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Thomas R. Kline School of Law

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Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
MottoScientia, Ars, Officium
Knowledge, Skill, Duty
Established2006
DeanRoger J. Dennis
Location
Philadelphia
,
Pennsylvania
,
USA
CampusDrexel University Main Campus
AffiliationsDrexel University
Websitedrexel.edu/law

The Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law previously the Earle Mack School of Law is the law school of Drexel University located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.[1][2] The School of Law opened in the fall of 2006 and was the first new law school in Philadelphia in over thirty years,[3] and is the newest school within Drexel University. It offers Juris Doctor, LLM and Master of Legal Studies degrees and provides the opportunity for all students to take part in a cooperative education program.[4][5][6][7][8]

History

In 2005, Drexel University announced its plans to create a new law school adjacent to the Drexel University Main Campus W. W. Hagerty library in West Philadelphia. That same year Drexel received approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to start the school.[3] The decision to launch a law school with cooperative education in a city with five other law schools was based on a demand for graduates with immediate experience, with the president of Drexel University, Constantine Papadakis, saying that employers "like to hire a graduate and have them immediately be useful."[9] The School of Law joins Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, Rutgers University, and Widener University to become the sixth law school in the Delaware Valley. The School of Law is the first new law school to be opened by a doctoral university in a twenty-five year period nationwide.[10]

The School of Law building during construction in 2006

The School of Law's inaugural class began classes on August 16, 2006. Due to a shortage of construction materials in 2006, caused in part by the need in the gulf coast due to Hurricane Katrina, construction on the building was delayed, resulting in classes being held on Drexel University's Main Campus and within the Jenkins Law Library and the auditorium of the National Constitution Center.[11] The first class was expected to be composed of 120 students; ultimately, the inaugural class consisted of 183 students with an incoming median GPA of 3.4 and a median LSAT score of 156.[12][13] The newest admitted class, the class of 2014, consists of 147 students with an incoming GPA of 3.38 and a median LSAT score of 159.[14] On May 1, 2008 the Drexel University College of Law was renamed the Earle Mack School of Law in honor of Earle I. Mack, a Drexel University alumnus, after a donation of $15 million dollars.[15]

In 2013, the school's name was changed from Earle Mack School of Law to Drexel University School of Law to create new fund-raising opportunities by opening the naming rights.[16]

In 2014, it received a $50 million gift from Thomas R. Kline, a trial lawyer in Philadelphia, and was renamed after him.[17] The gift, which was the single largest in Drexel University’s history and the fifth largest received by a law school, was designated for the support of scholarship and to enhance the school’s Trial Advocacy Program.[8] The gift includes the conveyance of an historic building designed by Horace Trumbauer. Thomas R. Kline Institute of Trial Advocacy will move into the building and be used for courtroom simulations, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs, and development of the Master of Laws (LLM) program.[8]

Academics

The school offers Juris Doctor, LLM and Master of Legal Studies degrees, as well as joint-degree programs for those pursuing a degree through Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, School of Public Health, Department of Psychology and Center for Public Policy.[4][5][6][18] It received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association in February 2008 enabling the first graduating class, 2009, to take the bar exam upon graduation.[19] The school offers optional concentrations in business and entrepreneurship law, criminal law, health law, and intellectual property law and as of 2009 has 49 full and part-time faculty members.[10][20] The School of Law is the first to have enrolled all of its students in the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section.[21][22] The students also have automatic membership to the Jenkins Law Library.[23] In addition to admittance to the Law Library students also publish a Law Review, Drexel Law Review, which is published semiannually.[24] In August 2011, after three years of being provisionally accredited, the American Bar Association granted the School of Law full accreditation.[25]

As of 2013, the school has 75 full and part-time faculty members.[26]

Cooperative education

The front glass panels of the School of Law building

Like Drexel University's cooperative education program, the School of Law offers cooperative education for its students. The School of Law is the second law school in the country to have a co-op program for law students, the first being Northeastern University.[9] The first co-op cycle for the school started in September 2007 and over ninety area corporations, law offices, judiciary positions, non-profit organizations, and government offices offered internship positions.[27][28][29]

