University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

Last updated
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
Parent school University of Detroit Mercy
Religious affiliation Roman Catholic
Established1912;112 years ago (1912)
School type Private
Dean Jelani Jefferson Exum
(leaving in 2024) [1]
Location Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Enrollment612
Faculty23 (full-time), 44 (part-time) [2]
USNWR ranking136th (2024) [3]
Bar pass rate59.23% (2023 first-time takers) [4]

The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is the law school of the University of Detroit Mercy and is located in Downtown Detroit, Michigan across from the Renaissance Center. Founded in 1912, Detroit Mercy Law is a private Roman Catholic law school and has been ABA-accredited since 1933. [5] [ failed verification ][ better source needed ] The Law School has an annual enrollment of 612 students including 223 Nonresident Aliens, and currently has 67 faculty members (23 full-time, 44 adjunct). [6] [2]

Contents

Detroit Mercy Law offers full-time, part-time, and extended part-time JD programs as well as a number of dual degrees, including a J.D./M.B.A. and a Dual J.D. three year program with the University of Windsor allowing students to earn both Canadian and American Juris Doctor degrees. [7] In January 2012, Detroit Mercy Law purchased a 6,000 sq. ft. facility across the street from its campus which will house the numerous clinics operated by the school.[ citation needed ]

History

Detroit Mercy Law was founded as the University of Detroit Law School in 1912 (the University of Detroit merged with Mercy College of Detroit in 1990 to become the University of Detroit Mercy). It is the oldest private law school in Michigan and it shares the Jesuit and Mercy tradition of education. [8] The historic Renaissance-style[ citation needed ] campus is located between East Jefferson Avenue and East Larned Street just north of I-375 and is within a short walking distance to the Renaissance Center and numerous state and federal government buildings, including the Third Judicial Circuit Court (Wayne County) and the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan among others.[ citation needed ]

Admissions

For the class entering in 2023, Detroit Mercy Law accepted 52.22% of applicants and 37.33% of those accepted enrolled with the average enrollee having a 154 LSAT score and 3.46 undergraduate GPA. [6]

Bar examination passage

In 2023, the overall bar examination passage rate for the law school’s first-time examination takers was 59.23%. The Ultimate Bar Pass Rate, which the ABA defines as the passage rate for graduates who sat for bar examinations within two years of graduating, was 89.52% for the class of 2021. [9]

Employment

For 2022 graduates, 87.29% of the class was employed in a full-time, long-term, bar passage-required or JD advantaged position, including 80.11% of the graduating class securing positions as lawyers, with most employed in firms of 1 to 25 attorneys. [10]

2022 Detroit Mercy Law Employment Statistics [10]
Employment StatusPercentage
Employed - Bar Passage Required
80.11%
Employed - J.D. Advantage
7.18%
Employed - Professional Position
1.66%
Employed - Non-Professional Position
0.55%
Employed - Undeterminable
1.10%
Pursuing Graduate Degree Full Time
1.10%
Unemployed - Start Date Deferred
0.55%
Unemployed - Not Seeking
3.32%
Unemployed - Seeking
3.32%
Employment Status Unknown
1.65%
Total of 181 Graduates

Costs

Tuition and fees at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law for the 2022-23 academic year is $45,824 per year (for 30 credits). [6]

Academics, publications, and moot court

Detroit Mercy Law maintains a core first-year curriculum, consisting of Contracts, Civil Procedure, Property, Torts, Criminal Law, Introduction to Legal Research and Communication and Applied Legal Theory and Analysis (ALTA). Other required courses include Constitutional Law, Evidence, Federal Income Taxation, and Professional Responsibility. [11]

The School's clinical program was founded as the Urban Law Clinic in 1965, and was among the earliest clinics in the nation.[ citation needed ] Since that time, the program has received numerous awards including the ABA Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access with Meritorious Recognition in 2012 and the ABA Law Student Division's Judy M. Weightman Memorial Public Interest Award in 2006.[ citation needed ][ needs update ] Students attend weekly classes that focus on the relevant skills and substantive law and all clinics provide for meaningful guided reflection.[ citation needed ][ clarification needed ]

The Law School's main academic publication is the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review, has contributed to legal scholarship since 1916.[ citation needed ] This student-led organization publishes four issues a year and hosts an annual symposium in the spring to discuss topics of developing legal significance and scholarly debate. [ citation needed ] From 2006 to 2010, University of Detroit Mercy Law Review articles had been cited in the opinions of the United States Supreme Court, a United States Circuit Courts of Appeals, and many state supreme courts (including Michigan). [12] [ failed verification ][ citation needed ] The 2022 W&L Law Journal Rankings place the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review as the 304th best law school journal with a score of 5.38 out of 100. [13]

