Arizona Summit Joins the ABA Litigation Parade

This just in: Arizona Summit has followed the lead of sister InfiLaw Schools Florida Coastal and Charlotte and sued the ABA.  I haven't seen the lawsuit yet, which was filed by Kirkland & Ellis, but it apparently makes similar claims as the other two lawsuits.  

The school issued a press release which contains wildly exaggerated claims by Interim Dean Penny Willrich, such as this gem: "dozens of other schools with similar or lower incoming credentials of their students were not – and many still have not been – found out of compliance or sanctioned by the ABA."  This is simply and demonstrably false.  Every other law school with similar or lower incoming credentials of students as Arizona Summit in 2015 and 2016 has also been found out of compliance or sanctioned by the ABA, with the exception of Southern University.  One law school is hardly "dozens".  Although Arizona Summit did raise its median LSAT in 2017 to 148 (by shrinking to 49 students) this was only after the school had been placed on probation in March of 2017.  For the preceding five years, Arizona Summit had been among the half a dozen or so schools in the country with the weakest entrance credentials. Arizona Summit had a median LSAT of 143 in 2016 and 2015, 144 in 2014 and 2013 and 145 in 2012.  And of course Arizona Summit has had among the lowest bar pass rates in the country for the last four years, and had the lowest "ultimate" pass rate for the class of 2015 on the ABA's recent spreadsheet.   Just last week, the Arizona February  bar exam results were announced, and Arizona Summit had a  19.8% pass rate, 31% for first-time takers, and 13.5% for repeaters.  Another telling statistic is that Arizona Summit had nearly twice as many repeaters (81) as first-time takers (45).  These latest bar results are a legacy of Arizona Summit's predatory admissions policies in 2014 and 2015. 

Here is another blatantly hyperbolic statement by Arizona President Don Lively. Referring to the ABA's decision to place Arizona Summit on probation: "it is hard to imagine a more blatant due process violation."  Actually, Don, it is hard to imagine a more blatant example of exploitation of unqualified students than you have been running for years.  I predict the ABA's decision to place Arizona Summit on probation will be upheld by the U.S. District Court.

 

 

Comments

[anon]

Why should the courts be involved at all?

Only if, one supposes, the ABA ineptly and inconsistently enforces its rules, and collapses when challenged in court.

Is there any reason to believe these conditions exist?

If so (David will tell us), at along last, can we all agree that the ABA can't be expected to enforce its own weak, ambigous and loose standards?

How many law schools have had accreditation withdrawn?

[anon]

One Word, delusional.

https://abovethelaw.com/2018/05/law-school-completely-wrecks-states-bar-exam-pass-rate-as-usual/

Their Complaint has no merit other then may be attempting to buy more time for Infilaw and Sterling Partners to deal with the situation, or may be convert to a non for profit as they have tried in the past with Bethune-Cookman University:

https://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/2018_01_11%20Letter%20to%20NACIQI%20re%20sectorial%20conversions%20of%20for-profits%20colleges%20to%20nonprofit%20status.pdf

ABA should take notes on how other Accreditors enforce their Standards

https://s3.amazonaws.com/docs.accet.org/downloads/adverse/1539.pdf

[Shin]

Survival of the fitness.

Access to Title iv sure is a unique lifestyle for many investors.

[Deep State Special Legal Counsel]

It's too bad they split from Phoenix University. Phoenix has cool TV commercials during Colbert. I like that one with the cartoon mother loosing her factory job drilling holes. Donald Carrier Trump couldn't save her job, but Phoenix gave her a new life. How cool is that! Hopefully she found affordable day care for her children while she schlepps off to her new IT job.