Law School Services

In an environment where enrollments are closely tied to rankings and overall demand has fluctuated over the past decade, Kennedy & Company has guided several law schools in charting their strategic direction through in-depth analysis of rankings, scholarship and financial aid strategy, budgets, and enrollment trends. As the legal education market evolves—marked by changes in the Law School Admissions Test and US News and World Report rankings—Kennedy & Company ensures that law schools are well-positioned for sustained success.

OUR APPROACH:

Navigating today’s complex landscape requires a thorough, strategic, and data-driven approach to law school strategy and operations. Understanding that many law schools operate within the broader context of a parent university, we collaborate closely with our clients to grasp their unique institutional dynamics and resource constraints. For every project, we develop tailored, evidence-based recommendations to meet each law school’s specific needs. Our collaborative efforts have empowered law schools to launch new programs, optimize scholarship strategy, effectively manage budgets, and achieve significant improvements in their rankings.

OUR LAW SCHOOL STRATEGY PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED:

  • Budget Modeling
  • Enrollment Forecasting, Scholarship Strategy & Financial Aid Leveraging
  • Rankings Analysis
  • Resource Allocation Studies
  • Budgeting for Rankings Improvement
  • Program Launches
  • Traditional JD Programs and Law School Feasibility Studies
  • LL.M and Other Alternative Credential Launches
  • Enrollment & Financial Forecasting for New Programs
  • Market Research & Strategic Positioning
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Our Work, Your Success

Law School Strategy Services
Seton Hall University Logo
JD Evening Program Strategy – Kennedy & Company assessed potential strategic options for the School’s struggling Evening JD program to recover enrollments. Our work included conducting a market analysis based on both secondary market data and a survey of potential future students to assess demand for, growth, and format innovation in the range of part-time and flexible programs serving working professional and non-full-time students. These market insights were complemented by a competitive analysis of traditional and alternative format JD programs for working professionals and non-full-time students. Kennedy & Company then developed a robust financial model to evaluate the most promising strategic options, which ultimately resulted in a comprehensive strategy and implementation plan for a transition of the program to a Weekend JD format.

Enrollment Forecasting – through our Enrollment GPS platform, Kennedy & Company has provided enrollment forecasts and scholarship optimization consulting for Seton Hall since 2018.
Ranking Strategy – leveraging our proprietary Rankings Prediction Model, SHU Law has also worked with Kennedy & Company to optimize its position within the US News & World Report rankings.

Relevant Services: Strategic Planning, Law School Services, Enrollment Strategy, Academic Portfolio Strategy

Law School Strategy Services
Villanova University logo
Strategic Planning – Kennedy & Company partnered with Villanova’s Charles Widger School of Law to identify the strategic priorities that the School should focus on in the coming five years. In addition to setting the vision and priorities and developing a high-level plan to address them, this scope of work included the development of a high-level marketing and communication strategy to drive awareness and build the brand of Villanova across targeted market constituencies and internal audiences.

Enrollment Forecasting – through our Enrollment GPS platform, Kennedy & Company has provided enrollment forecasts and scholarship optimization consulting for Seton Hall since 2018.
Resource Allocation – following a period of budget cuts through the mid-2010’s, reinvestment was needed for the School of Law to continue its recovery. Kennedy & Company helped identify the areas most in need of investment and set up a prioritization framework for those investments in the coming years. The result of our study was a greater commitment to bar preparation, career services, and tuition discounting, which significantly improved the School’s ranking.

Rankings Forecasting – using our proprietary Rankings Forecast Model, we projected the School of Law’s rankings for the upcoming release for greater support of the recruitment of high-quality incoming classes.

Relevant Services: Strategic Planning, Law School Services, Enrollment Strategy

Law School Feasibility Study
University of Texas at El Paso
Kennedy & Company partnered with the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) to determine the feasibility of starting a law school. UTEP endeavored to comprehend the operational, accreditation, and financial elements pivotal to successfully establishing a new school. K&Co interviewed stakeholders from UTEP administration and faculty and local community leaders to understand the core mission for a future law school and chart essential resources and processes.

Kennedy & Company conducted comprehensive analyses on the region’s demand for legal education, labor market needs, and competitive benchmarking across proximate schools, while factoring in ABA accreditation standards. This was followed by an assessment of the target audience through prospective student and employer survey distribution and analysis. As a culmination of the feasibility study, K&Co built a financial and operational model that incorporated these insights to produce enrollment, revenue, and cost projections for a future law school. These estimates were also run through varying scenarios to illustrate the effects of reduced expenses and/or increased enrollments. This was a key determinant in assessing the viability and long-term sustainability of a law school.

Relevant Services: Feasibility Studies, Tuition & Fee Pricing, Financial Sustainability, Law School Services

Past & Current Law School Clients Include

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