A Blueprint for Change

49 Pages Posted: 18 Jan 2013 Last revised: 30 Jan 2013

See all articles by William D. Henderson

William D. Henderson

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

Date Written: December 30, 2012

Abstract

This Article discusses the financial viability of law schools in the face of massive structural changes now occurring within the legal industry. It then offers a blueprint for change – a realistic way for law schools to retool themselves in an attempt to provide our students with high quality professional employment in a rapidly changing world. Because no institution can instantaneously reinvent itself, a key element of my proposal is the “12% solution.” Approximately 12% of faculty members take the lead on building a competency-based curriculum that is designed to accelerate the development of valuable skills and behaviors prized by both legal and nonlegal employers. For a variety of practical reasons, successful implementation of the blueprint requires law schools to band together in consortia. The goal of these initiatives needs to be the creation and implementation of a world-class professional education in which our graduates consistently and measurably outperform graduates from traditional J.D. programs.

Keywords: Legal Education, Lawyer Competencies, Structural Change

JEL Classification: B15, I20, I21, I22, I28, J44, J60, J40, J62, L10, L84, M51, O31

Suggested Citation

Henderson, William D., A Blueprint for Change (December 30, 2012). Pepperdine Law Review, Vol. 40, No. 2, p. 461, 2013, Indiana Legal Studies Research Paper No. 230, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2202823

William D. Henderson (Contact Author)

Indiana University Maurer School of Law ( email )

211 S. Indiana Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States
812-856-1788 (Phone)
812-855-0555 (Fax)

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