Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Wilkes Law School Planning Initiative (proposed)?

Wilkes University established the Law School Planning Initiative for the purpose of considering the idea of establishing a law school at Wilkes University.

What is the history of the Wilkes Law School Initiative?

The Wilkes Law School Planning Initiative (proposed) began in 2004 as an idea conceived by leaders of Wilkes University to establish a law school at Wilkes that would serve all of Northeast Pennsylvania. The idea was developed initially by a committee that, with the assistance of legal education and demographic consultants, developed a preliminary feasibility study report in 2005. Following further work on the preliminary feasibility study performed by a second university committee in 2006, a decision was made by the University to complete the feasibility study process by hiring a legal educator to serve as dean of the Initiative and as founding dean of the law school that is expected to follow from successful completion of the feasibility study process.

Who is the Dean of the Wilkes Law School Planning Initiative (proposed)?

On May 7, 2008, Wilkes University announced the appointment of Loren D. (Chip) Prescott, Jr. as Dean of the Wilkes Law School Planning Initiative (proposed).  He earned a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon and a LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville, Florida. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate (ABD) in Public Administration at Penn State University.  He is an experienced legal educator and administrator.

What steps will be taken in the next year to complete work on the Initiative?

During the 2009-2010 academic year, the University will conduct a feasibility study to determine the potential for fundraising for the law school initiative. Work will be done to secure a site and the requisite funding for a building. Once a site is identified, approval for the site must be secured from the Wilkes University Board of Trustees.

What information about the new law school is available to those who are considering the idea of studying law in Northeast Pennsylvania?

As work progresses on the Wilkes Law School Planning Initiative (proposed), many issues of interest to prospective students will be studied. The Dean, in consultation with the Law School Planning Initiative Advisory Committee, will be considering a number of issues, including the following:

•    Offering students the opportunity to study on both a full-time and part-time basis

•    Tuition

•    Location of the law school (likely on campus or in downtown Wilkes-Barre)

•    Program of study and opportunities to focus on specialty areas

•    How the Wilkes commitment to mentoring will be incorporated into the law school curriculum

What advice is offered to those who are interested in studying law?

Following approval of the law school plan by the Wilkes trustees and the Pennsylvania Department of Education, a formal admissions process will be developed. At that time, prospective students may express interest in gaining admission. Only those with an earned undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university who have successfully completed the Law School Admission Test will be eligible to apply for admission. More information on the admission process will be available in Summer 2010.