Concordia University School of Law
Encyclopedia
Concordia University School of Law is a private, non-profit law school
scheduled to open in Boise
in the U.S. state of Idaho
. Announced in 2007, the school originally planned to open in fall 2011, but will open in fall 2012 with 75-95 students and expects to grow to 250 students when fully operational. The law school will be the second in Idaho, and the first in Boise. The school is part of Concordia University
, a private Lutheran school based in Portland, Oregon
.
, and Idaho. In November of that year the small Lutheran school announced they were looking at Boise as the location under consideration in Idaho. Boise is the state’s most populous city and one of the largest metropolitan areas
in the United States that did not have a law school. Proposed locations included using Boise’s Carnegie Library
on a temporary basis.
The law school was originally scheduled to open in 2009, but an increase in the start-up costs from $4 million to $7 million delayed the planned opening to allow for additional fund-raising. Idaho’s only law school at the University of Idaho
(UI) also had plans to open a campus in the city at that time. In August 2008, Concordia announced the school would be delayed until the fall of 2010, and Idaho’s Board of Education decided against allowing UI to add a full three-year program in Boise. Instead UI would be allowed to open a program for third year students, also to open in fall 2010.
Concordia narrowed its search for a dean
of the law school to two people by August 2008, and in December 2008 choose former Idaho Court of Appeals
judge and Idaho Supreme Court justice Cathy Silak to lead the school. Expected to cost $7 million and take 18-months to open, the original plan called for an entering class of 70 students in fall 2010 with a faculty of 15. By December 2008 Concordia had raised $1.5 million for the law school and by 2009 had pushed the opening back to fall 2011. Concordia announced plans to buy a building at 501 Front Street in Boise in January 2010 to house the campus. The purchase was expected to close in April and be for about $2 million. Concordia now plans to open in fall 2012 with 75-95 students and an annual tuition of around $28,500, with enrollment projected to later increase to 250. The school plans to apply for provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association
after its first year of operation (fall 2013).
, the Ada County Courthouse and the Idaho Supreme Court
buildings. Concordia chose to add a law school in Boise over its main Portland campus primarily since Portland already has one law school with Lewis & Clark Law School
and Salem
just south of Portland has Willamette University College of Law
. Additionally, Concordia has strong ties to the Boise area with students, donors, and several board of trustees coming from Boise, plus Boise is one of the largest metropolitan areas lacking a law school, yet is home to the state supreme court and about half of all the lawyers in Idaho. The first building on the campus was a two-story brick building with 17000 ft2 of space. The law school has completed construction of a three story extension of the original building located directly South of the existing structure to add 30000 ft2 for more offices and classrooms.
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
scheduled to open in Boise
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
in the U.S. state of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Announced in 2007, the school originally planned to open in fall 2011, but will open in fall 2012 with 75-95 students and expects to grow to 250 students when fully operational. The law school will be the second in Idaho, and the first in Boise. The school is part of Concordia University
Concordia University (Portland, Oregon)
Concordia University is a private, Christian university located in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Opened in 1905 as a University-preparatory school, the institution added college classes in 1950 and the high school was split-off in 1977...
, a private Lutheran school based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
History
Concordia University announced it would open a law school in 2007, with the school looking at locations in Washington, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and Idaho. In November of that year the small Lutheran school announced they were looking at Boise as the location under consideration in Idaho. Boise is the state’s most populous city and one of the largest metropolitan areas
Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas
thumb|An enlargeable map of the 942 [[Core Based Statistical Area]]s of the [[United States]]. The 367 [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]s are shown in red....
in the United States that did not have a law school. Proposed locations included using Boise’s Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library, Carnegie Public Library, Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie Free Public Library, Andrew Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie Free Library or Carnegie Library Building may refer to any of the following Carnegie libraries:- California :*Carnegie Library , listed on the National Register...
on a temporary basis.
The law school was originally scheduled to open in 2009, but an increase in the start-up costs from $4 million to $7 million delayed the planned opening to allow for additional fund-raising. Idaho’s only law school at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
(UI) also had plans to open a campus in the city at that time. In August 2008, Concordia announced the school would be delayed until the fall of 2010, and Idaho’s Board of Education decided against allowing UI to add a full three-year program in Boise. Instead UI would be allowed to open a program for third year students, also to open in fall 2010.
Concordia narrowed its search for a dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the law school to two people by August 2008, and in December 2008 choose former Idaho Court of Appeals
Idaho Court of Appeals
The Idaho Court of Appeals is the intermediate-level appellate court for the state of Idaho. The court was created by statute by the Idaho Legislature and began operations in 1982.-Jurisdiction:...
judge and Idaho Supreme Court justice Cathy Silak to lead the school. Expected to cost $7 million and take 18-months to open, the original plan called for an entering class of 70 students in fall 2010 with a faculty of 15. By December 2008 Concordia had raised $1.5 million for the law school and by 2009 had pushed the opening back to fall 2011. Concordia announced plans to buy a building at 501 Front Street in Boise in January 2010 to house the campus. The purchase was expected to close in April and be for about $2 million. Concordia now plans to open in fall 2012 with 75-95 students and an annual tuition of around $28,500, with enrollment projected to later increase to 250. The school plans to apply for provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
after its first year of operation (fall 2013).
Campus
The law school building is in downtown Boise at 501 West Front Street near the Idaho State CapitolIdaho State Capitol
In 1863, Lewiston, Idaho was the original Idaho State Capitol site until Boise was made the capitol in 1890 which is also when President Benjamin Harrison signed Idaho into statehood. The story behind Boise becoming the capitol is government workers sneaked in and stole the state seal from Lewiston...
, the Ada County Courthouse and the Idaho Supreme Court
Idaho Supreme Court
The Idaho Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the state of Idaho, composed of the chief justice and four associate justices.The decisions of the Idaho Supreme Court are binding on all other Idaho state courts.The only court that may reverse or modify its decisions is the Supreme Court of...
buildings. Concordia chose to add a law school in Boise over its main Portland campus primarily since Portland already has one law school with Lewis & Clark Law School
Lewis & Clark Law School
Lewis and Clark Law School is a private American law school located in Portland, Oregon. In the last ten years, L&C's Environmental Law program has been the highest-rated in the United States eight times....
and Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
just south of Portland has Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. Additionally, Concordia has strong ties to the Boise area with students, donors, and several board of trustees coming from Boise, plus Boise is one of the largest metropolitan areas lacking a law school, yet is home to the state supreme court and about half of all the lawyers in Idaho. The first building on the campus was a two-story brick building with 17000 ft2 of space. The law school has completed construction of a three story extension of the original building located directly South of the existing structure to add 30000 ft2 for more offices and classrooms.
External links
- In Idaho, it's a race between two law schools, one private, one public - The National Law Journal
- Concordia University plans for law program in Boise – Moscow-Pullman Daily News
- Recession crimps plans for new law schools - The National Law Journal
- Forward Motion: Boise Summons Two New Law Schools – Boise Weekly