Issue #4 of Equipping Our Lawyers eNewsletter

Update: ALI-ABA and ACLEA are moving ahead in seeking  implementation of the Summit Recommendations.
The Summit Implementation Steering Committee just posted its Strategic Plan for Implementation on
our website at http://www.equippingourlawyers.org/documents/Critical_Issues_Summit%20Strategic_Plan_for_Implementation.pdf

We invite your review of the plan and your suggestions for additional or alternative approaches.
- Chuck Bingaman, Editor

Chicago Law School Deans Discuss Current Issues in Legal Education

Ed. Note: The EOL Summit Recommendations suggest several modified approaches to traditional law school education that might turn out more effective young professionals. Recommended steps include defining learning outcomes, using the latest research-based teaching methods to achieve those outcomes, and teaching basic practice competencies as outlined in the McCrate Report, the Carnegie Report  and other sources.  Further, the Recommendations suggest that law schools should include in their curricula experiential learning opportunities and transitional training programs. The following linked-to panel discussion among deans of Chicago area law schools is particularly interesting in light of those Recommendations.  Participants include University of Chicago Dean Michael Schill, Chicago-Kent College of Law Dean Harold J. Krent, DePaul Law School Interim Dean Warren D. Wolfson, and John Marshal Law School Dean John E. Corkery.  CCB

For the full discussion, edited by Amanda Robert, as it appeared in the August 30, 2010 issue of "Chicago Lawyer Magazine" see http://www.chicagolawyermagazine.com/Archives/2010/10/Law-school-deans.aspx

Australian CLE Conference Discusses "Equipping Our Lawyers" Summit Materials

Ed. Note:  Una Doyle, Director of Continuing Professional Education of The College of Law, Sydney, reports that The CLE Association of Australasia is convening its annual conference October 28-29 in Luna Park. The meeting will feature a special Open Forum to talk about strengthening the continuum of legal education in that region prompted in part by last year's Equipping Our Lawyers Summit in Scottsdale.  And it will even use some of the Summit's materials and consider its Recommendations. Ms. Doyle will report on the association's conclusions in a future newsletter. CCB

Inside Look at Evolving ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools

Ed. Note: Readers of this newsletter might wish to review the current "redline" draft of the Section's Standards on Approval of Law Schools relating to law student learning standards that are being considered for updating.  Even casual readers--if any readers of such materials might be deemed "casual"!--will see much common ground between the proposed revisions of the ABA Standards and the EOL Recommendations from last year's Summit. The current "redline" version is found on the Section website at http://www.abanet.org/legaled/committees/comstandards.html

Note that, since this redlined version was published on the ABA website in May, the committee may already have adjusted the language further.  We expect to publish an updated version of the work in progress in the near future. Note also that, on the ABA Section website, the ABA committee invites commentary on their drafts at any time. CCB

LexisNexis Launches New Series of Practice-Oriented Teaching Materials to Supplement Casebooks for Law Students

LexisNexis has announced publication of its "Skills & Values" series of teaching books to supplement traditional law school casebooks, according to series advisory board member Prof. David L.C. Thomson of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.  Prof. Thomson is also director of Sturm's Lawyering Process Progam.

"If we're going to teach differently," says Thomson, "we need teaching materials different from the traditional casebooks. These books fill that gap."

LexisNexis already has nearly a dozen Skills & Values books out --see http://www.discoveryskills.com/aboutsv.htm--and Prof. Thomson's book on discovery practice is due out soon.

Each of the books, which sell for around $49, contain a detailed, stand-alone exercise designed to get students to process the subject through the practical problems, client issues and ethical challenges often encountered in that area of practice.  In addition, each book is enhanced by a link to a LexisNexis online course tailored to the book and featuring demonstrations, links to further primary materials, simulated case materials, and even related Supreme Court decisions.

Prof. Thomson says that LexisNexis "hopes to have a 'Skills & Values' book on nearly every law school course in the future."

Ed. Note: Recommendation #4 asks law schools, the bar, and the bench to develop transitional teaching programs (defined as ones that teach or improve practice skills) to begin in law school and to continue through at least the first two years of practice.  These books provide tools that might be effective in such programs. CCB