Comparing Academic Profiles and Honors Designations at Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law

Academic Honors Academic Honors Designations At Graduation Designations At Graduation A Comparison of Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law: University Park

Academic Profiles of Dickinson Law and Penn State Law (Based on December 2023 ABA 509 Reports) Takeaway: Very Similar Academic Profiles Very Similar Academic Profiles Penn State Dickinson Law: Penn State Law: LSAT Median (50 Entering Class (Fall 2023; Class of 2026): 162 161 thPercentile) for J.D. GPA Median (50 Entering Class (Fall 2023; Class of 2026): 3.63 3.77 thPercentile) for J.D. 1L J.D. Enrollment, Fall 2023: 107 J.D. candidates in 2023-24 1L class 131 J.D. candidates in 2023-24 1L class Source (See 2023 ABA Reports for Dickinson Law and Penn State Law): https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/disclosure509.aspx

Grading Norms: Very Similar Grading Norms Penn State Dickinson Law: Penn State Law: All Required Courses: Median: B Mean: 2.9-3.1 Expect 15% A and A- Median: B Mean: 2.9-3.1 Expect 15% A and A-. Expect 15% C+ and below. Expect 3-7% D and below. Electives with an Enrollment of 30 or More: Median: B Mean: 2.9-3.2 Expect 15% A and A- Median: B Mean: 2.9-3.2 Expect 15% A and A-. Expect 15% C+ and below. Penn State Law Source: https://penns tatelaw.psu.edu/curr ent- students/student- academic- handbook/grading- norms Seminars and Electives with an Enrollment of 29 or Fewer: Mean: 3.0-3.6 No expectations Median: B+ Mean: 3.0-3.6 No expectations Suggested or Required? "These norms are suggested guidelines as opposed to rigid requirements." "These norms are suggested guidelines as opposed to rigid requirements."

Academic Honors Designations at Graduation Takeaway: Major Discrepancy Between Both Merging Schools Penn State Law: Penn State Dickinson Law: Summa Cum Laude Top 2% of graduates Top 5% of graduates Magna Cum Laude Top 5% of graduates (Truly the top 3-5%) Top 15% of graduates (Truly the top 6-15%) Cum Laude Top 10% of graduates (Truly the top 6-10%) Top 30% of graduates (Truly the top 16-30%) Woolsack Honor Society Membership Top 15% of graduates Top 15% of graduates Note: Penn State Law's academic honors designations at graduation were identical to ours until February 2020. (See https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/current-students/student-academic-handbook/honors-and- woolsack for their full policy.)

Diplomas from Penn State Law already include the Dickinson Law name, based on a years-old agreement between the two schools. Image Source: Dean Dodge (We reached out about Dickinson Law s name on Penn State Law s diplomas and he looked into it.)

Hypothetical: Hypothetical: After six semesters of study, a student in the top 11-15 percent of their law school class graduates from either Penn State Dickinson Law or Penn State Law: University Park. Under Dickinson Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 11-15 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate with no Latin honors from Dickinson Law, but would be part of the Woolsack Honor Society (top 15% of the graduating class at both Penn State University-affiliated law schools). Under Penn State Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 11-15 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate magna cum laude at Penn State Law (an honor extending to the top 15 percent of the graduating class at Penn State Law, but just the top five percent at Dickinson Law) and would be part of the Woolsack Honor Society (top 15% of the graduating class at both Penn State University-affiliated law schools).

Hypothetical: After six semesters of study, a Hypothetical: After six semesters of study, a student in the top 3 student in the top 3- -5 percent of their law school 5 percent of their law school class graduates from either Penn State Dickinson class graduates from either Penn State Dickinson Law or Penn State Law. Law or Penn State Law. Under Dickinson Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 3-5 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate magna cum laudeand would be a member of the Woolsack Honor Society. Under Penn State Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 3-5 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate summa cum laude and would be a member of the Woolsack Honor Society.

