Dive Brief:
- The University of Chicago Law School on Wednesday announced that Bloomberg L.P. CEO Daniel L. Doctoroff donated $5 million toward the creation of a business leadership program.
- The program will combine law and business classes, also making a core group of business courses available to law students and creating special curriculum for 15 students per class.
- The university already offers a dual degree program that allows law and business graduate students to attend both programs at the same time, though it requires full tuition payments to both schools.
Dive Insight:
Doctoroff's gift comes as law schools are re-evaluating what they have to offer due to criticism stemming from the tough job market faced by graduates and changes in the profession and economy. Stanford, for example, recently allowed law students to pursue joint degrees and coursework, while NYU now includes specialized concentrations in its third year. Doctoroff issued a statement regarding the U. of Chicago's upcoming program, saying, “Time after time, I’ve seen the value of lawyers who have fundamental business and financial skills, no matter their field of specialty.”