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What’s new at Akron Law?
University attracting more out-of-state law students for its low tuition, good job prospects and technical innovations

TRACEY BLAIR
Legal News Reporter

Published: July 18, 2014

It’s got a high employment rate, low tuition and up and coming professors.

For the third year in a row, The University of Akron School of Law has been selected as a Best Value Law School by The National Jurist.

Best Value

“Inclusion on this list is a testament to all that we do,” said Barbara Weinzierl, assistant dean of strategic initiatives at Akron School of Law. “It’s a really great tool for recruitment.”

The National Jurist recognized 53 law schools as a Best Value school this year. Ohio Northern University and Ohio State University also made the list.

The magazine uses five components to determine which schools make the cut — tuition, average debt at graduation, cost of living, bar passage rate and employment outcomes.

Employment is given the strongest weight, at 35 percent.

Akron Law’s Class of 2013 had an overall job placement rate of 89.2 percent. This exceeds the national average by 4.6 percent and the average job placement of other Ohio law schools by 3.8 percent, said Weinzierl.

Of that 89.2 percent, 87.3 percent have achieved professional positions in which a law degree and bar passage gives them an advantage. In addition, the unemployment rate at 9 months after graduation was just 4.8 percent for Akron Law’s Class of 2013, Weinzierl said.

Good job prospects

“All you ever hear about is there are no jobs for anybody,” said Adam Messner, Akron Law’s director of admissions and financial aid. “Clearly that’s not true for our graduates. I think we’re on the upswing as well. We expect it to keep getting better.”

Messner said there are plenty of law firm opportunities in Northeast Ohio.

“It’s a very collegial environment for students who have part-time jobs during law school,” he added. “Being in downtown Akron, there are a lot of opportunities for graduates to get their feet wet and get some opportunities. Lots of out-of-state students want to stay here after graduating.

“I think generally most people don’t have a good impression of Akron when they first hear of it. But they figure out it’s a great place to work and raise a family while they’re here.”

Twenty-five percent of Akron Law’s last entering class were out-of-state students. Messner attributes that to the fact that out-of-state residents now pay just $100 more annually in tuition. There used to be a $13,000 out-of-state surcharge.

“That’s effectively a $13,000 scholarship,” Weinzierl said. “It’s made us really competitive for those out of state.”

Akron Law’s full-time tuition is currently $24,340, $14,947 for part-time and about $5,000 for the summer.

The Board of Trustees agreed not to raise tuition for those entering this year and last.

The average debt for Akron Law’s Class of 2013 was $81,000.

Its first-time bar passage rate has exceeded the state average seven times in the past five years, Weinzierl said.

“Prospective law students are looking at outcomes,” Messner said. “They’re looking more at salaries, debt at graduation and bar passage rate.”

The next Silicon Valley for lawyers?

Meanwhile, a visiting professor at the law school is garnering positive attention for his work in the technology field.

Annal Vyas, a 33-year-old University of Cincinnati Law School graduate and Stow native, has been an advisor at Akron Law’s Small Entrepreneur and Economic Development Legal Clinic since 2012.

He began at the SEED clinic as an adjunct professor and Lehner Entrepreneurial fellow after leaving the Thompson Hine firm in Cleveland.

“University of Akron Law identified there was a need to have lawyers capable of responding to the Internet needs of their clients,” Vyas said. “Ever since middle school, I’ve been really into computer-type things. I did a little coding in law school, and found I could speak the language of Internet entrepreneurs.”

Vyas was recently profiled in Crain’s Cleveland Business’s annual “Who To Watch in Law” section.

Although the SEED clinic has been around for years, Gary Spring, director of the clinic, recently pushed a more Internet focus.

“He wanted to bring someone in with those capabilities,” said Vyas. “Gary had a vision that Akron Law could be a hub of innovation and that there is a need for legal acumen to respond to Internet clients. I can’t think of a single place besides Silicon Valley that can respond to these Internet clients. The field is wide open if we can get lawyers trained throughout the area.”

Spring said Vyas was chosen for the fellowship due to his unique skill set. He added that SEED does not try to compete with law firms because it is designed for those who can’t afford an attorney.

“The law school has had extraordinary vision at skating where the puck is going,” said Vyas. “Every day, people come into our offices with an idea to change the world. Why can’t Northeast Ohio be a hub of technical innovation?”

For more on The National Jurist’s rankings, visit http://www.nationaljurist.com/content/best-value-law-schools-5-new-private-schools-make-list.


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