Law school receives green light from ABA to offer credits

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School has gained acquiescence by the American Bar Association (ABA) Council on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar to expand its course offerings to 60 credits on the main campus of Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. The ABA’s acquiescence follows earlier approvals granted by the Higher Learning Commission and the State of Michigan.

The opening of the 60-credit program, which is effective immediately, allows students the opportunity to earn the equivalent of two years of course study in Kalamazoo and finish their final year, or 30 credits, at any of WMU-Cooley’s three Michigan campuses (Auburn Hills, Grand Rapids, and Lansing), or its campus in Tampa Bay, Florida.

“This is a great opportunity for Western Michigan University students wishing to earn a law degree to remain in the Kalamazoo region,” said Nelson Miller, associate dean overseeing the affiliation between WMU-Cooley Law School and WMU. “Being able to offer law students the opportunity to earn up to 60 credits on WMU’s main campus has been one of the main goals of the law school’s affiliation with Western Michigan University.”

In 2014, Thomas M. Cooley Law School and Western Michigan University entered into an affiliation agreement that combined WMU’s status as a nationally-ranked, public, comprehensive research university with Cooley’s commitment as an independent, non-profit, national law school offering a practical legal education. In 2017, the law school began offering incoming law students the opportunity to earn up to 15 credits at WMU’s main campus.

“The success of our affiliation and collaboration with Western Michigan University has been very impressive,” stated WMU-Cooley President Don LeDuc. “I am amazed by, in a relatively short period of time, the number of initiatives both institutions have engaged in together for the benefit of both schools’ students and faculty. Extending our program to 60 credits is the natural next step for Western and for WMU-Cooley Law School.” 

Classes begin September 4 at all WMU-Cooley campuses including the 60 credit program on WMU’s main campus.

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