A merger proposed by the University of Akron and Cleveland State University could create the largest law school in Ohio and one of the largest public law schools in the country.
The two public institutions have formed a working group to examine to determine the feasibility and timeline of a partnership between the Cleveland Marshall College of Law and
The working group, which will be led by the deans of both law schools and include representatives faculty, staff, alumni and students, expects to submit a plan to the state of Ohio and the American Bar Association for final approval in 2021.
The new institution would become the only law school in the United States to be part of two different urban public research universities.
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“Our collective ability to meet the changing needs and expectations of our legal and business communities in Northeast Ohio is greater if we work together,” Harlan Sands, president of Cleveland State University, said in a statement.
Because the two law schools are about 40 miles apart, students could take courses on both campuses, or enroll in online classes.
CSU Cleveland-Marshall is also home to Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection, Center for Health Law and Policy, Criminal Justice Center, and Global Space Law Center.
Akron Law operates the Center for Constitutional Law and the Miller Becker Center for Professional Responsibility.
