Cooley Law School, known for its history of controversial decisions and poor performance, is aiming to restore its reputation under the leadership of its current president, James McGrath. Having once postured itself as a rival to the esteemed Harvard Law School and subsequently experiencing a public separation from Western Michigan University, Cooley remains an accredited institution, despite posting the worst bar passage rate among its peers.
In a recent interview with MLive, McGrath outlined his plans of turning this situation around, seeking to run a leaner and more selective institution. This marks a significant departure from Cooley’s earlier ambition of being the country’s largest law school, catered to low-cost legal education seekers. While Cooley sought to democratize access to legal education, issues arose when this strategy started to compromise the quality of education and career opportunities for its students.
- The severe decrease in enrollment, attributed largely to a lack of academic success and career possibilities, led to Cooley’s emphasis on maintaining enrolment, even if it meant admitting students with less promising prospects.
- Financially, the school seemed to thrive, raking in an annual income of $100 million in 2019. However, the long-term cost was a gradually diminishing reputation and a decline in academic quality, as revealed by their drop in LSAT performance.
- Although McGrath has made strides in increasing selectiveness and improving LSAT scores, it remains to be seen whether these measures will suffice in salvaging Cooley’s reputation and keeping the American Bar Association (ABA) at bay.
Under the leadership of previous President Don LeDuc, Cooley had an optimistic outlook on the future of the legal market, anticipating a surge in demand as Baby Boomers began to retire. However, fewer retirements than expected kept the legal market competitive, exacerbating the impact of Cooley’s declining reputation.
Under McGrath, Cooley implemented new strategies such as campus closures, tuition reductions, and an emphasis on attracting higher-performing students. While many doubted these measures’ effectiveness initially, McGrath views them as significant steps in offering better opportunities for its students, a key component in Cooley’s attempted turnaround.
For McGrath and the Cooley Law School community, the question remains: Will these measures suffice in triggering a comeback, or will the challenges prove too great?
Read more about McGrath’s views on Cooley’s comeback: With a tarnished reputation and declining enrollment, Cooley Law School hopes for a comeback [MLive]