Dreams Will Come True, Students Can Now Earn a J.D. Degree at

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featureMore Career DreamsWill Come TrueStudents Can Now Earn A J.D. Degree At Any Cooley CampusFounded in 1972, it’s the largest law school in the country,the only accredited law school with three branch locations,the only year-around program in the country for 30 years.More career dreams will come true now that CooleyLaw School has received the green light from theAmerican Bar Association (ABA) to establish full,three-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree programs at itscampuses in downtown Grand Rapids and Rochester/Oakland University. Students will be able to earn theirJ.D. degree at those locations without the necessity ofcommuting to Cooley’s Lansing campus to completetheir course work. Previously, Cooley was authorizedto offer 15 of the 90 required credits at the GrandRapids and Oakland University locations.Implementation of the full programs began with theterm that got underway in September and, according toCooley President and Dean Don LeDuc, so far things aregoing well. “Getting started is one thing and now we’relooking forward to the challenge of making this work,”he said.Of course, Thomas M. Cooley Law School has a proudhistory of making things work well. Founded in 1972,it’s the largest law school in the country, the onlyaccredited law school with three branch locations, theonly year-around program in the country for 30 years,and the only law school with close ties to two Carnegieratedresearch universities — Oakland University (OU)and Western Michigan University (WMU).Thomas W. Cranmer, who was president of the StateBar of Michigan when the ABA-approval was announced,said that Cooley’s branch campuses are “a win-win”for both Cooley and the residents of Grand Rapids andOakland County. “One of our goals at the State Bar is tohelp ensure that everyone, regardless of their economicstatus, has equal access to the legal system. Cooley’sclinical programs will help provide individuals who otherwisewould not be able to afford legal representationaccess to justice.”
Grand Rapids Leaders Praise SchoolThis enthusiasm is shared by other leaders in thelegal and academic communities.Paul T. Sorensen, president of the Grand RapidsBar Association and a visiting professor at CooleyLaw School in Grand Rapids, said that “having afull three-year program at Cooley’s Grand Rapidscampus creates a great benefit to the community,the local bar, and all those law students for whomattending classes here will be much moreconvenient. The Grand Rapids Bar Association(GRBA) has already worked very closely with thelaw school on many projects, and the law school’sgreater presence here now will allow us to doeven more together. The GRBA has a specialsection for law students and as the law school’sprogram here has expanded we have seentremendous growth in that section.”Sorensen also said that the Grand Rapids BarAssociation wants to offer law students opportunitiesto interact with practicing lawyers. “Our barassociation is very grateful for the support wehave received from Cooley, and we look forwardto a mutually rewarding relationship in the yearsto come.”Dr. Darrell Johnson, dean of extended universityprograms for Western Michigan University, said,“We are delighted to continue growing togetherin this exciting venture. This only enhances thegreat relationship we share with Cooley.” It’spossible for students to obtain both a Master ofPublic Administration and a Juris Doctor degreethrough the partnership between Cooley LawSchool and Western Michigan University’s Schoolof Public Affairs and Administration. The programenables students to expedite the completion ofthe requirements for both degrees by eliminatingduplicative course work.Law students, faculty and staff, and communityleaders in Grand Rapids are definitely excitedabout the implementation of the full degreeprogram there, Marion M. Hilligan, associate deanof Cooley’s Grand Rapids campus’ said. “Thiswill benefit both traditional and nontraditionalstudents and make it easier for them to plan theirlife,” she said. The excitement caused by the newprogram is reflected in Grand Rapids’ Septemberclass enrollment of 100 incoming students, asignificant increase from previous fall terms. Totalcurrent enrollment at the Grand Rapids campusis 300 students. “We’ve never doubted the needfor a law school in west Michigan,” Hilligan said.“This is just the beginning of our mission to bringfirst-rate, practical legal education to westMichigan and beyond.”Cooley Law School in Grand Rapids opened itsdoors in 2003. The renovation of the beautifulLaw Center building at 111 Commerce SW in thecity’s historic Heartside District was completedrecently. The Law Center is the hub of studentactivities and classes, housing the law library,faculty and administrative offices, large and smallclassrooms, courtrooms, student organizations’offices and a student lounge.President LeDuc said. “We appreciate the area’sstrong welcome and support and look forwardto the continued growth of our campus in themonths and years to come.”Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell praisedCooley Law School and the expansion to a fulldegree program at the campus. “Cooley LawSchool is the latest addition to the rich fabric of“The downtown Grand Rapids campus has been asignificant factor in the urban renaissance andrevitalization of the Heartside District.”higher education institutions that call downtownGrand Rapids home. The ability to obtain a J.D.degree in Grand Rapids is hugely important to ourcitizens and will attract others from around theMidwest to study law in Grand Rapids,” he said.BENCHMARK TRINITY 20063
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