Wilmington Law School: Inaugural Classes Begin with Optimism for Future Growth

Delaware's newest law school has embarked on its inaugural academic sessions with an initial enrollment of just 20 students, which falls short of its original target of 65. Despite its ambitious aspirations, the Wilmington University School of Law encountered difficulties in recruitment due to its yet-to-be-accredited status by the American Bar Association (ABA). Phillip Closius, the Dean of the law school, remains steadfast in his optimism for the institution's long-term prospects, undeterred by the initial setback.
 

Closius acknowledged that his initial enrollment estimate had been overly optimistic, attributing the lower turnout to the inherent challenges of attracting students to a fledgling law school actively seeking ABA accreditation. This accreditation holds critical importance, as most jurisdictions mandate that law graduates earn their degrees from ABA-accredited institutions to qualify for the bar examination.
 
In the current academic year, the school received 103 applications, which fell short of the critical mass required to achieve the initial enrollment objective of 65 students. Closius emphasized that roughly twice the number of applications were required to meet the desired enrollment benchmarks. 
 
The launch of the Wilmington Law program signals a resurgence of interest in legal education by universities, breaking a nearly decade-long hiatus in establishing new law schools. Notably, in 2022, the Jacksonville University College of Law opened its doors with an initial cohort of 14 students. This number expanded to 27 in the subsequent academic year, indicative of favorable growth trends. High Point University, a private Christian institution based in North Carolina, also plans to join the legal education landscape by inaugurating a new law school in the upcoming year, with applications set to be accepted in September, as stated on its official website.
 
While numerous law schools grappled with closures between 2014 and 2021 due to financial constraints, enrollment challenges, and accreditation-related issues, Dean Closius of Wilmington Law maintains a firm conviction about the institution's future. He anticipates a substantial increase in enrollment—potentially surpassing 500 students—once the school secures ABA accreditation. The law school is on track to become eligible for provisional ABA accreditation by spring 2025.
 
Closius underscored that, despite the modest inaugural class size, students will benefit from personalized attention provided by the founding faculty members, totaling seven. This intimate pedagogical approach aims to provide an unparalleled one-on-one experience for students during their crucial first year of studies.
 
Wilmington Law has strategically positioned itself with distinctive attributes within the legal education landscape. It takes pride in offering relatively affordable tuition, currently $24,000 annually. Moreover, the school stands out by equipping students for the bar examination through class assessments designed to replicate the format of the attorney licensing exam. Its curriculum significantly emphasizes practical learning through externships, differentiating it from the conventional offerings of many other law schools.
 
Dean Closius emphatically underscores the school's dedication to revolutionizing legal education. He expressed that replicating the approaches of existing institutions held little appeal to him. Instead, Wilmington Law seeks to distinguish itself by providing a customized and hands-on educational experience that empowers graduates for success in the dynamic legal landscape.