Giving not only connects us to others and makes us feel good, it creates a stronger community, locally and globally. Philanthropic support for Cooley is key to our mission of providing transformative practical legal education.
In addition to the Cooley Annual Fund, Merit Scholarship Fund, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champions Fund, below is a listing of areas where alumni and friends may choose to direct their gift to the Law School. Simply note the name of the department, program, or fund when making your gift. Click here to give to the Law School.
Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund
This fund was established by donations from the school’s alumni to provide scholarships to second-year and third-year students who demonstrate the character and potential to become outstanding lawyers and have financial need.
Balancing the Scales Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a minority Cooley Law School student based upon a combination of the following factors: demonstrated commitment to the Black Law Student Association (BALSA), Cooley, and diversity in the legal profession; financial need; and academic achievement. Membership in BALSA is not a prerequisite for consideration for the award.
Black Law Students Association (BLSA) Scholarship
This fund is used to provide scholarship support to students who serve in leadership roles in the Black Law Students Association.
Endowed Scholarship for Students with Financial Need
The Endowed Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to third-year students (those who have completed 60 credit hours) who have substantial financial need. To be eligible for consideration and selection, students must be in good academic and administrative standing, and may not be recipients of merit or other scholarships. Recipients shall not have been subject disciplinary action. The scholarship will be 10 percent of tuition or up to 30 credit hours, beginning with the completion of 60 credit hours. Students who are selected, but become eligible for more merit scholarships, will receive the scholarship that provides the higher amount.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund
To honor the memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this fund was established to provide a scholarship each year to a Cooley student on the basis of scholarship, extracurricular participation, public service, and financial need.
Rosa Parks Scholarship Fund
Established in 1985 to honor distinguished civil rights leader Mrs. Rosa Parks and in recognition of her appearance at the Cooley Law School, this fund provides a scholarship each year to a Cooley student on the basis of scholarship, extracurricular participation, public service, and financial need.
PROGRAMS
Academic Resource Center (ARC)
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides students with academic counseling, including exam writing seminars, multiple choice seminars, and many other resources for the entire student body. ARC also provides tips on studying, writing, and how to take exams. Students have access to one-on-one sessions with faculty, staff, other students and computer resources and seminars.
Center for Ethics, Service & Professionalism
The Center for Ethics, Service, and Professionalism is dedicated to the following ideals:
- Lead by modeling and teaching ethics
- Foster and encourage service
- Practice professionalism
- Commit to our communities
Clinics
- The Debt Relief Clinic provides debt-related legal assistance on issues arising from past-due medical/hospital bills, loans, predatory lending, unfair/abusive collections practices, and more for under-served individuals in Hillsborough County, Florida.
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Students in the Estate Planning Clinic counsel clients regarding their estate planning objectives and the preparation of Wills, Trusts, and powers of attorney. They also prepare deeds, letters of instruction, organ donation documentation, and deeds for clients as appropriate.
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The Cooley Innocence Project has the dual mission to identify, provide legal assistance to, and secure the release of persons who are wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit, and to provide its students with an excellent learning experience. The clinic accepts cases where DNA evidence or unreliable forensics may establish innocence.
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Students in the Public Defender Clinic work on a variety of criminal cases (misdemeanors and felonies) in the Washtenaw County District and Circuit Courts and juvenile cases (delinquency, abuse, and neglect) in the Washtenaw County Probate Court.
Externship Program
Cooley Law School permits students who are selected as externs to work in a selected legal environment away from the law school. Students receive credit when they meet all of the educational objectives of the program and satisfy all externship program requirements.
Law Review
Founded in 1982, the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review is committed to the highest standards of legal publication. The staff prides itself on the comprehensive editing and reviewing of articles, to ensure all items published are innovative and of professional quality. In addition to publication three times a year, the Thomas M. Cooley Law Review also sponsors a lecture series, an annual symposium, and a distinguished brief award.
Library
This fund provides support for the library infrastructure, maintenance of the facility and its furnishings, improvements in the collection, and enhancements of the library's services.
Moot Court
The Moot Court Board provides students the opportunity to experience and develop their appellate advocacy skills in an active learning environment. Every term, the organization is responsible for facilitating the following programs: First-Year Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, Moot Court Bailiff Program, Intra-School Moot Court Competition, and National Moot Court Team.
Skills Competition
This fund supports Cooley's teams that compete in outside moot court, trial practice, negotiation, and other skills competitions.