At a time when the economy is crawling like an outdated train through the cornfields of Iowa (state of origin), law schools need to make a crucial turn. Let’s be realistic. Current legal education is no longer practical in its approach. Of course, I’m only speaking from my own experience as a third-year law student; however, my complaints are no less puzzling…
I entered law school knowing that I wanted to be a lawyer. From the age of seven I was prepared and molded for the profession. My dad knew that I loved to read and talk, and I knew that he wanted to help people. The law seemed to be a natural fit. I was fortunate to experience law firm life as a junior in high school working for a small personal injury/workers’ compensation firm in my hometown. As a receptionist and eventually paralegal, I was able to receive training in client counseling, court filings and etiquette, and networking with legal professionals. All of this was accomplished before I even sat for my LSAT. Now that I am in the home stretch of my legal education, I can say with confidence that this environment does its students a disservice.
Yes, we all know that John Doe’s adverse possession of Blackacre is very important; but will we be able to explain to Sally Sue why she can’t break the lease with her landlord? Where are the students who come out of law school knowing how to build a business book that so many of these legal hiring departments want? Where are the students who walk away knowing how to professionally and empathetically deal with a sensitive client issue? This element is very absent in current legal education.
In general, I feel that the American Bar Association and subsequent law school administrators have lost sight of the market and what their consumers really need. We need to go beyond just teaching for a bar exam, teaching for an ethics exam. Last week I talked to one of my classmates about his graduation plans and asked if they knew how to write pleadings to start a civil case. My partner said that she didn’t, she laughed and said that she was sure that she would learn at some point. Craziness! We have to show some genuine concern for students who are taking on significant debt for this education; and go beyond showing them how to write an essay and take a multiple-choice test. There should be no reason or place for a law school administrator to mention to me that her job was to make sure I passed the bar exam, and that’s it. And I’m definitely tired of hearing from law professors, “Oh, your grades don’t show what an excellent lawyer you’re going to be.” Umm EXCUSE ME, so why am I being rated!? I am completely confused about the true purpose of law school today.
With nearly 40,000 students graduating from law school each year, the time for change couldn’t be more present. Every day I try to figure out how exactly 199 ABA-approved law schools are reporting employment rates of 90 percent and above when most of my friends who graduated last year don’t have a legal job or are severely underemployed. I’m not arguing that labor statistics are misleading; I am saying that there is a disconnect and a deeper problem that these law schools do not adequately educate students to be creative in thinking about their future.
Ultimately, I have two suggestions for how law schools can pivot and create a new legal education environment:
1) practical experience required for the third year of law school, AND
2) encourages creativity!
Being a lawyer essentially means that you are an advocate (to support or urge in the form of an argument). Why not just do 2 years of black card/case book law and require that the third year be just practical or defense work? I’m in my third year and struggled to find relevant (slightly entertaining) courses as all my required “bar” courses were out of the way. I can imagine that I am not alone. This time could have been better spent as a full-time office worker or providing legal services to those in need. Second, encourage students to think BEYOND working 9 to 5 at a company or even behind a desk. Encourage them to think outside the box and find meaningful ways to improve the world around them. Tell them it’s okay if they can’t find a job at BigLaw and that you’ll support them by providing the resources they need ANYWAY! It’s not about high or mismanaged expectations, it’s about facing the realities of our situation and looking for solutions to improve our tomorrow.