University of Michigan Law School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids University of Michigan Law School
Parent school	University of Michigan
Established	1859; 166 years ago (1859)
School type	Public law school
Endowment	$500 million (2019)
Parent endowment	$17.9 billion
Dean	Kyle D. Logue (interim)
Location	Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Enrollment	976
Faculty	183
USNWR ranking	9th (tie) (2024)
Bar pass rate	97.27%
ABA profile	Standard 509 Report

The University of Michigan Law School (also known as Michigan Law or MLS) is a special school where people learn to become lawyers. It is part of the University of Michigan, a big public university in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The school started in 1859. It offers different degrees like the Juris Doctor (JD), which is the main degree for becoming a lawyer. Many famous people have studied here, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices and leaders of companies. Most students find jobs within a year after they graduate.

About 976 students attend Michigan Law. The school has many teachers, including full-time and part-time professors.

History of Michigan Law School

The law school opened its doors in 1859. By 1870, it had grown to be the largest law school in the entire country.

In 1870, Gabriel Franklin Hargo made history. He became the second African American to graduate from a law school in the United States. The next year, in 1871, Sarah Killgore also made history. She was a Michigan Law graduate who became the first woman to finish law school and be allowed to practice law.

Henry Moore Bates, a former leader of the University of Michigan Law School from 1910 to 1939.

Even though it is a public university, most of the law school's money comes from private gifts and donations. Only a very small part (less than 2%) of its budget comes from state funds.

In 2009, Michigan Law started a big project to build a new law building. It cost $102 million and was paid for by donations. The new building was designed to look like the old, beautiful English Gothic style buildings. In 2009, the school also celebrated its 150th birthday! The head judge of the United States, Chief Justice John Roberts, even visited for the celebration. The new building opened in 2012 and was first called South Hall. Later, in 2018, it was renamed Jeffries Hall after a very generous donation.

Exploring the Law School Campus

The main part of the law school is called the Cook Law Quadrangle. It was built between 1924 and 1933. An architect firm named York and Sawyer designed it. The money for these buildings came from a lawyer and former student named William W. Cook.

The Law Quadrangle, around the 1930s.

An aerial view of the University of Michigan Law Quadrangle, taken between 1930 and 1940.

The Cook Law Quadrangle has four main buildings:

• Hutchins Hall is the main building for classes. It is named after a former leader of the law school and university, Harry Burns Hutchins.
• The Legal Research Building is where students and teachers do legal research.
• John P. Cook Dormitory is a place where students can live.
• The Lawyer's Club also has dorm rooms and a large meeting space. It has a beautiful Great Lounge and a dining room with a high ceiling and oak wood.

In 2012, the Lawyers Club was updated and improved. This was possible thanks to a $20 million gift from Charles T. Munger. The renovated building reopened in August 2013 for students.

How Students Get In and School Rankings

Michigan Law is a very popular and highly-rated law school. In 1987, it was ranked third in the first U.S. News & World Report rankings for law schools. It is also known as one of the "T14" law schools. These are schools that have consistently been in the top 14 since the rankings began. In 2021, Michigan Law was ranked 9th overall.

Getting into Michigan Law is quite competitive. For the class that started in 2021, over 7,600 people applied. Only about 819 were accepted, which is about 10% of applicants. Out of those accepted, 313 students chose to enroll. Students who get in usually have very good grades and high scores on the LSAT test, which is a special test for law school.

Moot Court Competitions

Students at Michigan Law can take part in moot court competitions. These are like mock trials or debates where students argue legal cases. The oldest competition is the Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition, which started in 1926.

There are many other moot court competitions too. These include competitions focused on child welfare law, criminal law, environmental law, and international law. These competitions help students practice their legal skills.

Clinical Programs for Real-World Experience

Michigan Law has 18 clinical programs. These programs allow students to work with real clients and help them with legal issues. This is done under the guidance of their professors.

Some of these programs include the Child Advocacy Law Clinic, where students help children. There is also an Entrepreneurship Clinic, which helps new businesses. Other clinics focus on environmental law, international business, and helping people who have been wrongly convicted.

Student Groups and Activities

Michigan Law offers many student organizations. These groups focus on different interests. Some are about politics, helping the community, or exploring different cultures. Students can join groups based on their hobbies, race, gender, or religion. These groups organize fun events throughout the year.

Externships and Internships

Michigan Law's externship program gives students real-world legal experience. It also offers chances for advanced research. Students can do externships in places like Switzerland, South Africa, and India. These experiences help students learn beyond the classroom.

Student Funded Fellowships (SFF)

Student Funded Fellowships (SFF) is a program that helps students who take summer jobs in public interest law. Public interest jobs often pay less, so SFF helps students with their living costs. This program is run by law students themselves.

The students raise money through events like auctions. They also ask students who work at high-paying law firms to donate some of their summer earnings. SFF gives grants to a limited number of students. As of 2022, these grants were $6,500. Students who do not get a grant can get a loan of $5,000 for their summer expenses. This loan can be forgiven if the student does not earn much money during their summer jobs.

Jobs After Graduation and School Costs

Michigan Law graduates have a very high success rate in finding jobs. According to reports, about 98% of the Class of 2021 found jobs or continued their education. Most of these jobs were in law. Many graduates work for large law firms. Others work as law clerks for judges.

Most Michigan Law graduates find jobs in big cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. They also work in Michigan and California.

The cost of tuition for the 2020–2021 school year was about $63,680 for Michigan residents. For students from other states, it was about $66,680. Living costs are estimated to be around $21,900 per year. So, the total cost for three years of study can be over $250,000.

Notable Teachers at Michigan Law

Many important legal experts have taught at Michigan Law.

Current Teachers

• Theodore J. St. Antoine – an expert in labor law.
• Reuven Avi-Yonah – teaches about tax law.
• Samuel Bagenstos – an expert on the rights of people with disabilities.
• Catharine MacKinnon – a famous thinker and activist for women's rights.
• Barbara McQuade – a former U.S. Attorney.
• James Boyd White – started the idea of studying law and literature together.

Former Teachers

• Lee Bollinger – a former president of the University of Michigan and Columbia University.
• Thomas M. Cooley – a legal scholar and former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court.
• Yale Kamisar – known as the "father of Miranda" for his work on the famous Miranda v. Arizona court case.
• Elizabeth Warren – an expert on bankruptcy and now a United States senator from Massachusetts.

Famous People Who Studied Here

Many notable people have graduated from Michigan Law.

See also

In Spanish: Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Míchigan para niños

• List of University of Michigan law and government alumni
• List of University of Michigan legislator alumni
• List of University of Michigan alumni