Exclusive | Disablity scandal erupts at UCLAs law school as ex-student reveals shocking tactics to game system
A staggering quarter of all students at UCLA’s prestigious law school were given extra time in exams after receiving disability accommodations, according to records obtained by The California Post.The records show that, of the law school’s 1,374 students, 308 received extra time on exams during the 2023-24 academic year.That rose to 323 students in 2024-25 – about 24 percent of the entire law school population.The figures were obtained through a public records request by recent graduate Andrew Gomez-Blumenfeld, who argues the accommodation system is increasingly being exploited by students seeking a competitive advantage.Students with disabilities can request accommodations such as assistive technology, note-takers and special seating.But the records show extra exam time overwhelmingly dominated accommodation requests.All but 12 students receiving accommodations were granted additional testing time, with some receiving as much as 150 percent extra time on high-pressure law school exams.“You would imagine in a sort of ideal world where people were getting accommodations to meet their disabilities, that you’d see a sort of interesting diversity and distribution of the kinds of accommodations that people need,” ex-law student Andrew Gomez-Blumenfeld, who graduated in May, told The Post.Gomez-Blumenfeld said he first became suspicious during his three years at UCLA Law after noticing far fewer students sitting exams than attended classes.The records also show how much additional time many students received.In the 2024-25 school year, the vast majority – 204 students – received 50 percent more time to complete exams.Another 44 students received 100 percent extra time, while four were granted 150 percent extra time.Gomez-Blumenfeld said the additional time can significantly affect performance.Exams can take three or four hours, meaning students with accommodations could receive an additional hour or more to complete them.“Law school is almost entirely on...