We start in Wisconsin, where a member of one of the state bar's committees has suggested eliminating the bar exam altogether. Wisconsin currently exempts those in-state graduates from having to take the test, but may go further.
“I think the bar exam should be just removed as a requirement and I don’t think there is any evidence that it creates a better lawyer,” attorney Eric S. Brittain, who serves on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s BBE Review Committee, told the WLJ.As someone who sees little to no value in the bar exam, I have to agree with Mr. Brittain. A move towards other alternatives that actually prepare students for the real-life practice of law seems to be ideal.
--------------------------------------
The ABA is considering lessening the importance of tenure in their accreditation of law schools, which has some professors upset, apparently. The article is subscription, and I do not have one, but I thought it worthy of note.
--------------------------------------
The Brooklyn Law School struck a deal to sell a 12-story graduate residence hall for $12 million dollars. The building is scheduled to be within a historical district that would cause student rents to increase. The developer who purchased the building - which had been owned by BLS for over 30 years - plans to turn it into 24 condominiums that he will market for $1 million a piece.
"We are seeking to consolidate our housing and are looking for another project," said Joan G. Wexler, president of Brooklyn Law School, in a statement regarding the sale of the residence hall, which is currently occupied by graduate students.My guess is that "consolidate our housing" means getting out of it altogether and "looking for another project" means putting the profitable proceeds in the bank.
--------------------------------------
The Clearwater (Fl.) (near Tampa) Bar Association is going to be offering a "People's Law School." Although this sounds like something Mao Zedong would come up with, it is a free weekly program running for 15 weeks for two hours every Thursday night that will give an overview of "everyday" law.
If you are a law student at one of Florida's many schools, this might not be a bad idea. After all, it costs $35k a year to learn about things like the role of primogeniture and the fee tail in English property law, but to learn debtor's rights or how to file a simple divorce in the state in which you live, the bar association is willing to teach you for free. I realize most of what they say could be found with a simple Google search, but the fact that their 30 hours of commentary would likely be far more relevant to students who actually want to practice law locally - for free, mind you - is both hilarious and sad at the same time.
------------------------------------------
Elon Law School, which is anticipating receiving full accreditation from the ABA this spring, has been authorized by the university's Board of Trustees to purchase more land near the law school in order to "accommodate enrollment growth, legal clinics and student organizations." This probably means they're hearing very position signs from the ABA, which shouldn't surprise anyone.
------------------------------------------
While unemployed graduates may have a hard time finding work, the same does not hold true for unemployed politicians.
- Marquette University will add to its roster - which already includes Bud Selig - with former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.
- The U. of Pennsylvania is adding former Senator Arlen Specter to teach a course on the Separation of Powers.
- Stetson is looking to add former Gov. Charlie Crist as a "Distinguished Professional Lecturer."
Arlen Specter should fit in well, as a law faculty member. This is the same bastard who came up with the "magic bullet theory" on the political murder of John F. Kennedy. We'll see what other crazy theories he can expand on.
ReplyDeleteIn sum, Arlen Specter is a piece of trash. The "man" has no principles, morals or sense of decency. This guy would join the transvestite party if he thought it would get him elected to office.
Specter is one of the most despicable human beings in the annals of American politics. End of story. Yes, that is one hell of a statement to make; it also happens to be true.
If Wisconsin abolishes its bar exam, will it be flooded with unemployed lawyers and law grads who otherwise cannot pass a bar exam? Other than that, I like the idea. Passing the bar exam does not mean you have what it takes to practice - just as passing the professional responsibility portion of the exam does not suddenly make one ethical. It simply means you can pass a convoluted exam contrived by miserable rats calling themselves the state bar examiners.