Comparative Legal Education: An Introduction to US Legal Education and Preparation for the Practice of Law

Abstract

US legal education is a 3 year, graduate-level program that focuses on professional education in the common-law tradition. US law schools seek to introduce students to legal analysis, a wide range of legal subjects, an increasing array of legal skills, and professional values. Not surprisingly, US legal education faces continuing criticism over its effectiveness in preparing students for the practice of law. The goal of this article is to provide an overview of US legal education, along with some analysis of the challenges of implementing legal education in the US and critiques and criticisms of the current legal education model.

Keywords: US legal education