Law Schools

Law School Left In The Lurch After University Unexpectedly Decides To Close Its Doors

The law school is on a quest to remain in operation.

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Maybe? Maybe not?

Imagine that your small law school is part of an undergraduate university that’s steeped in tradition, having been in business for more than 100 years. Things seem to be chugging along smoothly. At about $29,250 a year, your tuition is stunningly low, and your bar exam pass rates are equally stunning. You’re one of just a handful of law schools to have a perfect ultimate bar pass rate. Your students are happy as can be, but you suddenly receive news that could shatter their dreams of becoming lawyers. The undergraduate university has decided to cease operations, effective at the end of the current semester.

What on earth do you do?

This is exactly what’s going on at Concordia University School of Law, where about 150 students were recently notified that their law school may be shuttering due to their undergraduate university’s financial issues and a “challenging and changing educational landscape.” But not so fast, because Interim Dean Latonia Haney Keith says she’s hard at work to find a parent school that will allow Concordia Law to stay open. The Idaho Press has more information:

“This process is underway, and we are currently engaged in active conversations with multiple institutions interested in an affiliation with the law school. We will have more details in coming weeks about Concordia Law moving forward.”

…

“We want a parent institution that knows what we’re doing,” Haney Keith said.

Haney Keith said the time frame for partnering with a new institution is before the next academic year.

“We want it before the fall semester,” she said.

Haney Keith says she’s in talks with “multiple” institutions, but didn’t disclose which ones. She’s incredibly optimistic about the situation, and says “the only thing that will change is the ownership of the institution and potentially, a name change.”

If things don’t go as planned, Corcordia — which received full accreditation from the American Bar Association just last year — will begin a teach-out as one of the latest law schools to close its doors since 2017. Best of luck to Concordia as the little law school that could tries to forge a path forward. We think you can!

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UPDATE (02/21): It looks like Concordia will be staying open after all. Concordia University, St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, has agreed to become the law school’s parent university. The ABA must still approve this plan.

Portland’s Concordia University closing, leaving future uncertain for Boise law school [KTVB 7]
Concordia University-Portland to close; Boise-based law school looking for new parent institution [Idaho Press]

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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