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#Widener Law to announce separate law schools

The American Bar Association has granted permission for Widener Law to become two separate law schools effective July 1. The university will announce the new name for Widener Law Harrisburg and introduce the new dean on Friday.

Since its inception, Widener Law Harrisburg has functioned as a campus of the Widener University School of Law, which was founded in Wilmington, Del. in 1971 and became affiliated with Widener in 1975.

The conversation, first broached amid the 2006 strategic plans, centered around the idea that the two independently accredited law schools would bolster the signature programs at the Harrisburg-area and Wilmington, Del. campuses.

The Harrisburg-area campus - technically located in Susquehanna Township - with its close location to state government, offers a signature law and government institute unique to Pennsylvania.

The Wilmington campus, located amid the corporate headquarters capital of Delaware, offers a unique business and corporate law track.

Widener University made a formal request to the American Bar Association last year to separate Widener Law into individual law schools. The schools will operate independently of each other, but remain part of the Widener University.

The news conference will announce the ABA's decision, present the new name of Widener Law Harrisburg, and introduce the new dean. The new conference will be held at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the library building at Widener Law Harrisburg, located at 3800 Vartan Way.