According to a recent piece in the Charlotte Observer, Elon University has lodged a formal application with the American Bar Association, proposing to extend its existing Greensboro law school to include a campus in Charlotte. With this move, Elon University aims to fill a glaring gap as Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. without a law school. As things stand, aspiring law students in Charlotte must choose among the six law schools across the state, including Elon’s original campus in Greensboro.
However, one can’t help but remember the ill-fated Charlotte School of Law. The institution saw a tumultuous existence, grappling with poor bar exam passage rates, so poor in fact, Elon shared similar mediocre statistics. The struggle didn’t end there. The Charlotte School lost access to federal loans, felt the need to establish a food bank for students, and witnessed the quick exit of a hired dean tasked with turning things around. The school’s accreditation teetered on the edge, leading to a lawsuit against the American Bar Association for maintaining standards. Ultimately, state intervention led to the school’s closure.
The question arises whether Elon University can succeed where others have failed. InfiLaw, the for-profit education company originally responsible for administering the Charlotte School of Law (and two other failed law schools), certainly fell short. Despite a lenient admissions policy, the school couldn’t amass enough support to maintain operations. Charlotte School of Law failed to produce viable graduates with the promise of landing practicing licensure.
So, as we ponder the move by Elon University, one wonders if the market for prospective attorneys interested in North Carolina law schools is already adequately served. Should we endeavor to add another law school where bar passage is barely north of 50%? Given the troubled history of legal education in the region, seasoned observers of the law school industry will watch keenly as Elon University proceeds with its expansion plan.
Refer to the following for more details: Efforts Underway To Bring A Law School To Charlotte… Did Everyone Forget What Happened To The Last One?