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(08-20-2015 10:20 PM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  

(08-19-2015 12:46 PM)brovol Wrote:  

(08-17-2015 03:58 PM)Bronco68 Wrote:  If you go back many years when the med school was announced, studies showed that over the next 20 years the current med schools could not meet the demand and shortage and where not planning to expand enrollment. This left the door open for others to fill the need. The MSU Kalamazoo clinic (on WMU's East campus) and residency programs in Kalamazoo at Bronson and Borgess hospitals were transferred to WMU lock stock and barrel. So those issues were resolved, if any. New hospitals can offer residency programs which improves the local service capability of those facilities.

The opposite problem with the law school is a decline in demand and need. So rather than start a new law school they went the route of affiliating with an established school recognizing the need for downsizing, but via the affiliation with WMU the law school may gain traction to survive the changing condition. This is similar to MSU acquiring the old Detroit School of Law about 20 years ago and moving it to East Lansing and continuing to operate it as an independent school just as Cooley will remain independent under WMU.

In both cases no tax payer money is at risk, but region can offer medical or law school programs that can benefit not only Michigan but the US. WMU and others (especially U of M) take in out of state students, but Michigan than underwrites the cost for them and vice versus with other states.

WMU has the top paper science program in the country, but industry has left the state, do we eliminate a top program because of that? No.

I graduated Detroit college of law right when decisions were being made to go to MSU. That was at time when many DCL board members were passionate MSU alumni, and they chose that over Oakland university, which would have been a much better option. It was supposed to remain autonomous from MSU, but soon became swallowed by the big school, and lost what made DCL so great at training young litigators. But I digress.....

The Cooley affiliation is a very poor choice. Msu Grabbing DCL was smart at the time because DCL had an excellent reputation. Cooley has struggled in that department, and I don't think WMU has the capacity to change that.

The med School may be different. I believe those running the med school have a solid reputation, and there is a strong backing to establish a very high quality med school, which will distinguish itself as an option along the lines of Wayne state, which is likewise and excellent med school.

I would send my kid to the med school, but probably not the law school. Hope I haven't offended many.

My mom graduated from Cooley Law School and I'll put her up against any comparable attorney in her specialty-even though she's 81 and still practicing. An education is what you make of it-I've known professionals who went to top schools and didn't learn CHIT and those who went to less renowned schools and excelled in their fields.

Your comments about Cooley Law School show you really don't know much about them, or appreciate my comments above. You probably buy your clothes based on whatever label is stitched on them.

To the contrary phil, I am enormously familiar with the quality of litigator Cooley has been producing for many years. I am far less familiar with how they did during the schools earlier years, which I assume is when mom graduated, and I was hesitant to comment due to the likelihood that someone would be offended by my assessment. But the fact of the matter is that Cooley spits out more Michigan lawyers that the rest combined. It has had an open admissions policy, and has been a landing spot for many who were without other options. It's teaching methods have drifted from traditional Socratic, and focus seems to be passing the bar rather than understanding fundamental concepts and principles, and yet it has always still struggled with bar exam passage rates regardless.

I am a captive audience observer of lawyers from all of the schools. I see the quality of work product and litigation skills. Many Cooley lawyers are excellent. Too many are far less than that.