Western Michigan University Cooley Law School

I love being a student at Cooley Law School. What attracted me to Cooley was the ease of the admissions process, small classroom sizes, and the diversity of students. Since attending Cooley, I have found that the administration has cultivated a culture of respect toward all students. Before starting Cooley, I had a good GPA & LSAT score, and I already held a master’s degree in social science. Before coming to Cooley, I had a successful career. I owned two businesses, and I was at the top of my field. I even had a letter of recommendation from a Judge. I could have gone to one of many schools. I applied to Cooley in July of 2021 and started classes in August of 2021. On average, I attend class with around 40-50 other students. The cohorts are broken up into two sections to ensure a greater degree of individualized learning. Some law schools will have over 100 students in large lecture halls. I love the diversity at Cooley. I love that Cooley provides opportunities that open doors for students that may not have been competitive in the traditional law school settings. They have programs to help students that apply with lower GPAs or test scores. Several of my classmates, including myself, were diagnosed with learning disabilities during our formative years. The professors provide multiple approaches to meet all learning styles. The experiential exercises have made a lasting impression. Like the time the criminal law class analyzed “No body no Crime” by Taylor Swift. This analysis was a fun subject to talk about at Thanksgiving Dinner and helped solidify the learning of the elements of the crime. Cooley has more female than male students. There is a wide variety of racial and ethnic groups. There are students of all ages in attendance. I value being in an academic environment where multiple perspectives can be considered. As an older learner, it takes me longer to learn new concepts. I have found that most of my professors are dedicated to my success. There is a tutoring program on all of the core subjects, held in a group format, online, at a time that does not conflict with the traditional student schedules. The lectures and tutoring sessions are recorded, so students can go back and watch them at their convenience. Further, my professors have an open-door policy. They do not hold office hours. Instead, you e-mail them your availability, and they will meet with you either in person or via Webex at a mutually agreeable time. I have enjoyed the openness of the administration towards student suggestions. On the first day of law school, I walked into the Dean's office and suggested improving BAR pass rates. She did not know that one of the focuses of my master’s degree involved analyzing organizational systems. I was sure she thought, this student just got here, and she is already suggesting changes. But that was not the case. Instead, she forwarded my suggestion to the upper administration, and exactly what was suggested was implemented the following semester. There appears to be a misconception among students that Cooley is easy. Although it is easy to get into, the rigors of the course work are challenging, even for neurotypical students. The professors expect more from us, and nothing is handed to us. Only two students in my first semester class made the deans list. I had a friend who attended Michigan State University. When I told her about my experience at Cooley, she was in disbelief. Her education was much easier. However, her internship was at a legal aid clinic that included Cooley students. She felt as though the Cooley students were much better prepared for the practice of law than her Michigan State cohort. For those concerned about having a job after law school, and the students in Chicago are not interested, if you are willing to relocate to Northwest Indiana, many well-paid jobs are waiting for you. Just look me up online, and I will help you find a placement. Thank you for your time and attention, and best of luck in your educational pursuits.

Honestly the best educational experience I have ever received. The professors are all wonderful and want to see you succeed. Cooley provides so many programs to help you to become the best attorney you can be. I've heard horror stories about other schools and the competitve culture they create and foster and I had the exact OPPOSITE experience at Cooley. In fact, before I decided on Cooley, I met with the VP of the corporation I was working at and she was the one who recommended Cooley (even as a grad of another Detroit school). She told me that the corporation picked interns from Cooley because of their GRIT and because Cooley students have the real world experience that other schools don't offer. Honestly could not have asked for anything more from this school.

A few years ago, Cooley was ranked as the second best law school in the nation according to (Judging the law schools). I wonder how other law schools like the University of Michigan or the IVY Leagues felt about this. Second, Valparaiso, Charlotte, Whittier, and some other law schools received similar "out of compliance" letters from the ABA, but didn't file a lawsuit against them. Cooley filed. Hmmmmm!

I am a graduate of the Hooker class of 1992. My experience at Cooley Law school was very valuable and rewarding. I am a trial lawyer practicing for more than 25 years. The trail workshop classes, moot court, and the 60+ elder law clinic provided me with real life experience that allowed me to hit the ground running after graduation. I would highly recommend WMU Law.

I was in the first day school graduating class of Cooley in 1976. My three children and late former husband watched proudly as I crossed the stage to accept the diploma achieving a dream I had not thought possible. For then, women in law, and were a rarity and with children almost non existent Though my lsat scores were high, as a commuter and mother of three, the 8 am to noon schedule allowed an opportunity that meshed with my responsibilities unlike the spread out class schedules of other Michigan schools. There were others in the class combining school with work or other responsibilities. Many of the professors were demanding and accomplished such as Lieutenant Governor and later Supreme Court Justice Brickley, Justice Fitzgerald and Professor Needham. The expectations were challenging and not all met them. But Cooley gave us an opportunity which other schools did not. We, that is, most of my classmates not only passed the bar but ranked above most other schools as I recall and most became not only good lawyers and some distinguished. Cooley alumni include state and federal confessional representatives, a governor, state appellate and trial judges as well as federal. I served as an Assistant Attorney General with an approximate 98% win rate which included high profile cases where I was opposed by teams of prominent counsel from "white shoe" firms. The demanding expectations of Professors Needham, Brickley and others served me well in meeting the challenges faced during my career. As an Alumni, I have participated in ethics forums required of incoming students. These will be schooled in high ethical expectations unlike what I sadly and at times shockingly experienced of opposing counsel who were graduates of more prestigious institutions. Though Cooley admits so called borderline applicants, I applaud their continuing willingness to give them the opportunity that other schools do not. Those that are worthy will succeed and others will at least have been given a chance to try.