I was interviewed yesterday by the Chicago Tribune for this story. Assuming the Tribune story is accurate, Northwestern's program will include one initial summer term (similar to that offered by the University of Michigan), four traditional semesters, plus intersession courses. In other words, the same units will be be reconfigured from the traditional three 8 month blocks (14 week semesters) punctuated by summers and winter breaks into one continuous 24 month block, with very short breaks. Here is another way of looking at it: From start to finish, law school now takes 32 months with two winter breaks and two summer breaks, whereas the Northwestern two year program will allow completion of law school in 24 monts with no winter or summer breaks.
The Tribune indicates that Northwestern has not yet announced a tuition plan--but it seems unlikely that there would be any significant per unit reduction. Making law school more intense--hmm?
