From: Student Affairs Date: July 11, 2025 Subject: On the Docket - 7/11/25
Dear Students,
As you may have seen on July 7 in BU Today or through national news outlets, Boston University announced it was laying off about 120 people and eliminating 120 vacant positions. I wanted to share that no current BU Law staff were laid off in these cuts, although there were several vacant law school positions that will not be filled. As part of our ongoing navigation through difficult headwinds, the law school will also move forward with a 5% budget reduction, consistent with the rest of the University. This is not a small adjustment, but please know that decisions about the budget were made with a focus on maintaining the law school's high-quality educational and co-curricular experiences for students. Student organization budgets are not subject to these cuts.
I am also aware that many students are understandably concerned about the impact of recent legislation on loan availability and borrowing costs for law school. As you know, student financial aid is highly personalized and complex. Updates will be forthcoming from BU once they are sure they have the best information to share about changes to relevant programs. Our financial aid team remains available for guidance.
I hope that you are enjoying your summer legal experiences and finding joy and rest in your downtime. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
With care, Dean Collins
Announcements/Deadlines
2Ls and 3Ls: Simulated MPRE - provided by Helix Bar Review on Aug. 9 or Aug. 14. For many students, taking the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) is one of the first steps towards bar admission. Free enrollment is available through Helix Bar Review. You'll get a brief overview of the MPRE from one of their (licensed attorney) Helix Directors before taking the 2-hour practice test. Afterward, you'll receive a link for a follow-up guidance session on how to analyze your results along with tips for preparing for the MPRE based on the strengths and weaknesses you saw in your performance on the simulated exam. For more Helix Bar Review Sessions, see Events below. For questions, please contact Mark Fong at markfong@bu.edu.
2Ls: Edward C. Stone Moot Court Competition. The Stone Moot Court Competition is an appellate advocacy competition (with cash prizes for the best oral advocates and best brief writers) open to all second-year JD students and runs from late September through mid-November. Stone is also a pre-requisite for most 3L moot court teams! Applications will open in late August and are due on Sept. 23rd. Check the website here for more info, including competition dates! For questions, please contact Jen McCloskey at jataylor@bu.edu.
ALL: Summer 2025 Round of Funding for the Laura Bassi Scholarship. The Laura Bassi Scholarship was established in 2018 with the aim of providing editorial assistance to postgraduates and junior academics whose research focuses on neglected topics of study, broadly construed. Application deadline: 31 July 2025. All currently enrolled master’s and doctoral candidates are eligible to apply, as are academics in the first five years of full-time employment. Further details, including previous winners, and the application portal can be found at: https://editing.press/bassi.
2Ls and 3Ls: "Re-Orientation" - Online Modules for 2L and 3L Success. An FYI for now - multiple offices are coordinating online modules for returning students to address your most frequent questions on topics such as bar admission, bar exam study planning, character and fitness, financial planning, academic modifications, ways to fulfill the Upper-class Writing Requirement, personal and campus safety, and more. Look for these modules to be available in mid-August so that you will have what you need to excel in your 2L and 3L years at BU Law. Got questions or suggestions? Please reach out to Associate Dean Muir at gmmuir@bu.edu.
There are so many fun, free events to pick from in Boston in the summer. Here's one idea, but check the Boston Calendar for many more!
Muddy River Clean Up with Baby Goats!
Live music, live baby goats, cold drinks, free ice cream and more: Come for the Cleanup, Stay for the Fun! When: Sunday, Jul 13, 2025 11:00a - 1:00p Where: The Muddy River at the Ipswich Street Bridge
50 Charlesgate East
Boston, MA 02215 Admission: FREE Hosted by: Muddy Water Initiative, www.muddywaterinitiative.org
It's GOATS'n'BOATS on the Muddy River! Spend your Sunday outside doing good for our community and our planet--clean up the Muddy River or just learn about it--come alone or bring friends and family,--meet some people, hold some goats, and have some fun!🐐Next to the historic Richardson Bridge and down the Street from Fenway Park. Get your feet wet and your hands dirty--Make a Difference for our Earth!
