Most law schools operate as part of a larger university, subject to that university’s budget priorities, administrative layers, and competing academic departments. We don’t. We’re an independent law school, and since 2020, we’ve operated as a nonprofit institution. That combination shapes the school in ways worth understanding before you apply.
Independent Means Focused
Being independent means every resource, every decision, and every dollar in this institution exists for one purpose: legal education. There’s no undergraduate program competing for funding, no central university administration setting priorities across a dozen unrelated schools, and no budget decisions made by people outside the legal education space. When the administration here makes a decision, it’s a decision about law school, made by people who understand what law students actually need.
That structure also means faculty and staff report directly to leadership focused solely on this school’s mission. Fewer layers between a student’s concern and the person who can address it.
Nonprofit Status Changed the Financial Picture
In 2020, we became a nonprofit institution. That shift matters because it changes where the school’s revenue goes. A nonprofit structure means tuition and other revenue are reinvested into the institution, into faculty, into programs, and into student support. The financial incentive of the school lines up with the outcomes of its students, because there’s no other beneficiary.
A Foundation Built for Scholarships
Alongside our nonprofit status, our foundation raises funds specifically to support student scholarships. That means donor contributions, alumni giving, and fundraising efforts translate directly into reduced financial burden for students sitting in class right now. A foundation with a defined purpose can be transparent about where scholarship funding comes from and where it’s headed, and can build long-term relationships with donors who care specifically about legal education access, not unrelated capital projects.
Why This Matters When You’re Choosing a School
When you’re comparing schools, it’s worth asking where your tuition dollars actually go and who’s making decisions about your education. At an independent, nonprofit institution, the answer is straightforward: back into the school and the students in it. That’s not a marketing point. It’s a structural fact about how this institution is built and who it’s built for.