Final Hypothetical: Final Hypothetical: After six semesters of academic study, a student in the top 16 student in the top 16- -30 percent of their law school class 30 percent of their law school class graduates from either Penn State Dickinson Law or Penn State Law. Under Dickinson Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 16-30 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate with no Latin honors, as cum laude is only awarded to the top 6-10 percent of the graduating class at Dickinson Law. Under Penn State Law s present academic honors designations, a student in the top 16-30 percent of their law school class after six semesters of academic study would graduate cum laude from Penn State Law.

Impact on Career Outcomes After Graduation? This is unclear, as both Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law have respectable (ours are great!) employment statistics and many private-sector firms look at class rank calculations and extend offers based on 2L summer associate performance. However, candidates for their first, second and third jobs (as well as arguably throughout their careers) regularly list their Latin honors designations at graduation on their resumes. Earning Latin honors in law school never hurts one s career prospects. In President Biden s announcements of federal judicial nominees (of which there have been 43 rounds as of Jan. 5, 2024), Latin honors earned by graduates have often been mentioned. For example, in the announcement of four federal judicial nominees that included the Honorable Julia K. Munley (a Dickinson Law alumna and now a U.S. District judge in Scranton), the White House mentioned nominees Latin honors at least three times. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing- room/statements-releases/2023/05/03/president-biden-names-thirty-third-round-of-judicial- nominees/.

Latin Honors at Graduation: Comparisons With Other PA Law Schools Note: Could not find information on UPenn Law besides 2023 honorees (See https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/12596-2023-honors-and- distinction)

Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at Widener University Commonwealth Law School Excerpted From 2023-24 Academic Handbook at Widener University Commonwealth Law School: https://commonwealthlaw.widener.edu/files/resources/2023-2024-wlc-student-handbook-final- 8-11-23.pdf

Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at Temple Law School Source: https://law.temple.edu/resources/policies-and-procedures/grading/graduation-honors/

Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at Villanova University: Charles Widger School of Law J.D. students may be eligible for Latin Honors and may be invited to join Villanova s chapter of Order of the Coif after final grades have been compiled and final rankings are calculated. To graduate summa cum laude, students must graduate in the top 1% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. To graduate magna cum laude, students must graduate in the top 10% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. To graduate cum laude, students must graduate in the top 25% of all ranked students and pass faculty vote. To be invited to Villanova s chapter of Order of the Coif, students must gradate in the top 10% of all graduating students and pass faculty vote. (Please note that the number of graduating students is typically larger than the number of ranked students such that the standards for Coif and magna cum laude are not identical). Excerpted from Villanova Law Handbook: https://libguides.law.villanova.edu/studenthandbook/graduationrequirements

Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at University of Pittsburgh, School of Law Graduation Honors: The School of Law awards its JD degree with three levels of honor: cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude. Degrees are awarded summa cum laude to the very top graduating student or students. Degrees are awarded magna cum laude to at least the top 5% of the class. Degrees are awarded cum laude to at least the next 15% of the class. Excerpted from University of Pittsburgh Website: https://www.law.pitt.edu/student-resources/graduation-and- diplomas#:~:text=The%20School%20of%20Law%20awards,laude% 2C%20and%20summa%20cum%20laude.

Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at Drexel University: Thomas R. Kline School of Law Excerpted from Drexel Law s Academic Handbook: https://drexel.edu/~/media/Files/law/Student%20Life/Office%20of%20Student%20Affairs/ JD%20Handbook.ashx?la=en

Final Comparison: Latin Honors at Graduation at Duquesne University: Kline School of Law Source: https://www.duq.edu/documents/academics/colleges-and-schools/law/policies-and- procedures-2023-2024-update-9-21-23.pdf

Representative Comments, Public Comments, and Next Steps Student Bar Association President Rachel James will moderate. Presentation prepared by Jake Maguire, 1L Student Bar Association Representative (jem7256@psu.edu)