By Michelle Westgate
Over the past several years, the University Law School has been the target of rumors suggesting graduating students are not sufficiently prepared to take the New York Bar Examination. According to the 2008 Law School Profile at the Internet Legal Research Group, in 2006, Hofstra Law students achieved a 69.9 percent passage rate on the state bar exam. This is an improvement over 2005 when the student passage rate was 68.6 percent and over 2004 with 64.5 percent.
As Law School students continue to improve their passing rates on the NY Bar Exam, the overall state scores slightly decreased from 76 percent passing in 2002 down to 74 percent in 2006.
Although the rate of University Law students passing the NY Bar Exam is still below the state average, the improving trends at the University Law School seem to be paying off in the employment market.
U.S. News and World Report has compiled statistical data on law schools throughout the nation. They report University Law graduates to have a 90.9 percent employment rate within nine months of graduation. In addition to this, 66 percent of University Law students are working in law firms and earn a median income of $85,000. Compared to graduates of other law schools in the same tier, University Law graduates are more likely to work in law firms or in government positions.
The University Law School is currently rated a tier three school, according to the U.S. News and World Report ranking for 2008. This rating is determined by a review of several areas: quality assessment by the professional legal community; selectivity based on LSAT scores, median GPA and acceptance rates; placement success and faculty resources.
Currently in New York, there are four tier three schools in addition to Hofstra Law: Albany Law of Union University, New York Law, Pace University and Syracuse University.
Miriam Albert, a vice dean and clinical professor of law at the University Law School, said “We are ranked as the top school below the second tier.” A recent Roger Williams study reports that the University Law School is in line academically with many top schools and well ahead of other tier three schools.
Although several students declined to comment about the progress the Law School is making toward helping its students prepare for the bar exam, the general opinion seems to be that current students are basically satisfied, but feel that improvements could be made.
“Hofstra Law could definitely improve on offering courses specifically on the bar or focusing more on New York law in classes,” said law student Danielle Notaro. Notaro is upset because she believes students have to take an additional review course in order to do well on the bar exam. She said a law school should be preparing its students for the exam.
“I feel that Hofstra Law does a very good job of meeting the needs of its students,” said law student Adrian Button. Button said there are many resources available, and professors are willing to help struggling students.
“We continue to take significant steps to make the Law School better,” said Albert, explaining that it is not because they are trying to increase their ranking. She said the school wants to improve its reputation among students and the legal community. “We have no doubt that our progress will also improve our ranking,” he added.
The University Law School, home to such distinguished professors as Eric Freedman, is improving rates of passage on the NY Bar Exam. (Julia Gardiner)