Why a semester away should be required
Perhaps I'm biased - I'm two weeks into an internship in the Netherlands and enjoying (almost) every minute of it. Even before I decided to take this particular internship, I wanted to spend a semester away from Boalt. Still, I think that the benefits of spending a semester outside the classroom far outweigh any of the possible downsides. Furthermore, despite the fact that spending a semester in a field placement isn't the "traditional" law school experience, a mandatory away requirement would make Boalt a much better school.
I'm sure that there are lots of Boalties who have done extensive traveling. I'm not one of them. This is only my second time out of the country (Canada doesn't count), and my first time being completely on my own in a foreign place. Even figuring out where the grocery store is - let alone what it is that you're buying - is a challenge. I'm not suggesting that everyone should have to intern in a foreign country. But the process of figuring out how to settle into a new place and a new job for a relatively short period of time is something that everyone should be exposed to.
I also think that we would all benefit from getting away from the law school atmosphere. Even Boalt, which is a pretty non-competitive school as far as such things go, suffers from that petty level of bickering that one only finds in elite educational institutions. See, e.g., the recent New Space Deathmatch posts. What better way to get away from it all than to replace law school gossip with watercooler gossip?
Finally (since any good argument is always supported by three points), the fact of the matter is that law school gives you no practical experience whatsoever. None. Nil. Zero. Summer jobs are supposedly a chance to fix that - but do you really get a handle on what a lawyer does by "working" at a firm and spending all your time at fancy lunches and inter-office softball matches? Let's face it - summer jobs are often a recruitment tool more than anything else. As an intern, however, you are expected to work. Full time. Think of it as a good chance to figure out if you really do want to be a lawyer, before you get any further into debt.
If the first year of law school is a deliberate regression back to the first grade, then the second and third years should focus on bringing us back into the real world. The Socratic method of teaching only goes so far. Clinics are an attempt to change this - but even if you throw yourself completely into your clinic project, you're still in law school, attending classes. The point of a legal education is to prepare us to be lawyers. I can't think of a better way to prepare than spending a semester being a lawyer, all day, every day.
I'm sure that there are lots of Boalties who have done extensive traveling. I'm not one of them. This is only my second time out of the country (Canada doesn't count), and my first time being completely on my own in a foreign place. Even figuring out where the grocery store is - let alone what it is that you're buying - is a challenge. I'm not suggesting that everyone should have to intern in a foreign country. But the process of figuring out how to settle into a new place and a new job for a relatively short period of time is something that everyone should be exposed to.
I also think that we would all benefit from getting away from the law school atmosphere. Even Boalt, which is a pretty non-competitive school as far as such things go, suffers from that petty level of bickering that one only finds in elite educational institutions. See, e.g., the recent New Space Deathmatch posts. What better way to get away from it all than to replace law school gossip with watercooler gossip?
Finally (since any good argument is always supported by three points), the fact of the matter is that law school gives you no practical experience whatsoever. None. Nil. Zero. Summer jobs are supposedly a chance to fix that - but do you really get a handle on what a lawyer does by "working" at a firm and spending all your time at fancy lunches and inter-office softball matches? Let's face it - summer jobs are often a recruitment tool more than anything else. As an intern, however, you are expected to work. Full time. Think of it as a good chance to figure out if you really do want to be a lawyer, before you get any further into debt.
If the first year of law school is a deliberate regression back to the first grade, then the second and third years should focus on bringing us back into the real world. The Socratic method of teaching only goes so far. Clinics are an attempt to change this - but even if you throw yourself completely into your clinic project, you're still in law school, attending classes. The point of a legal education is to prepare us to be lawyers. I can't think of a better way to prepare than spending a semester being a lawyer, all day, every day.
posted by Bekki at 8:05 AM
13 Comments:
great post, I couldn't agree more.
There is a HUGE difference between recommended and required. Only one of those two options is appropriate here.
I agree with 10:28. Some Boalties have spouses and/or kids who aren't geographically flexible. However, I'm fine with Boalt strongly encouraging students to consider such programs.
Living abroad is good for everyone, Boaltie or otherwise.
Canada does too count. :(
Some of us come in with a lot of life exprience and work experience before we start law school. Your idea sounds more appropriate for people that go straight through undergrad to law school. That said, interships are always a great way to test new things out. I loved the internship I did with a local DA's office.
I will spend approximately 40 years working after I graduate. Three full years of law school, the academic experience, and just being a student is a welcome break from the daily grind of working. I wouldn't particularly want to give up any portion of those three years to work more.
"Let's face it - summer jobs are often a recruitment tool more than anything else. As an intern, however, you are expected to work."
That no longer applies. If you are working at a firm this summer, you better work. Your offer is not a given.
Along the lines of what 807 said, why not just require (or strongly encourage via the admissions process) people do something interesting for a couple years between college and law school?
A selfish argument against 11:07's suggestion:
LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA play an important role in law school rankings. By artificially limiting our applicant pool, those numbers may go down.
Er, 11:44. Not 11:07. Apologies.
Good post, Bekki. Glad to hear you are enjoying your time abroad. I loved studying abroad in college, so I'm jealous.
I think those of us who have done summer jobs NOT at a firm can attest to the fact that you really are working full time when doing non-profit or government jobs. I also think that law school clinics can be an amazing way to learn what it is really like to be a lawyer. You can enroll in some clinics full time after your first semester. Studying or working abroad is certainly a great experience, but definitely not for every law student and the skills/experiences you gain can be found through over channels.
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