Merger

February 28th, 2013 / By Deborah J. Merritt

Rutgers University has announced a plan to merge its two law schools (Rutgers and Camden). Details remain to be worked out, but the university hopes that next year’s applicants (those applying to enroll in fall 2014) will apply to a unified school, with a choice of campuses.

The announcement raises interesting questions about how law schools can work together to meet current challenges. Few schools may be in a position to merge; those arrangements are particularly difficult when the schools reside in different universities. But are there other ways for schools to collaborate to reduce costs, improve job prospects for graduates, develop new clinical programs, or achieve other goals? Some schools are already starting to share courses by internet; what other collaborations are possible?

I welcome here comments on law school collaborations of all kinds–up to and including mergers.