How you can support Binghamton’s opportunity for a law school
Binghamton University annually prepares hundreds of graduates who go on to law school. As a logical next step, Binghamton has proposed establishment of a law school to build on its foundation of academic excellence and provide greater access for these students to a high-quality, affordable, legal education.
This proposal is an outgrowth of the University’s strategic planning process to grow in size, but also to increase the breadth and depth of its academic offerings and build upon its academic strengths.
We have a firm foundation upon which to build a law school, and are up to this ambitious and challenging task. We ask you to join us in support of developing a first-class law school at Binghamton University. With your help, we can realize this goal.
Please write to your legislators today, asking for their support of a law school. You can easily send a letter by joining our Think Tank as an advocate of Binghamton University.
Binghamton University
The opportunity to establish a law school
Establishment of a law school at Binghamton University will have an immense impact on the economic vitality and quality of life in the Southern Tier, as well as the entire state, for the following reasons:
Capitalizing on a need
A law school at Binghamton will further the state’s ability to provide a broad range of affordable, high-quality academic and professional educational services to its populace.
A foundation of excellence
A law school is the next logical step for Binghamton, which already has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and for preparing graduate to be successful in their professional careers.
Many of Binghamton’s successful law school applicants have benefited from the rigor of the University’s undergraduate programs, including philosophy, politics and law and its political science programs
The growing demand
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of lawyers is expected to grow over the next decade, with increased demand in the healthcare, intellectual property, venture capital, energy, elder, antitrust and environmental law arenas.
Graduates with superior academic records from highly regarded law schools will have the best job opportunities and will increasingly find work in nontraditional areas.
Both New York state and its municipalities need well-trained government lawyers who can advance and defend public interests.
Filling the gap in affordable, high-quality law school education
Binghamton University already annually prepares hundreds of graduates who wish to attend law school.
An additional public law school in New York state will provide greater access to high-quality, affordable education.
With only two public law schools in New York state, all estimates show that this proposed school would be in high demand, both by current Binghamton University students as well as by others. Currently, 7 percent of all Binghamton students select law as a profession and 83 percent who apply to law schools are accepted. These are among the highest rates in the nation.
Benefits for students, the region and the state
In addition to the academic rigor and affordability a law school at Binghamton would bring are the economic benefits to the region and state.
Standard economic projections indicate new expenditures would reach $10 million annually within five years, with an estimated annual impact of $17.66 milllion on the region and $22.54 on the state.
A commitment to quality
Our intent is to establish a model law school whose visibility and reputation will attract an accomplished dean and faculty to provide a first-class law education, and an appropriate curriculum to meet and exceed American Bar Association accreditation standards.
Our goal is to become one of the best public law schools in the nation.
Next steps
We will work with a consultant on a comprehensive study to position the proposed new program and school appropriately and to develop a plan for a sustainable base of support for the academic excellence to which we aspire.
