Aspen Advisor Week in Review for July 12th, 2019
Check out this week’s collection of interesting articles related to the Bar exam, law schools, law students, legal education and publishing.
Bar Exam
Bar exams should be abolished. But if that's not feasible, this modest proposal for exam reform should help restore them to their former glory!
Law school prepared me to take the bar. Nothing had prepared me for breaking into the legal field while becoming a mother.
Diversity
Northern Illinois University College of Law recently launched a new and innovative program called The Legal Education, Access, and Recognition (LEARN) Program at Northern Illinois University. The program, which is funded by a $125,000 grant from AccessLex Institute, is directed by Interim Assistant Dean Yolanda King and Clinical Associate Professor Wendy Vaughn.
The University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, is home to many accomplished scholars. One of the most recognized is Stacy Leeds, vice chancellor for Economic Development, dean emeritus and professor of law.
Exam Prep
"Practice LSATs by LSATMax" is a new mobile app that allows students to simulate the digital LSAT experience on every officially released LSAT ensuring that upcoming takers will be prepared for the first digital LSAT administration on July 15, 2019.
Experiential Learning
Since its inception in 1976, CALC has tirelessly represented thousands of clients. As the first and oldest clinic of its kind in the country, its lawyers mainly represent children in the foster care system. Michigan is one of several states that allows law students, under the supervision of law faculty, to take the lead role in representing clients.
Law Professors
Elora Mukherjee, who heads the Immigrants Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, was one of three legal academics who investigated conditions at a detention camp for migrant children in Texas last month. She is slated to share her horrific findings on Capitol Hill on Friday.
Law School Students
Are you ready for the LSAT on a tablet?
In this podcast, we're talking with ex-BigLaw recruiter, Sadie Jones, about some of the most common issues and questions we see in the law student job search.
Legal Education
Here are SI's picks of forward-thinking law schools in the US who are preparing creative legal thinkers through specialist LLMs (Master of Laws) and experiential learning opportunities.
The legal industry’s skills gap is real, pressing, and global. The problem can no longer be ignored, even if most law schools choose to. The tools, resources, capital, collaborative mindset, and expertise required to tackle it at scale exist. It’s up to law schools to decide whether they remain the problem or collaborate in its solution.
Scales-Ferguson said she will foster an inclusive and nurturing learning environment. “We intend to build a sense of community that increases student, faculty, and staff enthusiasm surrounding legal education,” she said.
Something doesn't seem right here.
The University of Washington today announced a $3.75 million gift to the School of Law that will support UW Law graduates pursuing public interest environmental law, enhancing their opportunities to gain the experience and knowledge necessary to tackle some of Washington’s and the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
As with any type of higher education institutions, law schools vary in quality and selectivity. For many aspiring lawyers, getting into the right school can be critical for their career. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on LSAT scores, undergraduate GPAs of enrollees, and acceptance rates for over 200 top law schools from the American Bar Association to determine the hardest law schools to get into. Law schools are listed by the university they are associated with.
Other Legal News
Add to your beach reading list.
Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. has announced that submissions are now open for the prestigious Leading Edge Prize for Educational Innovation. $10,000 will be awarded to two winning teams that demonstrate solutions to increase educational opportunities and outcomes for law students across the country. Submissions for award consideration are due August 15, 2019, and winners will be announced in early October.