During their first year at school students concentrate on basics such as legal writing and contracts before starting their first six-month co-op cycle.[30] In order to be eligible to participate in the program students must complete their first year with a minimum GPA and satisfy any job orientation that is required. While on co-op students are required to work at least 20 hours a week at their position and take an additional 3 credit hours in either a class or an approved academic program.[31]

Beginning with the class that enrolled in 2014, all students are required to complete at least one co-op placement or a clinical placement in addition to providing a minimum of 50 hours of pro bono service.[32]

Rankings

From 2006–2011 the School of Law was "unranked" on the U.S. News & World Report as provisionally accredited law schools cannot be ranked.[33] On the 2013 list of "Best Law Schools" by the U.S. News & World Report the School of Law was ranked 119 out of 145 schools, and on the 2014 list it was ranked 129 out of 144 schools.[34] In July 2013, the School of Law had a 81.9% Pennsylvania Bar Examination passage rate for 1st time test takers.[35] In July 2014, the School of Law had a 87.5% Pennsylvania Bar Examination passage rate for 1st time test takers.[36]

Career Planning

Placement

According to Drexel's official 2014 ABA-required disclosures, 72% of the Class of 2014 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment nine months after graduation, excluding solo practitioners.[37] Drexel's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 34.1%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2013 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[38] [39]

ABA Employment Summary for 2014 Graduates[40]
Employment Status Percentage
Employed - Bar Passage Required
 
 72%
Employed - J.D. Advantage
 
 10%
Employed - Professional Position
 
 3%
Employed - Non-Professional Position
 
 1%
Employed - Undeterminable
 
 0%
Pursuing Graduate Degree Full Time
 
 2%
Unemployed - Start Date Deferred
 
 0%
Unemployed - Not Seeking
 
 1%
Unemployed - Seeking
 
 10%
Employment Status Unknown
 
 1%
Total of 253 Graduates

Costs

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at Drexel for the 2014–2015 academic year is $62,842.[41] The website Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $234,910.[42] Based on cost of attendance and financial aid data (that the law school is required by the American Bar Association to disclose to prospective students), the average accumulated debt for students who graduated in 2013 was $98,820.[26]

Facilities

In 2005, the Philadelphia Planning Commission approved Drexel's then estimated $13 million temporary law school.[43] Construction on the temporary law school building began in the fall of 2006 and was completed during the winter term. The $14 million building opened for classes on January 8, 2007.[11]

The 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) complex features a moot courtroom, a two-floor library, a two-story atrium for meetings and casual conversation, faculty/staff offices, and several rooms available for students to meet and work. The building also shares Drexel's campus-wide wireless Internet access.[44]

Post-graduation

According to the law professor blog, The Faculty Lounge, based on 2012 ABA data, only 48.4% of graduates obtained full-time, long term, bar admission required positions (i.e., jobs as lawyers), 9 months after graduation, ranking 141st out of 197 law schools.[45]

The 2009 class graduated under 160 students, below the initial 180 students.[46] Of that class about half had full-time employment at the time of graduation.[46] Employment statistics reported by the School of Law said that nine months after graduation 12.5% were unemployed.[47]