The School of Law hosts both an internal trial and appellate moot court competition annually known as the G. Mennen Williams Moot Court Competition. The school's Moot Court Team competes nationally and has had success both at the regional and national level: it was the National Champion for the 2009 National Invitational Appellate Moot Court Competition and the 2008 McGee Civil Rights National Moot Court Competition. [14] [ failed verification ][ citation needed ][ needs update ]

Notable alumni

Graduates of Detroit Mercy Law include over half of Michigan state prosecutors as well as sitting judges on the U.S. District Courts, the Michigan Supreme Court, and the Michigan Court of Appeals.[ citation needed ]The School of Law has also graduated over 120 current judges on various district, municipal and probate courts in Michigan.[ citation needed ] Alumni have also held major elective offices in the state and local governments of Michigan, including three former mayors of the City of Detroit, two former Michigan attorneys general, and a host of other executive positions. [15] [ failed verification ][ better source needed ][ citation needed ]

Notable judges from Detroit Mercy Law:

Notable legislators from Detroit Mercy Law:

Other Notable Detroit Mercy Law Alumni:

Notable Professors:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Georgia School of Law</span> Public law school in Athens, Georgia, US

The University of Georgia School of Law is the law school of the University of Georgia, a public research university in Athens, Georgia. It was founded in 1859, making it among the oldest American university law schools in continuous operation. Georgia Law accepted 14.77% of applicants for the class entering in 2023.

The Michigan State University College of Law is the law school of Michigan State University, a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan. Established in 1891 as the Detroit College of Law, it was the first law school in the Detroit, Michigan area and the second in the state of Michigan. In October 2018, the college began a process to fully integrate into Michigan State University, changing from a private to a public law school. The integration with Michigan State University was finalized on August 17, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Michigan Law School</span> Public law school in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Comparative Law (MCL), Juris Doctor (JD), and Doctor of the Science of Law (SJD) degree programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of San Diego School of Law</span> Private law school in San Diego, California

The University of San Diego School of Law is the law school of the University of San Diego, a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961. It joined the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1966.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple University Beasley School of Law</span> Law school at Temple University, Pennsylvania

The Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law is the law school of Temple University, a public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1895 and enrolls about 650 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Illinois Chicago School of Law</span> Public law school in Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law is the law school of the University of Illinois Chicago, a public research university in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1899, it became affiliated with the university in 2019. The school offers programs for both part-time and full-time students, with both day and night classes available, and offers January enrollment.

The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is a law school located in Hempstead, New York, on Long Island, affiliated with Hofstra University. Founded in 1970 and accredited by the ABA in 1971, the school offers a JD, a joint JD/MBA degree, and LL.M degrees in American law and family law. It also offers online LL.M and MA degrees in Health Law & Policy, an online LL.M in American Law, and an online MA in American Legal Studies. The Law School is on the southern portion of the 244-acre (0.99 km2) Hofstra University campus. The school was renamed to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in September 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Florida Levin College of Law</span> Public law school in Gainesville, Florida, US

The University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law is the law school of the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest operating public law school in Florida and second oldest overall in the state.

Seton Hall University School of Law is the law school of Seton Hall University, and is located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall Law is the only private law school in New Jersey. The school confers three law degrees: Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Master of General Legal Studies. Founded in 1951, it is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), and is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquette University Law School</span> Private law school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US

Marquette University Law School is the law school of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of two law schools in Wisconsin and the only private law school in the state. Founded in 1892 as the Milwaukee Law Class, MULS is housed in Eckstein Hall on Marquette University's campus in downtown Milwaukee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Goode Jones School of Law</span> Law school in Montgomery, Alabama, US

The Thomas Goode Jones School of Law is the law school of Faulkner University, located in Montgomery, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Wyoming College of Law</span> Public law school in Laramie, Wyoming, US

The University of Wyoming College of Law is the law school of the University of Wyoming and the only law school located in Wyoming. It is situated in the Rocky Mountains in Laramie, Wyoming at 7,165 ft. between the Laramie Mountains and Snowy Range Mountains. Frequently, it is referred to as "Law at its Highest Point". Established in 1920, the law school offers the J.D. degree in law, as well "a joint JD/MA in Environment and Natural Resources and joint degrees in JD/MPA and JD/MBA. Other electives include coverage of trial and appellate practice, business planning, estate planning, corporate and commercial law, administrative law, consumer law, international law, Indian law, health law, and education law."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Gate University School of Law</span> Law school in San Francisco, California

