WILMINGTON — Wilmington University School of Law received provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association, marking the next step of the unique new law school in Delaware.
For the first class of WilmU’s law School, it means that when they graduate in 2026, it will be from an accredited school – and they will be able to take the bar exam.
“This achievement reflects the collaboration and dedication of Wilmington University’s Board of Trustees, administration, staff, and the law school team,” Wilmington University President Dr. LaVerne Harmon said in a prepared statement.
Harmon added that the WilmU law school reflects her institution’s mission of “preparing professionals to lead with integrity” in an affordable setting.
The announcement comes more than a year after WilmU broke ground on a $71 million building at its Brandywine campus off U.S. Route 202 near the Pennsylvania state line. Back when college officials announced the new law school, the goal was to reach a student body of 500.
The law building should be open by mid-August, just in time for the fall semester.
The accreditation from the American Bar Association means the law school provides an education that meets the minimum standards set by the Council of the Section of the Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. WilmU reportedly sought accreditation at the earliest opportunity, as accreditation is a requirement for graduates to take the bar exam in states.
While classes started in fall 2023, ABA evaluators came to the school for a review of the studies a year later.
Provisional approval establishes that a school has provided a reliable plan to bring the law school into compliance within three years.
For years, Delaware business leaders have sought for ways to attract and educate the next generation of lawyers in the state. Two years ago, Harmon said the law school was a goal of hers but the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed it.
The law school is also a major expansion for WilmU. Over the years it has moved to cater to working adults through its through its MBA and DBA programs. WilmU’s full-time students will be charged $24,000 per year and part-time students charged $18,000 – well below the market value. The average law school cost is $34,370 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative.
There also seems to be an interest for it. WilmU Associate Dean for Law Admissions said 67% more applicants have applied this year so far.