References

  1. ^ "School of Law Receives Unprecedented $50 Million Gift from Thomas R. Kline - Kline School of Law". Kline School of Law. September 17, 2014. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  2. ^ Joel Mathis (September 18, 2014). "Drexel Renames Law School After Thomas R. Kline". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  3. ^ a b "Drexel University Board of Trustees Authorizes University to Open College of Law". BusinessWire. 2005-09-28. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  4. ^ a b "Courses and JD Requirements". Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  5. ^ a b "LLM in American Legal Practice". Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  6. ^ a b "Master of Legal Studies Program". Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  7. ^ Key, Peter (2005-04-21). "Drexel outlines law school plan". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  8. ^ a b c D'Annunzio, P.J. (18 September 2014), "Drexel Renames Law School After Kline Donates $50 Mil.", The Legal Intelligencer, retrieved 2015-01-10
  9. ^ a b Pfeiffer, Sacha (2005-10-20). "New co-op law school will compete with Northeastern". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  10. ^ a b Monaghan, Suzanne (2006). "Drexel U. Marks Opening of Its Brand-New Law School". kyw1060.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  11. ^ a b Blumenthal, Jeff (2006-09-15). "First response to Drexel law school exceeds expectations". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  12. ^ Blumenthal, Jeff (2007-11-02). "Drexel's law school hopes to be accredited by summer". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13. [dead link‍]
  13. ^ Dubey, Aditi (2006-08-11). "College of Law to open next week". The Triangle. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  14. ^ "Drexel University School of Law Facts and Figures". Drexel University School of Law. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  15. ^ "Drexel U. names law school". Philadelphia Business Journal. 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  16. ^ Moran, Robert (2013-12-18). "At Drexel law school, a donor's name comes down". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  17. ^ Mondics, Chris (19 September 2014), "Trial lawyer Kline gives $50M to Drexel law school", Philadelphia Inquirer, retrieved 2015-01-10
  18. ^ "Joint Degree Programs". Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  19. ^ Neil, Martha (2008-05-07). "Drexel Gets Higher Profile Due to ABA Provisional Accreditation". ABA Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  20. ^ "Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law". U.S. News & World Report. 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  21. ^ Dubey, Aditi (2007-03-09). "Philadelphia Bar Association recognizes Drexel CoL". The Triangle. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  22. ^ "Philadelphia Bar Association Recognizes College of Law". Drexel Daily Digest. 2007-03-08. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  23. ^ "The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University: Jenkins Law Library". Earle Mack School of Law. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Drexel Law Review". Earle Mack School of Law. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
  25. ^ Blumenthal, Jeff (2011-08-05). "Drexel's law school gets full ABA accreditation". Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  26. ^ a b "Drexel University - 2013 Standard 509 Information Report" (PDF). Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  27. ^ "Law Co-op Education: Overview". Earle Mack School of Law. 2007-04-11. Archived from the original on 2007-04-03. Retrieved 2007-04-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Baxter, Brian (December 15, 2006). "Founding Father: Carl Oxholm III, GC of Drexel University". Law.com. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  29. ^ "The Earle Mack School of Law Co-op Program: Co-op Partners". Earle Mack School of Law. 2010-03-16. Archived from the original on 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  30. ^ Blumenthal, Jeff (2006-04-28). "Drexel law school surpasses goal for 1st class admissions". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  31. ^ "Law School: Co-op Highlights". Earle Mack School of Law. Archived from the original on 2008-05-03. Retrieved 2008-02-15. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "JD Degree and Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2017". Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  33. ^ Blumenthal, Jeff (2011-03-24). "After scandal, Villanova Law falls in U.S. News rankings". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  34. ^ "Best Law Schools". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  35. ^ "PA Bar Exam Statistics" (PDF) (PDF). Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners. 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-04.
  36. ^ "PA Bar Exam Statistics" (PDF) (PDF). Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners. 2014. Retrieved 2015-05-28.
  37. ^ "Class of 2013 Employment Outcomes".
  38. ^ "Drexel University Profile".
  39. ^ "Temple University Profile".
  40. ^ "Employment Summary for 2014 Graduates".
  41. ^ "Costs of Attendance for First Year Students".
  42. ^ "Drexel University Profile".
  43. ^ Blumenthal, Jeff (September 29, 2005). "Drexel Trustees Approve New Law School". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2010-06-13.
  44. ^ "The Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University: Law Building". Earle Mack School of Law. 2010-03-11. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  45. ^ Rosin, Gary. "Full Rankings: Bar Admission Required, Full-Time, Long Term", The Faculty Lounge, March 30, 2013. Retrieved on February 24, 2014, Rankings For the latest Employment Summary Reports from the American Bar Association, Section of Legal Education, see ABA questionarire
  46. ^ a b Blumenthal, Jeff (2009-05-18). "Drexel debuts its first law school grads". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  47. ^ "Drexel University". Law School Transparency. Retrieved 2011-08-05.

39°57′19″N 75°11′25″W / 39.9554°N 75.1904°W / 39.9554; -75.1904

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