Law schools are pushing the boundaries of the traditional law school model and experimenting at a level that legal education has not seen for several years, a new story reveals.
The National Jurist invited every law school in the U.S. to submit a nomination for how it is innovating its curriculum. More than 40 schools responded, showing that schools are experimenting with boot camps, mentoring programs, technology and programs that mirror the medical school model.
“We were surprised and impressed by the level of innovation today,” said Jack Crittenden, Editor In Chief of The National Jurist. “Legal educators are no longer just talking about change — they are taking the first steps to make it happen.”
Law schools are experimenting with distance learning, alternative degrees and changes to the standard model of three years in the classroom.
William Henderson, law professor at Indiana University Maurer School of Law — Bloomington, said the efforts are significant and time will tell what works and what does not.
The National Jurist will publish all of the honorees in the Back to School issue of preLaw magazine, due out in late August. It will also publish details about each school on its website in August. Here is the list in alphabetical order:
Elon University School of Law
Hamline University School of Law
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Loyola Law School Los Angeles
New York Law School
Ohio Northern University
Pennsylvania State University The Dickinson School of Law
Phoenix School of Law
Stanford Law School
Southwestern Law School
Syracuse University College of Law
Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Tulane University Law School
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
University of District of Columbia
University of Hawai’i
University of Illinois College of Law
University of North Carolina
University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
