VU Law School ranked #7 by National Jurist Magazine

[wh]

As the father of a VU Law School graduate, I was thrilled to see this!

VALPARAISO LAW EARNS A+ RATING AND #7 RANKING FOR PRACTICAL TRAINING BY NATIONAL JURIST MAGAZINE

http://www.valpo.edu/law/valparaiso-law-earns-a-rating-and-7-ranking-for-practical-training-by-national-jurist-magazine

[VULB#62]

That's very good news in the face of previous reports of the down-turn in the legal profession and law school enrollment.

[a3uge]

Can someone explain what this is? Wasn't there just a hit-piece on the law school a year ago?

[wh]

Great article from the NWI Times:

Valpo law school earns high marks
Susan Emery Times Correspondent Apr 24, 2017 Updated 17 hrs ago 

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valpo-law-school-earns-high-marks/article_8033f388-768c-514d-aeb8-66e1943e1854.html

[FWalum]

Can someone explain what this is? Wasn't there just a hit-piece on the law school a year ago?

Yes there was - http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-valparaiso-law-censure-st-1119-20161117-story.html I think this quote from the article kind of explains the situation. VU Law appears to be taking some positive steps forward.

Practical training continues to play a key role in legal education, even as schools struggle with bar passage rates. We identify schools that offer the most opportunities.

[valpotx]

Hmm, very interesting.  Hopefully this is a positive sign that the school will be viewed in a more positive light going forward.  That article last year was terrible for our Law school. 

[agibson]

Huh, did I somehow miss the formal ABA censure? Probably it was no surprise given the enrollment trends.

But, to be clear, I assume the "hit piece" people are referring to was the NY Times article
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/business/dealbook/an-expensive-law-degree-and-no-place-to-use-it.html

The pawn shop reference seems a bit heavy. But, there are even some people connected with the law school who don't consider it a "hit piece".

Congrats to the law school on the new recognition. Hopefully a sign that they're moving in a good direction!

[crusaderjoe]

What a nice achievement for the law school. However, that said, and I certainly do not wish to minimize this achievement, but unless this ranking translates to more Valpo law graduates being able to compete and secure employment against graduates of other schools in the marketplace, it doesn't mean that much really.  1L attrition and bar passage rates, and particularly July bar passage rates (because there are usually a greater number of repeat takers in February) are better indicators of where a law school is trending, IMO.  But this is certainly nice recognition, don't get me wrong.

[valpopal]

I assume the "hit piece" people are referring to was the NY Times article
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/19/business/dealbook/an-expensive-law-degree-and-no-place-to-use-it.html

The pawn shop reference seems a bit heavy. But, there are even some people connected with the law school who don't consider it a "hit piece".

Of course some in the Law School would not want to acknowledge the article was a hit piece because they cooperated and contributed to it, and they are avoiding self-incrimination.

[vu72]

Law school now out of the "dog house"!

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ABA_accreditation_censure_for_valparaiso_law_removed

[78crusader]

Still not sure about the future of VU's law school, even with the favorable report.

I didn't hear encouraging news when I was on campus at Homecoming.

It boils down to enrollment for next year, I think.  There is no doubt that the sanction by the ABA has hurt recruitment. 

The administration is torn between allocating resources between degree programs that are thriving, and those that are not, and the avalanche of unfavorable publicity that would accompany closing the law school.

Paul

[vu72]

Still not sure about the future of VU's law school, even with the favorable report.

I didn't hear encouraging news when I was on campus at Homecoming.

It boils down to enrollment for next year, I think.  There is no doubt that the sanction by the ABA has hurt recruitment. 

The administration is torn between allocating resources between degree programs that are thriving, and those that are not, and the avalanche of unfavorable publicity that would accompany closing the law school.

Paul

No doubt many big time donors hold law degrees from Valpo. If I had a law degree and they closed the school I would not be pleased as in effect it downgrades the value of the degree I hold.  As in "where did you get your law degree?  Valpo?  Isn't that the school that closed its doors because of their weak reputation?"

[78crusader]

Still not sure about the future of VU's law school, even with the favorable report.

I didn't hear encouraging news when I was on campus at Homecoming.

It boils down to enrollment for next year, I think.  There is no doubt that the sanction by the ABA has hurt recruitment. 

The administration is torn between allocating resources between degree programs that are thriving, and those that are not, and the avalanche of unfavorable publicity that would accompany closing the law school.

Paul

No doubt many big time donors hold law degrees from Valpo. If I had a law degree and they closed the school I would not be pleased as in effect it downgrades the value of the degree I hold.  As in "where did you get your law degree?  Valpo?  Isn't that the school that closed its doors because of their weak reputation?"

Therein lies the problem.  Not sure what the outcome will be here. 

Paul

[bbtds]

I really hope Valpo doesn't "lay down the law" (school). Unfortunately they must be the judge and jury on this one.

At least they aren't the university that is closing their optometry school in 2020.

[covufan]

Law school now out of the "dog house"!

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ABA_accreditation_censure_for_valparaiso_law_removed

Good news!

There are some other articles on another thread about enrollment numbers:

http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=2927.0

[vufan75]

Law school now out of the "dog house"!

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ABA_accreditation_censure_for_valparaiso_law_removed

Good news. [emoji106]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[VU2014]

I just heard a rumor that Valparaiso Law school will not accept a new class in the fall.  It sounded like they were on the right track.

[bbtds]

I just heard a rumor that Valparaiso Law school will not accept a new class in the fall.  It sounded like they were on the right track.

It sounds like the quality of the students were going up but the bad publicity has killed the enrollment and doomed the financial prognosis of the law school.

[usc4valpo]

The reality is that you cannot fiscally sustain a college of law with 31 incoming students. Law schools are hurting nationally - even northwestern has lowered their admission standards a bit.