Law schools have caught plenty of flak in recent years from critics who charge that they routinely produce graduates who can write a law review article but cannot draft a contract or interview a client. Now the State Bar of California is mulling whether to impose a practical skills training requirement on lawyers applying for admission a move some legal academics say is unnecessary and could stifle innovation.
“My personal judgment is that we don’t need this right now,” said Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer, noting that many law schools have been moving to add clinics and other skills-based courses. “I think they’re being a little too quick without recognizing what’s already going on.”
