It Takes a Community to Retain a Student: The Trinity Law School Model

Abstract

This article is a look at the retention practices of a private faith-based law school in southern California. The article discusses how Trinity Law School retains its student body despite the fact that it faces the First Year Law Students' Exam, a test which in recent history has had a 10 percent pass rate. Combine this with a student body comprised of older, returning students that are predominantly from minority communities and who are attending law school while maintaining their jobs and families, and you have a seemingly impossible retention scenario. However, despite these obstacles, the school has an outstanding track record in keeping its students. The secret of their success is in a community-based retention model that will work for any institution of higher learning.