Law Schools

Whittier Law School Will Welcome Back Former Students Who Transferred To Western State Now Facing Closure

It is comforting to know that the ABA is willing to accommodate students who are facing a difficult crisis like this.

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Phew… (Image via Getty)

Last month, I and others wrote about Western State School of Law’s sudden mid-semester shutdown and it appears certain that the school will close permanently after funding ceases on May 29. The news has created panic and financial difficulties for the students. So what is their fate?

Fortunately, the 3Ls will be able to graduate and sit for the July bar examination. The 1Ls will likely transfer to another law school and obtain their law degrees there.

Where does that leave the 2Ls? For those who attended Western State for the first two years, they will likely attend another school as a visiting student and will obtain their law degree from Western State.

But what about those who transferred to Western State from other law schools? While every law school has its own requirements for graduation, most require their students to attend for at least two years to get the JD degree. While I might be overthinking, this raises some issues. For example, what happens to a student from Law School 1 who transfers to Western State and is now forced to attend Law School 2 for their third year? Which school should award the JD degree?

Or what if the student returns to Law School 1 for their third year? Does the student get the law degree from Law School 1 or Western State? But more importantly, will Law School 1 take them back?

The above is the problem facing approximately 20 Western State 2Ls who transferred from Whittier Law School. They are the real victims of the “double whammy.” What are their options?

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Not long after my earlier article was published, I contacted Whittier Law School Dean Rudy Hasl to see if anything can be done for the former Whittier students. Dean Hasl told me that some of them have contacted him asking if they can return to Whittier for their final year. Dean Hasl then contacted Whittier College’s administration and the ABA to ask whether these students can return given the unique difficulties they face in their efforts to obtain their law degrees.

Admitting these students will probably require additional resources from Whittier College. This might be a challenge since Whittier Law School is in the final phases of its own closing. Also, it is not clear whether admitting them would be allowed under ABA rules. Finally, the students must be able to obtain federal financial aid if needed.

Yesterday, Dean Hasl informed me that the ABA and Whittier College approved his request to re-admit the former Whittier students. The 2Ls and 3Ls with one semester left will be allowed to return to Whittier Law School to finish their final year. They will also be eligible for financial aid if they need it.

With this news, all of the students affected by Western State’s sudden shutdown are accounted for and they will get their law degrees one way or another. As for the former Whittier students hit with the double whammy, they should feel secure knowing that Whittier Law School will welcome them back. Kudos to Dean Hasl for his efforts and to the ABA and Whittier College for doing the right thing.

It is likely that another law school will close in the next few years and may do so mid-semester. If that is the case, it is comforting to know that the ABA is willing to accommodate the students who will face a difficult crisis.

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Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at sachimalbe@excite.com. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.

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