Golden Gate University School of Law is the law school of Golden Gate University. Located in downtown San Francisco, California, Golden Gate Law is a California non-profit corporation and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). On November 30, 2023, the law school announced that it will discontinue its J.D. program at the end of the current academic year, following years of financial hardship and non-compliance with the ABA's two-year bar pass rate requirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's University School of Law</span> Catholic law school in Jamaica, Queens, New York, US

St. John's University School of Law is a Roman Catholic law school in Jamaica, Queens, New York, United States, affiliated with St. John's University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne State University Law School</span> Public law school in Detroit, Michigan, US

Wayne State University Law School is the law school of Wayne State University in Detroit. Wayne Law is located in Midtown, Detroit's Cultural Center. Founded in 1927, the law school offers juris doctor (J.D.), master of laws (LL.M.), online master of studies in law, and minors in law degree programs.

Regent University School of Law is the law school of Regent University, a private Christian university in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It was founded in 1986 and accredited by the American Bar Association in 1996.

The NKU Salmon P. Chase College of Law is the law school of Northern Kentucky University, a public university in Highland Heights, Kentucky. It provides both part-time and full-time programs of study that lead to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, as well as joint degrees in JD/Master of Business Administration, JD/Master of Health Informatics, and JD/Master of Business Informatics. The law school also has a program that leads to a LLM degree in U.S. law that is designed for internationally trained lawyers, and a program that leads to a MLS degree designed for individuals interested in developing a better understanding of the law as it affects their careers involving legal or regulatory issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wake Forest University School of Law</span> Private law school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US

Wake Forest University School of Law is the law school of Wake Forest University, a private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Established in 1894, Wake Forest University School of Law is an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). The current dean is Andrew R. Klein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claude W. Pettit College of Law</span> Ohio Northern University law school

Claude Pettit College of Law is the law school of Ohio Northern University. Located in Ada, Ohio, it is the second oldest law school in Ohio, having been founded in 1885. The college is centered in Tilton Hall, which houses all law classes and the Taggart Law Library. The College of Law is located on the east-northeast side of the ONU campus.

Mitchell Hamline School of Law is a private law school in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and offers full and part-time legal education for its Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

References

  1. 1 2 "Jelani Jefferson Exum Named Next Dean of St. John's University School of Law". stjohns.edu. St. John's University . Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Adjunct Faculty". law.udmercy.edu. University of Detroit Mercy. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  3. "University of Detroit Mercy". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  4. "Detroit Mercy 2023 First Time Bar Passage". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association . Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. "University of Detroit Mercy School of Law". Top-Law-Schools.com. Retrieved 15 March 2011.[ failed verification ]
  6. 1 2 3 "- 2023 Standard 509 Information Report Detroit Mercy". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association . Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  7. "Catalog & Dual JD". udmercy.edu. University of Detroit Mercy. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. "University of Detroit Mercy School of Law". martindale.com. Copyright © 2011 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  9. "University of Detroit Mercy School of Law -- 2024 | Bar Passage". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  10. 1 2 "Detroit Mercy Employment Summary for 2022 Graduates". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association . Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  11. "Academics: Required and Bar-related Courses". law.udmercy.edu. © 2006-2010 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  12. "Law Review". law.udmercy.edu. © 2006-2010 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Retrieved 15 March 2011.[ failed verification ]
  13. "W&L Law Journal Rankings". managementtools4.wlu.edu. Washington and Lee University School of Law . Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  14. "Moot court". law.udmercy.edu. © 2006-2010 University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Retrieved 15 March 2011.[ failed verification ]
  15. "University of Detroit Mercy School of Law". Top-Law-Schools.com.
  16. Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society-Thomas G. Kavanagh
  17. 'Deaths-Thomas Giles Kavanagh,' The Daily Globe (Ironwood, Michigan), February 22, 1997, pg. 13A
  18. Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society-Thomas M. Kavanagh
  19. 'Thomas M. Kavanagh-Chief Justice dies,' Escanaba Daily Press (Michigan), April 21, 1975, pg. 1
  20. Benavides-Colón, Amelia. "University of Detroit Mercy law school names professor as dean". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-02-07.