Continuing a trend, a NY appellate court has upheld a trial court decision dismissing a lawsuit against New York Law School. In March, federal district judge Gordon Quist of Michigan's western district dismissed a similar lawsuit, filed by the same lawyers as the NYLS lawsuit, against Cooley Law School. Quist's opinion lectured the plaintiffs about the importance of critical thinking in the law school application process; the NY appellate judge's opinion chose to lecture law schools themselves:
[I]t is important to remember that the practice of law is a noble profession that takes pride in its high ethical standards. Indeed, in order to join and continue to enjoy the privilege of being an active member of the legal profession, every prospective and active member of the profession is called upon to demonstrate candor and honesty. This requirement is not a trivial one. For the profession to continue to ensure that its members remain candid and honest public servants, all segments of the profession must work in concert to instill the importance of those values. “In the last analysis, the law is what the lawyers are. And the law and the lawyers are what the law schools make them.” Defendant and its peers owe prospective students more than just barebones compliance with their legal obligations. Defendant and its peers are educational not-for-profit institutions. They should be dedicated to advancing the public welfare. In that vein, defendant and its peers have at least an ethical obligation of absolute candor to their prospective students.
Bloomberg has the story; Above the Law has its usual polemical post on the subject.