Thomas M. Cooley Law School

The largest law school in the United States in terms of total enrollment, the main campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School is located in Lansing, Michigan.

History

Thomas M. Cooley Law School was established in 1972 by prominent lawyers and judges from the Lansing area, including Honorable Thomas E. Brennan. It was named after one of the greatest jurists of the 19th century, Thomas McIntyre Cooley. Throughout its history, the Law School has evolved into one of the largest law schools in the country, with students from all around the world joining its ranks.

The Law School is widely known for its fair and objective admissions policy and rigorous, practical approach to legal education. As a result of this, it has earned a place in American legal education as well as producing more than 20,000 graduates who are employed in various fields, ranging from private law practice, corporations, legislatures, and government agencies to prosecutors and defender offices, public interest groups, and academia.

WMU-Cooley provides the nation's most comprehensive accredited program for part-time legal education. As a result, their graduates are among the best-prepared individuals in law. Their graduates have become supreme court justices, judges, governors, members of Congress, and other prominent lawyers in the field. WMU-Cooley offers an unparalleled education and sets the highest standards for legal professionals today.

Admissions

At Thomas M. Cooley Law School, they make sure that their students have a wide range of options for their education. They offer both full-time and part-time programs so that students can choose the option that works best for them. Their campuses are available year-round, plus they have accelerated classes and weekend classes if needed. If you're not sure about applying to law school or just beginning the application process, then please take the time to read some of the excellent pre-law articles found here.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	158 - 163 - 165	160 - 163 - 164
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.62 - 3.73 - 3.91	33.44 - 3.68 - 3.81
Acceptance rate	18.0%	31.3%
Applications received	1790	1909
Acceptances	322	597
Matriculants	316	363

Thomas M. Cooley Law School is one of the premier institutions for legal studies in the United States, known for its highly selective admissions policy and rigorous academic curriculum. During the 2022 application cycle, 1,430 people applied, and 700 were offered admission, making it a competitive process. However, out of those 700 accepted applicants, only 184 chose to attend the school, making for a 26.29% yield – meaning that less than half of those offered admission ended up attending.

The 1L class at Western Michigan University (Cooley) has an impressive median LSAT score of 148, with 25th percentile LSAT scores of 146 and 75th percentile LSAT scores of 151. Additionally, the median GPA for incoming 1Ls is 2.99, with 25th percentile GPAs of 2.61 and 75th percentile GPAs of 3.28. These scores reflect the high standards Thomas M. Cooley Law School set, establishing it as one of the preeminent academic destinations for aspiring legal professionals.

With rigorous academic standards and competitive admissions policies, Thomas M. Cooley Law School is an ideal choice for those seeking a career in law. Students accepted into the school can be sure that they are getting a quality education from one of the best institutions in the nation.

Application Requirements

To attend Thomas M. Cooley Law School, you must complete several steps and tasks. The process requires you to study for and take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). You will then be required to open an account with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service, which is a service that receives and processes your college transcripts. This is followed by a requirement to revise or create a resume that best reflects your qualifications, experiences, and skills. Once you have completed this step, you need to write a Personal Statement - a brief essay explaining why you wish to attend law school and how it fits in with your plans and goals. Following this, you must pay the various application fees associated with LSAC. If applicable, you will also need to prepare a Diversity Statement to provide schools with additional background information about your unique experiences and characteristics. Once these tasks are completed and submitted, the last step is to review and submit your application. Applying to Thomas M.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Thomas M. Cooley Law School is committed to providing students with an engaging, high-quality legal education at an affordable cost. To support this goal, the school has set tuition rates for the J.D. program for 2022-2023 at $1,450 per credit hour for new students. This fee structure gives students the opportunity to tailor their education to their individual needs and goals without exceeding their budgets. Additionally, the school provides a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and payment plans, to help make law school more accessible to those with financial need. Thomas M. Cooley Law School is committed to helping its students achieve success in their legal careers. With accessible tuition rates and a range of financial aid options, the school is working hard to make law school more accessible to all.

