<p>Why is Belmont doing it? Because everyone is is:</p>
<p>The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth recently acquired the private independent Southeastern Massachusetts School of Law. SEMSL had been a proprietary unaccredited law school that conveniently built its building next to the UMass Dartmouth campus. A recent graduating class had a 6% pass rate on the Massachusetts bar exam.</p>
<p>UMass officials have said that they plan to obtain accrediation for its new law school without the use of any public funds. The acquisition had strong support among Massachusetts legislators, many of whom will like be faculty members of the school. Tuition for Massachusetts residents is a mere $24,000/year.</p>