Detroit's Wayne State University Law School: Future Leaders in the Legal Community

Students at Detroit's Wayne State University Law School played a critical role in the school's development, character, and employment opportunities. Initially a night-only school, they pushed for a more diverse curriculum and established programs that provided them with the credentials afforded graduates from elite law schools. Their persistence and the support of a persuasive dean led to changes in the conversation about the quality of the graduates and for law firms to start hiring WSU graduates. The school gained strength in international legal studies and established two law centers that reflect its commitment to public interest and civil rights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: Wayne State University Press

Most histories of law schools focus on the notable deans and professors, and the changes in curricula over time. In Detroit's Wayne State University Law School: Future Leaders in the Legal Community, Alan Schenk highlights the students and their influence on the school's development, character, and employment opportunities. Detroit's Wayne State University Law School begins by placing the school in historical context. Public law schools in major American cities were rare in the 1920s. WSU Law School started as a night-only school on the brink of the Great Depression. It was administered by the Detroit Board of Education's Colleges of the City of Detroit and was minimally funded out of student tuition and fees. From its opening days, the school admitted students who had the required college credits, without regard to their gender, race, or ethnic backgrounds, when many law schools restricted or denied admission to women, people of color, and Jewish applicants. The school maintained its steadfast commitment to a racially and gender-diverse student body, though it endured significant challenges along the way. Denied employment at selective law firms and relegated to providing basic legal services, WSU law students pressed the school to expand the curriculum and establish programs that provided them with the credentials afforded graduates from elite law schools. It took the persistence of the students and a persuasive dean to change the conversation about the quality of the graduates and for law firms representing the largest corporations and wealthiest individuals to start hiring WSU graduates who now heavily populate those firms. In the twenty-first century, the school gained national recognition for its commitment to diversity and social justice. It has established programs that provide legal services to underserved communities and has been a leader in promoting diversity in the legal profession. WSU Law School has also been successful in placing its graduates in top law firms and government agencies. The school's alumni include prominent judges, lawyers, and policymakers, who have made significant contributions to the legal field and to society as a whole. In conclusion, Detroit's Wayne State University Law School is a testament to the power of students to shape the development of their schools. The school's commitment to diversity and social justice has been a driving force behind its success and has made it a model for other law schools across the country. The students of WSU Law School have played a critical role in the school's history, and their influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Most histories of law schools focus on the notable deans and professors, and the changes in curricula over time. In Detroit's Wayne State University Law School: Future Leaders in the Legal Community, Alan Schenk highlights the students and their influence on the school's development, character, and employment opportunities. Detroit's Wayne State University Law School begins by placing the school in historical context. Public law schools in major American cities were rare in the 1920s. WSU Law School started as a night-only school on the brink of the Great Depression. It was administered by the Detroit Board of Education's Colleges of the City of Detroit and was minimally funded out of student tuition and fees. From its opening days, the school admitted students who had the required college credits, without regard to their gender, race, or ethnic backgrounds, when many law schools restricted or denied admission to women, people of color, and Jewish applicants. The school maintained its steadfast commitment to a racially and gender-diverse student body, though it endured significant challenges along the way. Denied employment at selective law firms and relegated to providing basic legal services, WSU law students pressed the school to expand the curriculum and establish programs that provided them with the credentials afforded graduates from elite law schools. It took the persistence of the students and a persuasive dean to change the conversation about the quality of the graduates and for law firms representing the largest corporations and wealthiest individuals to start hiring WSU graduates who now heavily populate those firms. In the twenty-first century, the school gained national recognition for its commitment to diversity and social justice. It has established programs that provide legal services to underserved communities and has been a leader in promoting diversity in the legal profession. WSU Law School has also been successful in placing its graduates in top law firms and government agencies. The school's alumni include prominent judges, lawyers, and policymakers, who have made significant contributions to the legal field and to society as a whole. In conclusion, Detroit's Wayne State University Law School is a testament to the power of students to shape the development of their schools. The school's commitment to diversity and social justice has been a driving force behind its success and has made it a model for other law schools across the country. The students of WSU Law School have played a critical role in the school's history, and their influence will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780814347614