Dean's attitude toward accreditation disregards legal studies students
By: Sonja DeJesus Senior, Legal Studies
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Letters to the Editor
"Fundamentally, nothing has changed." These are the words of Dean Wilson regarding the possible loss of American Bar Association accreditation by the Legal Studies program here
at Webster.
After reading that comment, all I can think is that either this man is extremely clueless or extremely callous. Neither quality is ideal for the dean of a college to have.
Accreditation from the American Bar Association is not only a badge of honor; it tells the legal world that graduates from this program and their skill set can be trusted and taken seriously. Without it, our certifications and degrees are no better than if they had come from Mom and Pop's University.
Studies show that many law firms and paralegal associations look more favorably upon job candidates that have graduated from ABA -approved paralegal schools, and feel that it is a competitive advantage in the hiring process at more sought-after and lucrative positions.
As a student who transferred from another school's Legal Studies program, I can say with certainty that I would not have chosen to obtain a degree from Webster if it was not accredited.
There would be little point in not giving myself as much of a competitive edge as possible - the edge that ABA accreditation gives me - when applying for a job in the legal field and when applying to law school.
I can assure you that I am not the only person who feels this way, and I am sure that if Dean Wilson allows this to slip through the cracks, the result will be decreased enrollment and revenue to the school. Maybe if the futures and careers of his students isn't enough of a fundamental change, that is.
at Webster.
After reading that comment, all I can think is that either this man is extremely clueless or extremely callous. Neither quality is ideal for the dean of a college to have.
Accreditation from the American Bar Association is not only a badge of honor; it tells the legal world that graduates from this program and their skill set can be trusted and taken seriously. Without it, our certifications and degrees are no better than if they had come from Mom and Pop's University.
Studies show that many law firms and paralegal associations look more favorably upon job candidates that have graduated from ABA -approved paralegal schools, and feel that it is a competitive advantage in the hiring process at more sought-after and lucrative positions.
As a student who transferred from another school's Legal Studies program, I can say with certainty that I would not have chosen to obtain a degree from Webster if it was not accredited.
There would be little point in not giving myself as much of a competitive edge as possible - the edge that ABA accreditation gives me - when applying for a job in the legal field and when applying to law school.
I can assure you that I am not the only person who feels this way, and I am sure that if Dean Wilson allows this to slip through the cracks, the result will be decreased enrollment and revenue to the school. Maybe if the futures and careers of his students isn't enough of a fundamental change, that is.
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