Are you an Employer?    Attract the Best Candidates with Smart Job Postings! Search Legal Resumes
Legal Jobs Board for Attorneys, Law Students & Legal Staff | Serving USA & Other Countries | LawCrossing

 
Job Seekers?   

Need Help? Call (800) 973-1177 
ATTORNEY JOBS
LAW STUDENT JOBS
LEGAL STAFF JOBS
Download LawCrossing Online Apps: Apple iOS
 
See Law Jobs We Have Recently Researched and Located for You
What Where
Show Recruiter Jobs  

Show Refreshed Jobs  



Search in Job Title Only
Location 
Job Type:
Employer Type:

+ Browse Legal Jobs     + Advanced Search     + Search Tips     + Upload Legal Resume
Legal Jobs >> Legal Articles >> Law School News >> Stanford Law Revamps Legal Curriculum
  • Law School News

Stanford Law Revamps Legal Curriculum


by Rebecca E. Neely     

However, per the February 13th sacbee.com article, “Stanford Law School Advances New Model for Legal Education”, the JD program will retain the primary basis of a traditional legal curriculum. But, it will utilize the whole of Stanford University so as to give students a basis for grasping future clients' needs, via coursework and joint degree programs, in coordination with the school's other top notch graduate programs and departments. In this manner, students can look forward to developing a sophisticated set of skills based on a multi-disciplinary approach. A look at real world problems, and clinical experience in a variety of areas, ranging from Supreme Court litigation to corporate transactional law, will prepare students for successful careers.

Larry Kramer, Richard E. Lang Professor of Law and Dean was quoted as saying: “What we're doing here no other law school has done, and no other law school can do, because no other university matches Stanford in the number of top-notch programs and departments relevant to lawyers. We've utilized the whole university to create a multi-dimensional legal education, because we think lawyers have a valuable role to play in helping to solve the world's problems and that calls for more than knowing how to analyze case law. And we think we are uniquely positioned among law schools to produce lawyers who do that.”

Stanford's massive overhaul to its legal curriculum is forward thinking and gives students a competitive edge. Stanford masterminded and implemented the changes for a variety of reasons.

First, as other disciplines have continued to become more specialized, such as business, medicine, and education, the law must follow suit in order to keep pace, and answer needs within these disciplines. In addition, the new curriculum will focus not only on teaching aspiring attorneys to recognize problems, it will teach them methods for solving them. As well, as the world has become increasingly more global, lawyers must be prepared to meet, and address, international issues head on with knowledge and finesse – issues in the realm of intellectual property, war crimes and business deals, to name a few.

Howard L. Ellin, global hiring partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates was quoted as saying: “At Skadden, we value innovation tremendously, and Stanford Law School's curriculum reforms reflect a truly forward-looking holistic approach to legal education. The law school is dedicated to anticipating and fulfilling the practical and intellectual needs of both its students and the legal and business communities they enter after graduation.”
Related Article
Stanford Law School



In the U.S. News Law School Rankings published in 2012, Stanford Law School overtook Harvard to gain the second place on the list. Stanford Law School was founded in 1893. The inaugural faculty included dignitaries like former U.S. President Benjamin Harrison. While the traditional environment has always stre ....

Stanford Law School

Stanford Law School, located near Palo Alto, California, is one of the most prestigious and elite law schools in the United States. It typically ranks among the top three law schools in the U.S. News & World Report annual rankings and currently ranks second. ....

David Thompson: Recent Stanford Law School Graduate

''When I was little, my dad and I played a game of debating hard questions when we had long car trips together,'' David Thompson said. ''It was our way of spending quality time and for him to pass the time while driving. I kept playing that game long after the car trips ended and, sure enough, eventually foun ....

Examples of how Stanford's legal curriculum has changed include the school modifying its academic calendar from semesters to quarters to coincide with the rest of the university. As well, it's increased options for joint degrees. Currently, Stanford offers 23 formal joint degree programs and 28 individual joint degrees; this includes two with other institutions. As well, students can create their own joint degree program.

The law school has increased the number of clinics it offers, as well as reorganizing those clinics. Now, they operate as a single law firm, known as The Mills Legal Clinic. There are currently ten clinics that cover an increased number of practice areas.

The law school broadened the international scope of its curriculum by adding new coursework and programs. New classes will focus on international business, trade, and tax, and national security. As well, new programs offer students hands on experience in a global setting. Study abroad and student exchange programs, externships, and international clinics are just some of the opportunities students have to work and study in countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Timor Leste, and Iraq.

In addition to curriculum changes, Stanford, just last year, dedicated the William H. Neukom Building, which now serves as the hub of the law school. At 65,000 square feet, it provides, under one roof, an environment for clinical and academic faculty to interact in both formal and casual settings.

Stanford Law School is located in Silicon Valley, near Palo Alto, California. Established in 1893, the school employs over 50 faculty members. It has the smallest student body of any law school – about 500 – who are working toward earning a JD or other graduate legal degrees such as the Master of Laws (LL.M.) and the Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.).
Share      
     
Rate This Article
   View top rated articles

Printable Version    Printable Version PDF Version    PDF Version Email to a Friend    Email to a Friend
Comment    Post A Comment View Comment    View Comment Discuss    Discuss

Featured Testimonials

The best part about LawCrossing is getting daily updates about the job openings which saves a lot of time.
Timothy

Facts

LawCrossing Fact #33: LawCrossing’s articles have features that let readers comment on them, allowing site users to share their opinions and interact with each other.

"We want to hear your thoughts. Please comment on this article (below)!"

Comments


Article ID: 7465    

Article Title: Stanford Law Revamps Legal Curriculum

Comment not found for this article.

Comment Comment

Facebook comments:


total jobs
93,929
Upload Your Resume
New Legal Jobs in Last 7 Days
9,685
Facebook Twitter
job search tip
Know thyself: What job or jobs you want, in what kinds of fields, industries, and companies? How can you get somewhere if you don't know where you want to go?
LawCrossing



The Job Search Program that Guarantees Success.
Our career counselor creates a tailor-made job search strategy for you and walks you through every step of the process.
Create your unique brand for just $2,495!
2013 Most Influential Legal Recruiter Rankings
Get the ranking

Your privacy is guaranteed. We will never give out, lease, or sell your personal information.




Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars.