The 2011-2012 LSAT Year Begins

I didn’t realize the June 2011 LSAT administration occurred a week ago. I await the numbers, but we can expect them to be depressed as they were last year due to widespread knowledge of the legal education system’s failures. Before the LSAC’s chart is updated though, it’s time to put the numbers in context, particularly [...]

Speed Link—Future of Legal Education Symposium Portrayed as Waste of Time

Katherine Mangan, “As They Ponder Reforms, Law Deans Find Schools ‘Remarkably Resistant to Change’” in The Chronicle of Higher Education A while back J-Dog of Restoring Dignity to the Law informed readers of a symposium on the future of legal education (his response is here), and the Chronicle discusses its results. “Putting one professor in [...]

Sticky Links—YLD Transparency Resolution Drops the Ball on Tuition Transparency

(1) ABA Young Lawyers Divison (YLD), “Resolution 1YL,” via J-Dog, “ABA Young Lawyers Division Adopts Transparency Resolution,” in Restoring Dignity to the Law The ABA Young Lawyers Division proclaims: BE IT RESOLVED…that the American Bar Association urges all ABA-Approved Law Schools to similarly publicize the actual cost of law school education, on a per-credit basis, [...]

Link Slowly and See—Dean Slings Stones at the ABA

I have three this week: (1) Michael L. Coyne, “Law, Beyond the Reach of Many,” in the Worcester Telegram Reading through this piece, I thought, “Wow, this guy’s really done his homework and really likes Massachusetts School of Law.”  Then I realized that Coyne is actually one of MSL’s deans.  MSL, if you recall, is [...]

Dear ABA Committee Chair, No, It’s Not That Complicated. Signed, The Legal Profession

Heather Diersen follows up her JDs Rising piece, “Dear Law School, It’s All Your Fault.  Signed, Recent Grad,” with, “Dear Recent Grads, It’s More Complicated Than That.  Signed, The ABA,” in which she parses an interview she conducted with ABA Accreditation Committee chair, Jay Conison, also dean of Valparaiso University School of Law.  Dean Conison [...]

Link’s Next–Legal Education’s Return on Investment Questioned

Four links, but I’ll keep ‘em quick. (1) DR, “Is Law School Worth the Price of Admission?” Dough Roller DR writes: Now, from a pure numbers perspective, a $150,000 price tag is probably money well spent if you get a job at a major firm, stay there for eight-plus years, and make partner. But that’s a [...]

Links Sell Out—Debt, Law School Culture, the Lost Generation, & Break-even investments

Four from over the weekend: (1)  Samuel J. Scott, “Debt Bubble: Will the Market Crash Because of College Costs?” in Considerations. A somewhat conservative explanation for the accelerating higher education costs compared to those in housing and healthcare.  Those of you who are falling behind in your Dean Baker readings should note that the Federal [...]

Links Generation—Law School Deans Are Not Experts on the Legal Labor Market, and Taxpayers Fund Army Officers’ Legal Education

When you run out of Beatles albums, you move to the Who. Two links have caught my eye. (1) LeeAnn Maton, “Law School No ‘Magic Bullet’ Against Recession, but Financial Aid Can Help,” in Wallet Pop [I]s investing in a law degree still worth the expense?  Actually, yes, according to three legal education experts who [...]

Magical Mystery Links—ABA-Accredited Schools in China, Reasons for Law Practice Reform, & More on Tenure

(1)  Edward A. Adams, “Harvard Prof Sees Legal Profession in Turmoil”. Mr. Adams proves I’m clairvoyant.  I published this a few days ago, “[A law school is] really something a community can only build when it is surging with growth.  Like China or India surging.  Not U.S.A. deflating.”  Here, Harvard Professor David B. Wilkins says: [...]

Links for Sale–Tenure, Bimodality, & Big Star

Re-emerging from the depths, here’re some links. (1) Scott Jaschik, “Law School Professors Tenure in Danger?” Dean David Van Zandt of Northwestern has been spearheading policy changes in ABA accreditation requirements that leave tenure systems up to law schools’ discretions, and so far it’s meeting with success in the ABA’s draft proposals.  The article quotes [...]