University of Wyoming Law Dean urges more funding as faculty pay lags and NextGen exam nears

Julie Hill, dean of the University of Wyoming College of Law, told the Wyoming State Bar Jan. 23 that her office enrolled an academically stronger entering class, including a 40% in-state yield, and increased applications by about 120 percent over the prior year. She said first-time bar passage improved to 82% for July 2025 and the school admitted its first 3+3 accelerated-degree student.

Hill said the College struggles to recruit and retain faculty because average faculty pay is roughly 65% of market, according to a university salary study presented to the Dean. She asked Bar leaders to speak with their legislators and members of the UW Board of Trustees about sustainable support, noting that short-term fixes would not fully address staffing shortfalls. Hill also described a $300-per-student-per-semester request to the UW Board of Trustees to fund bar-prep resources and a dashboard to track students' progress.

Separately, Admissions Director Cathy Duncil briefed the Board on the National Conference of Bar Examiners NextGen Bar Exam. Wyoming will administer NextGen beginning July 2027; 48 jurisdictions have committed so far, and the Board of Law Examiners must adopt a new grading platform. Duncil said 22 applicants are scheduled for the February bar exam in Cheyenne.

President-Elect Alison O. Gee and other Board members discussed possible support measures, including exploring a loan-forgiveness pilot for public defenders to assist recruitment in under-served offices.