Law School Reunification
In November 2024, the American Bar Association (ABA) Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar granted conditional approval for Penn State to deliver legal education by a single, unified, two-location law school known as Penn State Dickinson Law. It will operate as a unified law school in a conditional status until the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education, respectively, deliver final approval.
Led by Danielle M. Conway, Penn State Dickinson Law Dean and Donald J. Farage Professor of Law, the law school has locations in Carlisle and University Park and each location has residential student cohorts, including J.D. students at all levels, LL.M. students, and S.J.D. students.
Faculty are currently addressing important governance matters, including developing unified faculty bylaws, prospective promotion and tenure rules, and a unified curriculum. Academic administrators, staff, and students are engaging in unifying activities, including portfolio assessments and support coverage, systems planning and implementation, integration of extracurricular programs and processes, and maximization of student-centered services and supports.
Responses to Frequently Asked Questions about reunification can be found below. If you have additional questions about the reunification process or how it may impact you, please reach out to the following individuals:
Current students: contact Bekah Saidman-Krauss, at ras1075@psu.edu.
Prospective or admitted students: contact Amanda DiPolvere at ajd7@psu.edu.
Alumni or friends: contact Josh Trego at jst143@psu.edu.
Press or media inquiries: contact Devan Drabik-Frey at dfd5456@psu.edu.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am a current law school student studying in University Park. Am I now a part of Penn State Dickinson Law?
Yes, all current law school students are now part of Penn State Dickinson Law, where we will honor your experience and guarantee that your diploma has durability.
What will my diploma say now that the two schools have been unified?
The diplomas from the formerly separate law schools always contained the original, historic law school name, The Dickinson School of Law. All diplomas will continue to read “The Pennsylvania State University” and include “The Dickinson School of Law.” Please note when referencing the law school, the proper name is Penn State Dickinson Law. The “School of Law” terminology should only be referenced for historical purposes.
What has been planned for Spring 2026 Commencement?
The Law School administration has not made any official decisions regarding details of the Spring 2026 commencement. When planning for that commencement exercise begins, students from the Class of 2026 will be involved in the process.
How can I apply to Penn State Dickinson Law for admission in fall 2025, and may I select which location I wish to attend?
You only need to submit a single application to Penn State Dickinson Law but may (although not required) indicate a location preference of Carlisle or University Park in your application materials. Learn more about our application process here.
Will the dean have an on-campus presence at both locations?
Yes, the dean, along with members of the newly constituted Penn State Dickinson Law leadership team, will be physically present at both the Carlisle and University Park law school locations.
Will there be any changes to the physical locations?
In the coming months, you will begin to see changes to signage and designs at both the Carlisle and University Park locations. These changes are being made to ensure brand consistency as we move forward as Penn State Dickinson Law. Digital signage will be refreshed to reflect news and events from both locations, while permanent signs will be changed to reflect the Penn State Dickinson Law logo.
Will each location offer the same courses and experiential learning opportunities?
Faculty are currently addressing important governance matters, including developing a unified curriculum. While details are forthcoming, we are committed to ensuring every student receives a robust legal education at either of our two locations.
Will tuition be the same at both locations?
Tuition for Penn State Dickinson Law will be the same across both locations; however, the cost of attendance may differ due to cost of living differences at each location.
I graduated from Penn State Law, The Dickinson School of Law, or some other iteration of the Law School before this current model. Am I still considered part of the Penn State Dickinson Law alumni network?
Yes! You are a part of Penn State Dickinson Law’s rich history and will always be a vital part of our alumni network. We encourage all alumni and current students to update their résumés and LinkedIn profiles to reflect the school’s proper name, Penn State Dickinson Law.
Why did the two schools reunify?
In response to a changing landscape in higher education, generally, and legal education, in particular, the University applied for conditional approval from the ABA to reunify its two law schools. Reuniting the two schools allowed the University to advance legal education at Penn State and offer law students a more robust law school experience. With an extremely competitive marketplace for legal education and nine law schools in Pennsylvania, the University’s previous two-law-school model was not the best approach for achieving excellence in legal education. Ultimately, concentrating the best of both existing programs into a single school allows the University to build a stronger law school. Additionally, over time, the University expects to see budget savings from combining the schools’ programs.
Updated December 2024