Loans

At Thomas M. Cooley Law School, federal loan eligibility for a two-semester academic year is capped at $20,500 in Federal Unsubsidized loans. This amount considers any scholarships or other educational resources already included in the student's financial aid package. If there is still a gap between the total cost of attendance and the amount of aid provided, students may apply for a Grad PLUS loan or Federal Work Study to cover the remaining costs.

In addition, Thomas M. Cooley Law School has an aggregate total limit on Federal Stafford loans of $138,500, including subsidies/Unsubsidized loans borrowed from undergraduate and graduate schools. It is important to note that this aggregate limit does not include Grad PLUS loans borrowed.

Therefore, students should review their federal loan history and create a personal budget that fits within the range of educational expenses derived from market surveys and direct costs to the student. This will ensure that they can make the most of their financial aid package and have a successful academic experience at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

Academics

Cooley was one of the pioneers in the movement (particularly in the lower tiers) to make a legal education a more "hands-on" and less theoretical experience. Unlike many schools, nearly the entire first two years of the curriculum are pre-set at Cooley; not until the second semester of the second year does a student have an opportunity to take a true elective course. In addition to the typical mandated courses like Contracts and Torts, Cooley requires students to take classes such as Wills, Estates, & Trusts and Secured Transactions - again, with the goal being to give each student a firm grounding in understanding the day-to-day operations he/she is likely to encounter in future employment.

Cooley's reputation in the academic community is hardly stellar: in the most recent USNWR rankings, the school received a peer-review score of 1.4, and a lawyers/judges-review score of 1.8 (both out of 5). The school also has one of the highest student-to-faculty ratios in the country, at 23.5. This last statistic contributes to the idea of Cooley as a "degree mill" - a school that denies its students the personal experience offered at many smaller schools. The curve at Cooley is very tough - so much so that 22.4% of 1Ls and 14.5% of 2Ls either choose to leave or flunk out. Even 3Ls are not safe, as 14 of them were forced to leave last year.

Clinics

Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides students with the opportunity to gain valuable real-world legal practice experience before graduation. This is done through various clinical offerings available to all students enrolled in the school. Through these clinics, students will gain hands-on legal experience, which is essential for those looking to pass the bar exam and successfully practice law.

The clinics available at Thomas M. Cooley Law School range from criminal defense to immigration law. They are offered through an internal law firm of students who work under the supervision of experienced faculty members. Students may also participate in an externship with a practicing attorney or judge, allowing them to gain even more experience in the field.

Thanks to Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s comprehensive clinic program, students can hone their legal skills and gain confidence in the courtroom before graduation. With real-world experience under their belts, they can enter the legal profession with an edge over other law school graduates. They can confidently practice law, knowing they have the knowledge and experience to do so effectively.

By participating in Thomas M. Cooley Law School’s clinics, students can gain invaluable legal experience that will prepare them for a successful career as an attorney. The school’s curriculum is designed to ensure that all students have a class in every subject tested on the bar examinations in all fifty states. Hence, they are fully prepared to pass the bar exam and confidently begin their career. With the real-world experience gained through these clinics, Thomas M. Cooley Law School students have an advantage that sets them up for success as practicing attorneys.

Moot Court

Thomas M. Cooley Law School offers an incomparable moot court experience that enables students to hone the skills required to become successful litigators. Not only do participants perfect their public speaking abilities, but they also gain the confidence and ability to think quickly and accurately in opposition to an adversary. Moreover, each participant attains a deep understanding of appellate court practice, which is helpful for employers.

The school's competitors are split into two main categories: the First-Year Competition and the Intra-School Moot Court Competition. In the former, first-year students from each of Cooley's five campuses compete against one another in an academic setting to demonstrate their fundamental understanding of legal theory and procedure. The Intra-School Moot Court Competition involves upper-level students who have already taken the first-year course in appellate practice. This is a more competitive setting as each team is expected to possess an extensive knowledge of legal theories, statutes, and case law. Ultimately, both competitions are designed to prepare WMU-Cooley's students for the real-world courtroom.

