Law

Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School is a private law school founded in 1972. With approximately 1,200 students, it is one of the nation's largest and most diverse law schools and shares WMU's commitment to excellence and access.

A formal affiliation with WMU, recognized by both the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association and the American Bar Association, was initiated in 2014. The WMU Cooley Law School has campuses in three Michigan cities—Lansing, Grand Rapids and Auburn Hills—as well as a campus in Tampa Bay, Fla. The school has enjoyed a longtime relationship with WMU that includes offering graduate-level, joint degree programs in business, social work and public administration.

Visit the law school website

Accelerated degree programs

Two accelerated degree programs in the WMU catalog permit current WMU students to apply for admission to the law school enroll as law school students, and transfer back twelve hours of law school credit to complete a WMU undergraduate degree. The interdisciplinary legal studies minor is offered through the College of Arts and Sciences and the interdisciplinary business law major is offered through the Haworth College of Business.

Dual degree programs

WMU partners with the law school to offer three dual degree programs: JD/MPA and JD/MBA. Each program requires that students be admitted to WMU for a graduate program and admitted to the law school for the law degree. Course requirements are detailed in the WMU graduate catalog at the following links: JD/MPA and JD/MBA.

Pre-law at WMU

To learn about pre-law paths at WMU, visit the College of Arts and Sciences Pre-Law Advising page.

Tuition scholarships for WMU employees

The law school offers a 50 percent tuition scholarship for WMU employees, spouses and dependents.

 Scholarship application form

WMU contact

Graduate College

For more information on the WMU Cooley Law School, visit their website.