Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School at 300 South Capitol Avenue, Lansing, Michigan.

I was in the first day school graduating class of Cooley in 1976. My three children and late former husband watched proudly as I crossed the stage to accept the diploma achieving a dream I had not thought possible. For then, women in law, and were a rarity and with children almost non existent
Though my lsat scores were high, as a commuter and mother of three, the 8 am to noon schedule allowed an opportunity that meshed with my responsibilities unlike the spread out class schedules of other Michigan schools. There were others in the class combining school with work or other responsibilities. Many of the professors were demanding and accomplished such as Lieutenant Governor and later Supreme Court Justice Brickley, Justice Fitzgerald and Professor Needham. The expectations were challenging and not all met them. But Cooley gave us an opportunity which other schools did not. We, that is, most of my classmates not only passed the bar but ranked above most other schools as I recall and most became not only good lawyers and some distinguished. Cooley alumni include state and federal confessional representatives, a governor, state appellate and trial judges as well as federal. I served as an Assistant Attorney General with an approximate 98% win rate which included high profile cases where I was opposed by teams of prominent counsel from "white shoe" firms. The demanding expectations of Professors Needham, Brickley and others served me well in meeting the challenges faced during my career. As an Alumni, I have participated in ethics forums required of incoming students. These will be schooled in high ethical expectations unlike what I sadly and at times shockingly experienced of opposing counsel who were graduates of more prestigious institutions.
Though Cooley admits so called borderline applicants, I applaud their continuing willingness to give them the opportunity that other schools do not.
Those that are worthy will succeed and others will at least have been given a chance to try.