It’s not every day that a law school faces formal probation from the American Bar Association. But that’s exactly what’s happening with Cooley Law School. On September 19, 2025, the ABA placed Cooley on probation for failing to meet Standard 316, which demands that at least 75% of graduates who sit for the bar exam pass within two years of graduation.
For those of us here in Southwest Michigan, this is not just distant news. Many attorneys practicing here attended Cooley Law. We’re also already in the throes of a massive attorney shortage, possibly due to problems with the state bar’s overly strict criteria. Several sources tell me young attorneys are going out of state to pass the bar, and then return to practice once licensed because Michigan’s standards are unreasonable.
In 2023, Western Michigan University exited their partnership with Cooley Law School, giving me reason to wonder if WMU spotted issues on the horizon.
However, when a law school’s legitimacy or performance is called into question, it ripples outward; affecting client trust, reputational capital, and the very fabric of how justice is delivered in our communities.
What the Probation Means (in Plain Terms)
- The ABA’s decision is not a revocation of accreditation (yet) — Cooley remains an ABA-accredited institution…for now.
- Probation is a formal warning: the ABA has deemed Cooley’s noncompliance with bar passage requirements “sufficiently serious” to warrant corrective scrutiny.
- Cooley requested additional time to demonstrate compliance; instead, the ABA opted for probation, giving the school until February 2026 to remedy the shortfall.
- The ABA will revisit Cooley’s status in February 2026 to see if improvements have been made.
TL;DR: probation is a big red flag, though not yet the end of the road.
Why This Should Worry Southwest Michigan’s Legal Community
We have good reason to pay attention — here’s why:
1. Many Local Lawyers Are Cooley Alumni
In many smaller legal markets, including Southwest Michigan, Cooley has historically been a practical, accessible route into law school. When your peer group includes Cooley graduates, or when clients know their lawyer went to Cooley, they’ll take notice if the school is flagged by the profession’s accrediting body.
2. Reputational Spillover
If a school is under probation, clients may question whether its graduates received adequate preparation, and rightfully so. That skepticism can erode trust in individual lawyers, even if those lawyers are competent and ethical. In small or tight-knit legal communities, reputations matter deeply.
3. Hiring & Firm Risk
Law firms, especially those in more competitive or urban markets, might hesitate to hire recent Cooley grads or might impose additional vetting or training requirements. That could reduce career mobility for attorneys from our region.
4. Bar Passage & Competency Concerns
The very core of the ABA’s concerns is whether graduates are passing the bar (i.e., are sufficiently prepared). If a school underdelivers on that metric, it raises broader questions about the adequacy of training, curriculum rigor, student support, and oversight.
5. Long-Term Credibility of the Local Bar
If a sizable share of our local legal community comes from a school under probation, the bar as a whole might suffer in the public eye. Questions may arise in courts, among clients, and in civic life about the “quality” of local legal services.
Counterpoints & Mitigating Factors
It’s important to be fair and balanced here so I’m giving equal time to Cooley:
- Cooley argues that more than 75% of its 2024 graduates who have taken the bar exam have passed, and that once all results are in, it will prove compliance.
- The probation is not immediate revocation, but a warning and opportunity to course correct.
- Cooley still qualifies for federal student aid, and its graduates remain eligible to sit for the bar.
Still, the risk is real and they are not even close to being out of the woods: if the school fails to improve, more severe sanctions could follow (including loss of accreditation).
What Should Local Lawyers & Prospective Law Students Do?
For Established Lawyers & Firms:
- Be proactive in understanding what probation means when clients raise questions. Be ready to explain your own credentials, experience, and competence.
- In hiring decisions, don’t reflexively reject Cooley alumni, but do consider whether additional training, mentorship, or evaluation may be warranted.
- Support local continuing legal education, mentorship, and bar associations in bolstering the overall legal ecosystem.
For Prospective Law Students in Southwest Michigan:
- Don’t accept law school reputation lightly. Investigate bar passage rates, employment outcomes, faculty credentials, and support systems.
- Ask: how has Cooley responded to ABA concerns? What concrete steps are they taking to raise bar performance?
- If possible, explore alternative law schools (in Michigan or neighboring states) with stronger performance records.
Pulling It Together
This situation with Cooley Law School is not “just academic.” This has real implications for trust, mobility, and the legitimacy of legal services in Southwest Michigan.
As Cooley works to regain compliance, our local legal community should approach this moment not with panic but with vigilance: demanding accountability, reinforcing standards, and ensuring that the bench and bar here remain strong, credible, and worthy of public trust.
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