Date: June 7, 2008
News Subject: Dean Cogan's Letter to the Community

It is truly a privilege to inform you that the Law School has been removed from its probationary status.

On Saturday, June 7, 2008, the Council of the ABA Section on Legal Education & Admissions to the Bar accepted its Accreditation Committee's finding that the Law School is in full compliance with Section 301(a) of the Standards for Approval of Law Schools and Interpretation 301-6(A)(1)(b). In addition, the Council accepted the Committee's conclusion that the Law School satisfied all conditions of its probation.

In bringing you this happy news, I want to underscore the meaning of the Council's action.

1. The action of the Council marks the end of an era, not just three years of probationary status. No one should have any doubt whatsoever about the Law School's continued commitment to prepare its students for the bar examination and increase first-time and ultimate rates. But the Council's action means that no one - not applicant, not student, not alum, and not employer - should have any doubt whatsoever about the Law School's status and future.

2. In satisfying Interpretation 301-6(A)(1)(b), the Law School met the first set of properly-approved, transparent, and consistently-applied bar passage rules promulgated by the ABA. The Law School is proud of its contributions to the process before the Council and the Department of Education that led to these rules. We are proud that we stood for and vindicated the missions of many dozens of law schools to have our student bodies reflect the diversity of our communities and state.

3. The Council's action was taken without the benefit of our outstanding February 2008 bar examination results, reported after the Accreditation Committee's finding and conclusion. I can report that, with these results, the Law School now satisfies both Interpretation 301-6(A)(1)(a) and (b), because each calendar-year class in the last five years exceeds a 75% bar passage rate and, also, because the five-year bar passage rate exceeds 80%. I can report, too, that the February 2008 California first-time rate jumped twenty points, to 56%, a rate likely near the as-yet-unreported California ABA first-time rate.

4. The Law School's success is due to the innovative programs put in place in 2001 and carried forward by some of the most skilled and dedicated faculty in American law schools. In retrospect, it is apparent that the program and faculty were already succeeding in 2005, when the Law School was put on probation. I say, with some chagrin, that had Interpretation 301-6 been in effect in 2005, the Law School would not have been put on probation.

As I enter my twentieth year of deaning, I look back on the achievements of our graduates and my colleagues with great admiration and pride.

All best.
Dean Neil H. Cogan