for Thomas M. Cooley Law School. I really don’t know which was a harder hit, canceling enrollment for an entire incoming class of first year law students, or losing a $17 million defamation appeal.

A group of legal professionals founded the independent graduate school in 1972 in memory of Justice Thomas McIntyre Cooley. Cooley Law is home to the nation’s largest J.D. program, with four campuses located in Michigan (Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids and Lansing) and one campus in Florida (Tampa Bay.) The school released a statement on July 1 outlining its new “aggressive financial management plan.” Due to low enrollment and increasing costs, the institution could no longer maintain its imbalanced budget, and was forced to close admission to its Ann Arbor campus.

The downward trend in law school enrollment is not unique to Cooley Law–this is a nationwide phenomenon. According to The National Law Journal, 132 of the 199 schools accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) saw declines in their 1L classes in the last 12 months. The ABA published enrollment data shows that Cooley Law’s first year enrollment dropped by 35 percent last year–from 897 students in 2012 to 582 students in 2013. This drastic change caused Cooley Law to make budget cuts by closing off its Ann Arbor campus to new students, and they still haven’t disclosed what will happen to those who were planning to enroll at that campus. They’re also planning faculty and staff layoffs, though no specifics were given about which campuses would see losses.

This news was confirmed the same day as Cooley Law was alerted of its loss in a defamation suit in which they had claimed $17 million in losses. Cooley Law filed to sue a New York law firm for falsely accusing the school of inflating its post-grad employment statistics. It’s a pretty tangled web of lawsuits–but essentially the firm and Cooley Law had brought dueling suits accusing each other of making false statements. The New York judge dismissed the case on July 2, 2014–the same day the school announced its closure of the Ann Arbor Campus to new enrollees.

This isn’t the first time Cooley Law’s employment statistics came into question. Back in 2012, a group of 12 graduates from Cooley Law tried to sue the school for misrepresenting its post-graduation employment statistics. The grads said they wouldn’t have attended the school had they known the real numbers and sued for reimbursement of their purchase. Though the case was dismissed, a few ugly truths were made public during the ruling:

• US News & World Report ranked Cooley Law with the lowest admission standards of any accredited or provisionally accredited law school in the country.
• In 2010, Cooley Law accepted 83% of all applicants.
• In 2010, Cooley Law’s average admissions score was 146 – a national low.
• In 2010, Cooley Law’s average GPA was 2.99 – also a national low.
• In 2008, about 32% of the 1,500 first year students at Cooley Law did not return.

All of these revelations about the recent history of the nation’s largest law school does not bode well for its future But we should use this as a learning experience. First of all, I encourage all current and prospective law students to do their homework. Know your school, and know what you’re paying for! Take into account all aspects of your law school experience. Where is your school located? Is there an easily accessible alumni network? Does your school offer judicial clerkships, externships, clinics, pro bono practice opportunities, and study abroad programs? How much is your tuition, and how does that compare with your anticipated salary? These are all things you should take into consideration before signing up for something that can put you into some serious debt.

Don’t want to end up like the debt-riddled, unemployed Cooley Law grads who couldn’t win a lawsuit against their notorious alma mater? Look past the numbers and the statistics and look into the experience. The judge who ruled against the graduates, Gordon Quist, wrote in his decision that the grads made poor decisions, stating, “with red flags [waving] and cautionary bells ringing an ordinary prudent person would not have relied on the statistics to decide to spend $100,000 or more.”

The closing of Cooley Law’s Ann Arbor campus to new enrollment could indicate a future trend in law school actions nationwide. The decline in law school enrollment is no surprise, and law grads are struggling to find work. But would the industry improve by reducing the number of law schools? I think it would be best for students to be extra diligent in their enrollment decisions. Then by natural selection the weakest law schools that produce the most unsuccessful attorneys would be knocked off the map. It’s not a perfect formula, but there’s definitely a need for some big changes.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@natashapaulmeno) 

Image courtesy of [Matthew DeWaal via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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According to the American Bar Association’s latest findings, law school enrollment is down 11%, or 5,000 students from last year. Many bloggers, and legal news outlets have somewhat ironically blamed this on the negative media attention law schools have gotten over the last few years. But that’s selling graduates a bit short. If the potential benefit of a six-figure investment isn’t all that clear, I doubt a blog entry will be the deciding factor. So it begs the question: what is to blame?

In her WSJ blog article on the drop, in which she pointed out that enrollment numbers are now hovering around those from 1977, Jennifer Smith writes in passing, “some lower-level legal tasks that firm associates used to do, such as document review, are now increasingly farmed out to contract attorneys or legal outsourcing companies that can do the work more cheaply”. And though brief, she has touched on one of the major challenges for new members of the J.D. club. In 1977, new lawyers were competing amongst each other for jobs. Now, they’re competing with the rest of the world. And in many offices ranging from Mumbai to Bangalore, the rest of the world is winning.

Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO), as it’s officially been named, has nearly doubled in the past few years, going from a $640 industry in 2010 to worth over a billion dollars in 2012, according to the LPO Program. Experts predict that it will continue to grow as providers set up shop in Latin America and former British colonies with similar English Common Law justice systems. A 2012 report on the industry from Professor Mary Lacity of the University of Missouri and Professor Leslie Willcocks of the London School of Economics argues that because of a fragmented legal industry stateside and many untapped countries as possible LPO providers, “the potential global LPO market is enormous”. “Just considering the US market”, the paper adds, “the legal services industry is worth about $245 billion”.

“the potential global LPO market is enormous”– Legal Process Outsourcing: LPO Provider Landscape

For the most part, the ethics of outsourcing have already been decided. In 2007 and 2008, when LPO first burst on the scene with national media attention, various state bar associations along with the ABA blessed the fledgling industry. But there is still the question of how far it can go?

If you’re thinking that this is another case of overseas contractors doing grunt work, you’re wrong. While some would be happy to skirt the tedium of legal discovery and document review, LPO providers like Pangea3— a recent recipient of the provider-of-the-year-award– assists US firms in everything from corporate contracts to intellectual property agreements, falling just short of performing the actual attorney responsibilities themselves. For a law school graduate looking at one of the most dismal legal markets in recent memory, those jobs aren’t anything to sneeze at.

So what’s a young lawyer to do? Do we lasso the industry through regulations, or let entry level positions go the way of the automobile industry? Or the manufacturing industry? Or the information technology industry? I don’t have the answers to these questions. But in light of the precipitous decline in law students this year, let us not scratch our heads in confusion as we wonder why nobody wants to be a lawyer anymore.

[ABAJournal]

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Featured image courtesy of [Michael Fernandes via Wikipedia]

Jimmy Hoover

Jimmy Hoover is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and formerly an intern at Law Street Media. Contact Jimmy at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

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