Mock Trial

WMU-Cooley's Mock Trial program is an esteemed and well-renowned student organization that has been running since 2005. This program benefits students by allowing them to participate in a range of trial advocacy training exercises alongside their WMU-Cooley faculty support.

An exciting component of this program is the various competitions in which students can participate. These include a first-year competition, evidence competition, intra-school competition, invitational trial competition, and national mock trial teams.

The first-year competition is ideal for those new to mock trials to gain exposure and practice their skills. For more experienced competitors, the evidence competition allows them to hone their skills in direct and cross-examination areas. Those who excel in these competitions may then partake in the intra-school competition, which allows students from different campuses to compete against one another.

Externships

Thomas M. Cooley Law School provides a comprehensive externship program to its students, helping them to prepare for successful legal careers by providing real-world experience in law. Through the externship program, Cooley students have access to almost 3,000 practicing lawyers and judges from around the globe. These mentors provide valuable insight into the nuances of the legal profession, as well as provide direct supervision and evaluation of student externs. In addition to these mentorships, Cooley faculty provide classroom training to ensure that students have a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge to supplement their practical experience. This combined approach equips Cooley graduates with the necessary skill set to excel in any legal challenge they may face. With the expansive opportunities provided through Cooley's externship program, students can be sure that they will receive the best possible preparation for a successful legal career.

Quality of Life

Thomas M. Cooley Law School offers many great features for students looking to attend law school. The school has extreme flexibility, with students able to choose between full and part-time study options as well as the chance to take classes on the weekends or evenings should their schedule require it. They can also begin their studies in May, September, or January. Another significant factor is the location of Cooley; located in Lansing (population 113,968), the cost-of-living is significantly lower than the average, and there are plenty of activities to do in Lansing, such as museums, a zoo, and minor-league sports teams. For those who want more amenities, Detroit is only 80 miles away, a reasonable distance for weekend trips. In this way, Cooley Law School offers the best of both worlds: affordability and convenience. This makes it an ideal choice for someone pursuing a law degree.

Employment Prospects and Bar Passage

Thomas M. Cooley Law School, part of Western Michigan University, is a top-notch educational institution for those wishing to pursue a career in law. The school's JD program has consistently provided its graduates with substantial salaries upon graduation and entry into the workforce. Specifically, those graduating with a JD from Cooley who enter the private sector can expect a median salary of $55,000. Meanwhile, those in the public sector are expected to receive an average salary of $49,955.

Of all Cooley JD graduates, 44.9% go directly into law firms, 2.6% clerk for judges, and 7.7% enter public interest services. Additionally, 45.9% of graduates successfully pass the bar exam on their first attempt. This demonstrates the high level of education and training received by those enrolled in Thomas M. Cooley Law School's JD program. With this excellent curriculum and a successful track record, it is no surprise that students are eager to attend Western Michigan University's Cooley Law School. A school is an excellent option for those seeking to pursue a career in law.

Synopsis

Like most tier four schools, Cooley has its major drawbacks. Though less expensive than some schools, graduates still leave a substantial average debt; the fact that so many alumni have difficulty securing high-salaried jobs casts doubt on the prudence of the investment. The school's reputation is also of dubious distinction, a fact likely to bother certain students. Cooley graduates do report, however, feeling well prepared for the trade of being a lawyer - a sentiment not always echoed at higher-ranked schools. However, the questionable value of a full-price degree from Cooley cannot be understated, especially in the current state of the economy. Any prospective Cooley students should consider applying for any available merit scholarships in order to defray the cost of attendance - and subsequent risk.

Contact Information

Admissions Office
Thomas M. Cooley Law School
PO Box 13038
Lansing, MI 48901
admissions@cooley.edu
(517) 371-5140, ext. 2244

Summary

Established	1972
Location	Lansing, MI 48901
Dean	JAMES MCGRATH
2022 US News Ranking	147
LSAT Median Score	148
GPA Median Score	2.99
Bar Passage Rate	46% (2022)
Employment Rate	N/A (2022)
Cost	$43,500
Average Debt	$170,485
Application Deadline	1-Sept 2022

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Reference

LSD Law
Ranked 147
Guide to Fee Waivers
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans