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Penn State Law Reunification FAQs

In November 2022, Penn State President, Neeli Bendapudi, announced her intent to reunify Penn State’s two law schools – Penn State Law in University Park and Dickinson Law in Carlisle, PA. In May 2023, after months of collaboration and work, a panel made up of faculty, staff, students, and alumni of the two schools delivered a unanimous recommendation regarding how to best reunite the two schools. President Bendapudi accepted the recommendation in August 2023. The reunified law school will feature residential programs for all three years of J.D., plus LL.M. and S.J.D. programs in both University Park and Carlisle, and will operate under the name Penn State Dickinson Law.

Until the reunification is complete, both schools will continue to operate as separately accredited law schools. The timeline for reunification is not yet final, and both schools are enrolling separate classes in Fall 2024. Phase 2 of planning for reunification is currently underway.

Below are responses to Frequently Asked Questions about reunification. If you have additional questions about the reunification process or how it may impact you, please contact the following offices:

Prospective or admitted students: contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@pennstatelaw.psu.edu

Alumni or friends: contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at lisa@psu.edu

Press or media inquiries: contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at communications@pennstatelaw.psu.edu

 

Frequently Asked Questions - October 2023

1. Will Penn State Law in University Park be open in Fall 2024?

Yes. Throughout the reunification process, Penn State Law will remain a separately accredited law school. After reunification is complete, legal education in University Park will continue as part of Penn State Dickinson Law, with residential LL.M., S.J.D. and all three years of J.D. students.

Penn State Law is enrolling Fall 2024 J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. classes and is accepting applications for admission now!

 

2. Is Penn State Law in University Park closing?

Penn State Law in University Park is reunifying with Dickinson Law into a single law school operating across two campuses. The reunified school will be known as Penn State Dickinson Law.

After reunification is complete, legal education will continue in both University Park and Carlisle, including all three years of J.D. students and LL.M. and S.J.D. students. Until reunification is complete, Penn State Law in University Park will operate independently from Dickinson Law.  

 

3. If I’m admitted to Penn State Law before the reunification, will I have to transfer between both law campuses to complete my legal education?

No. Applicants admitted to Penn State Law will be able to complete their program in University Park. There will be no need to transfer between Penn State’s two law campuses to complete your J.D. or LL.M. degree. Penn State University is committed to providing students with a seamless and uninterrupted legal educational experience at both law school locations through reunification.

 

4. If the reunification occurs after I have already been admitted to Penn State Law, how will it affect my enrollment?

You will not have to change campuses, but you will be able to share resources with students of the reunified school. Penn State will continue to work to minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the impact of the reunification. The university will continue its commitment by continuing to provide an outstanding, fully accredited legal education, as well as professional development opportunities including bar exam preparation and Career Services.

 

5. After the reunification, will I still be able to attend law school in University Park?

Yes, the University Park law campus will continue to offer a three-year residential J.D. program and LL.M. and S.J.D. programs with full access to campus community resources including career services, bar preparation support, bar preparation support, experiential programs, and extracurricular activities.