Of course, every law school has a Lone Ranger. Who's been inflating those LSAT scores and undergrad GPAs at the nation's law schools?
At the University of Illinois College of Law, it's Paul Pless, the former assistant dean for admissions and financial aid, who recently resigned. The university placed the blame solely on Pless's shoulder.
The National Law Journal reports:
A team of investigators concluded that Pless, who’d held his post since 2004, “knowingly and intentionally” miscalculated the incoming-student data the school reported annually to both the American Bar Association and U.S. News & World Report.
The investigators, which included lawyers from Jones Day and a data analysis firm, examined "approximately 125,000 documents containing LSAT scores, GPAs, bar passage rates, financial aid, scholarships and career placement data," reports the NLJ. (What a great way for Jones Day's associates to learn due diligence!)
In any case, isn't it convenient that the culprit in these situations always seem to be an expendable employee? But here's what I found interesting in the NLJ's report:
The document cleared law dean Bruce Smith of involvement in or knowledge of the deception—although it noted that his "intense" management style could make employees reluctant to bring him bad news.
So was it just this rogue admissions director or the managment of the law school that's the real problem? Sounds like more heads ought to roll, if you ask me.
Whistling Dixie. Doesn't everyone and his sister know by now that going to law school is a bad investment these days—particularly if you go to a bottom-ranked school? But somehow that news has not reached the folks in Mississippi.
Reports the ABA Blog:
"Nationwide, law school applications are down by about 10 percent, the Jackson Clarion Ledger reports . . . But law schools at the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College aren’t seeing any decline.
Application numbers at both schools are on track with last year, when applications increased despite the economic downturn.
At the University of Mississippi, applications last year were up 3 percent over the previous year, and up 42 percent from 2008, the Clarion Ledger says. At Mississippi College, applications last year were up 26 percent from the previous year."
Does Mississippi have a thriving legal market that's escaped our radar? Or are the newspapers there delivered on Huck's raft?
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Lone Ranger: Wikipedia
Huckleberry Finn: Great Illustrated Classics/Waldman Publishing Corp.
It is unfortunate how closed-minded people are about their open-mindedness.
Ms. Chen has apparently chosen to keep her level of knowledge about Mississippi restricted to Mark Twain books - and ignores the possiblity that the law school here has apparently found a secret to attracting students (from both in and out of state) that no one else has yet discovered in these difficult economic times. I don't see why we should have to apologize for our success in that regard.
The only appropriate thing to really say about Ms. Chen is, I suppose, "bless her heart."
Posted by: anotheroxfordlawyer | November 28, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Wow, you sure are informed about Mississippi. Your lack of curiosity about the Ole Miss law school and the state in general discredits this "article".
Posted by: Andrew | November 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Obviously a reason students from around the United States are continuing to send applications to these two schools. Though a majority probably come from Mississippi residents, the rest would be coming from students residing in other states. Strong legal market in the state and low cost of living, coupled with low tuition (at least for the University of Mississippi) probably contribute to this trend. Interesting, thanks Vivia!
Posted by: Mike | November 18, 2011 at 07:42 AM
I read your column regularly and am shocked by how insulting this post is. I can't speak to Mississippi College, but the University of Mississippi isn't a "bottom tier" law school. Univ. of MS School of Law is ranked in the top 100 law schools on several lists and is #107 on the US News list. It regularly ranks among law schools with the highest placement ratings and is recognized as a "best value" for law school education. Shockingly enough, they actually wear shoes! Despite being located in "fly over land" the MS legal community is vibrant and has long had national influence - think the Mike Moore (MS AG) led tobacco settlements with the states. It never ceases to amaze me that even in these politically correct times that some people still consider it funny to make stereotypical assumptions about southerners. I'd invite you to review the recent NYT's travel article on Oxford, MS and then go down to the law school to see what is actually gone on there before you disparage the 4th oldest state funded law school in the country and an entire state.
Posted by: Proud Ole Miss Grad ('99) | November 17, 2011 at 01:12 PM
http://law.olemiss.edu/img/pdfs/SoLviewbookInterior.pdf
My guess is numbers are up because of low tuition, generous scholarships, and listing among "best value" degrees. The latter may be debatable, but the low cost is not.
Posted by: Westbayguy | November 14, 2011 at 01:12 PM