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Committee explores Bradley law school

Originally published October 29, 2010

Bradley may be welcoming a law school on campus sometime in the future.

“Bradley is, in fact, considering opening a law school,” said Pre-Law Center Director Maria Vertuno. “I am chairing a recently formed exploratory committee made up of representatives from the faculty, administration and student body to investigate the feasibility of opening a law school here.”

The addition of a law school on campus would benefit more than just law students, Vertuno said.

“Having a law school on campus would enhance the prestige and national recognition of Bradley,” she said. “Therefore, this would increase the value of all of our university’s programs and degrees. A law school has the potential to provide our graduates with a portable skill set useful in numerous fields, not just the practice of law.”

One of the reasons the feasibility of a law school is being researched is because of the immense amount of student interest, Vertuno said.

“There has been tremendous interest expressed by our students for a law school,” she said. “I currently have 173 undergraduate advisees who are considering law school. The Peoria legal community has also expressed interest in the installation of a law school at Bradley.”

Sophomore political science major Sarah Czufin said if Bradley had a competitive law school, she would be interested.

“I feel like if we bring in good law school-quality professors it would be a good idea,” she said. “It would really depend on the quality and prestige of the school and how it ranks with others.”

A law school would benefit more than just the Bradley campus, Vertuno said.

“The addition of a law school would benefit the central Illinois region as well as Bradley,” she said. “Right now, there is only one other law school between Chicago and St. Louis, and that is at the University of Illinois.”

Sophomore history, political science and philosophy major Scott Canedy said he would be willing to attend a Bradley law school.

“I think it would be great, but the only thing I would worry about is where they would have space to put it,” he said. “Also, I really like the track they have at [University of Illinois]. It’s really tough, but if you take all the classes, you automatically get into their law school without taking the LSAT. That would be cool for us to consider.”

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