Debt Slows Some Law School Growth

Law school debt isn't merely a law student problem.  Law schools themselves, or more specifically, planned law programs are getting cut back or delayed.  The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that Drexel University is delaying plans to build a new law school building, and that the University of Delaware is either delaying or cancelling it's planned law school, depending on the source.  The National Law Journal says it's delayed, in contrast to the Inquirer report that says cancelled.  UDelaware's own report indicated the law school would run a deficit of $160 million a year for the better part of 10 years.  The NLJ also reports that an authorized law school at the University of North Texas will also be delayed because of budgets.  

The problem is probably less the number of students a new school would attract than the investments in the physical plant, including establishing a law library.  Law school applications are down nationally,  but not enough that established law schools are in danger of folding.  At least not yet.  That trend is not affecting other new law schools from opening, including one in Tennessee and another in Louisiana, and the planning for another one in New York State.  Students can dream of beating the odds to finding a good job in spite of the current job market.  I suppose law school administrators can do the same.  [MG]