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University of Wyoming law dean highlights new clinic center, stronger admissions and higher bar pass rate
Summary
Julie Hill, dean of the University of Wyoming College of Law, told the Joint Judiciary Committee on Oct. 13 that the college has opened the Allen K. Simpson Center for Clinical and Experiential Learning and reported a stronger entering class and higher first‑time bar passage.
Julie Hill, dean of the University of Wyoming College of Law, told the Joint Judiciary Committee on Oct. 13 that the college has completed a 20,000‑square‑foot addition for clinical and experiential training and expanded student clinical representation across the state.
Hill said the new Allen K. Simpson Center for Clinical and Experiential Learning enables hands‑on student work representing low‑income clients: “this 20,000 square foot addition … provides space for our students to gain hands on legal experience while representing clients of limited means.” She told members clinic students represented 58 clients in 21 of Wyoming’s 23 counties last year.
The dean said the incoming first‑year class is academically stronger than the prior year, reporting a median LSAT of 156 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.53, and noted the school’s first accelerated 3+3 admit in partnership with the School of Energy Resources. She also described two recent hires: an assistant professor/director of the defender aid clinic and an assistant professor/director of the estate planning and probate clinic.
Hill reported an improved July bar pass rate for first‑time takers of 82 percent, up from 74 percent the year before, and said the law school received national recognition for legal writing and for the Wyoming Law Review’s citation rankings.
The dean answered committee questions about the law school’s rural recruitment efforts and clinic placements. She described the Rural Law Center and programs such as spring‑break job shadowing and “legal lift off” placements that send students to rural prosecutors’ or judges’ offices to develop skills and relationships that may lead to rural practice. On faculty salaries, Hill said the university is conducting a salary study and declined to provide an estimate without finalized data.
Hill closed by inviting members to visit the new building, use law‑school resources and contact the college for assistance on state projects.
Ending: The committee did not take policy action on the law‑school presentation; members used the discussion to ask about rural practice pipelines, clinic capacity and faculty hiring plans.
